The Academic Calendar 2026-27 UAE sets the main school dates, holidays, term breaks and examination periods for public schools and private schools following the UAE Ministry of Education curriculum. Students begin the academic year on 31 August 2026, and the final school day is 2 July 2027.
The main student breaks are the October mid-term break, winter break and spring break. Families should check their school’s own calendar before booking travel because private schools following different curricula may have separate dates. The dates below are based on the UAE Ministry of Education calendar and its official 2026-27 calendar PDF.
UAE Academic Calendar 2026-27 at a Glance
| Calendar item | Date |
| Academic year begins for students | 31 August 2026 |
| Academic year begins for teachers and administrative staff | 24 August 2026 |
| October mid-term break | 12 to 16 October 2026 |
| Classes resume after mid-term break | 19 October 2026 |
| UAE National Day holiday | 2 to 4 December 2026 |
| Winter break | 14 December 2026 to 1 January 2027 |
| Classes resume after winter break | 4 January 2027 |
| Eid Al-Fitr holiday | 8 to 12 March 2027 |
| Spring break | 5 to 9 April 2027 |
| Classes resume after spring break | 12 April 2027 |
| Eid Al-Adha holiday | 15 to 18 May 2027 |
| Hijri New Year | 6 June 2027 |
| Last day for students | 2 July 2027 |
| Total school days | 185 |
How the 2026-27 School Year Is Divided
The academic year includes three terms and a total of 185 school days.
| Term | Teaching period | Weeks | School days |
| Term 1 | 31 August to 11 December 2026 | 13 | 67 |
| Term 2 | 4 January to 2 April 2027 | 12 | 60 |
| Term 3 | 12 April to 2 July 2027 | 12 | 58 |
The school year follows a structured three-term format. The term dates shown above represent the main teaching and assessment periods between the scheduled school breaks.
Main School Breaks in the UAE
October Mid-Term Break
The first student break runs from Monday, 12 October to Friday, 16 October 2026. Classes resume on Monday, 19 October 2026.
Because the break is next to two weekends, families may have a longer travel window. However, schools may schedule staff training or other internal activities during this period.
Winter Break
The winter break runs from Monday, 14 December 2026 to Friday, 1 January 2027. Students return to school on Monday, 4 January 2027.
This is the longest scheduled student break in the academic calendar. It includes the New Year holiday on 1 January and is commonly used by families for international travel, visits to relatives and winter activities.
Spring Break
The spring break is scheduled from Monday, 5 April to Friday, 9 April 2027. Students return on Monday, 12 April 2027.
The surrounding weekends can give families additional travel time, but students should be back before the official resumption date.
Public Holidays and Religious Holidays
The Ministry calendar includes several public and religious holidays. Islamic holiday dates can be subject to official government confirmation.
| Holiday | Scheduled date |
| Prophet’s Birthday | 28 August 2026 |
| UAE National Day holiday | 2 to 4 December 2026 |
| New Year holiday | 1 January 2027 |
| Eid Al-Fitr holiday | 8 to 12 March 2027 |
| Eid Al-Adha holiday | 15 to 18 May 2027 |
| Hijri New Year | 6 June 2027 |
The Prophet’s Birthday is listed before students return for the new academic year. New Year’s Day falls during the winter break. Eid Al-Fitr, Eid Al-Adha and Hijri New Year are based on the Islamic calendar, so families should confirm the final dates through official announcements and school communications.
Term-by-Term Academic Calendar
Term 1: August to December 2026
Teachers and administrative staff begin the academic year on 24 August 2026, followed by staff training during the same week. Students return on 31 August 2026.
Important Term 1 dates include:
- Mid-term break: 12 to 16 October 2026
- Classes resume: 19 October 2026
- Mock examinations: 18 to 20 November 2026
- End-of-term examinations: 25 to 27 November 2026
- Continuation of end-of-term examinations: 7 to 11 December 2026
- Winter break begins: 14 December 2026
The Ministry calendar also lists make-up examinations from 14 to 18 December 2026 for students who are required to complete them.
Term 2: January to April 2027
Term 2 begins on 4 January 2027 for students, teachers and administrative staff. The first days of the term include the announcement of Term 1 results.
Important Term 2 dates include:
- Term 2 begins: 4 January 2027
- Eid Al-Fitr holiday: 8 to 12 March 2027
- School-based summative assessment: 22 March to 2 April 2027
- Spring break: 5 to 9 April 2027
- Term 3 begins: 12 April 2027
Parents should avoid arranging extended holidays during the assessment period from late March to early April unless the school gives permission.
Term 3: April to July 2027
Term 3 begins on 12 April 2027 and continues until the end of the academic year.
Important Term 3 dates include:
- Eid Al-Adha holiday: 15 to 18 May 2027
- Hijri New Year: 6 June 2027
- Mock examinations: 9 to 11 June 2027
- End-of-term examinations: 16 to 25 June 2027
- Academic support week: 28 June to 2 July 2027
- Final school day for students: 2 July 2027
- Make-up and resit examinations: 5 to 8 July 2027
- Resit examination results: 12 July 2027
The final week may include academic support, enrichment activities and outstanding curriculum work. Students should not assume that regular lessons finish before the official final school day.
Dates for Teachers and Administrative Staff
The calendar also contains separate dates for school employees.
- Staff academic year begins: 24 August 2026
- Staff training: 24 to 28 August 2026
- Student winter break begins: 14 December 2026
- Staff winter break: 21 December 2026 to 1 January 2027
- Student final school day: 2 July 2027
- Staff summer break begins: 12 July 2027
Teachers and administrative employees may therefore have different working dates from students.
Does the Calendar Apply to Every UAE School?
No. The published Ministry calendar is specifically for public schools and private schools following the UAE Ministry of Education curriculum.
Other private schools may have additional school-specific dates or may adjust their October and February mid-term breaks with approval from the relevant local education authority. Private schools in Sharjah follow the emirate’s own regulatory arrangements.
Schools following alternative curricula, including some Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi schools, may publish different academic years and holiday schedules. Parents should confirm dates directly with the school. In Dubai, the KHDA academic calendar resource provides access to school-specific information.
How Families Can Plan Holidays Around the Calendar
The school calendar can help families plan trips, camps and visits, but the official break dates should be used carefully.
- Confirm the school curriculum first. Do not assume that every private school follows the Ministry calendar.
- Check the school’s own calendar. Schools may add professional-development days, parent meetings, induction days and internal examination dates.
- Use the official return dates. Students return on 19 October, 4 January and 12 April after the main breaks.
- Avoid examination periods. Term 1 examinations take place in November and December, while Term 3 examinations begin in June.
- Confirm Islamic holidays before booking. Eid and Hijri dates may be amended after official announcements.
- Allow time for the journey home. Families travelling abroad should plan to return before the school resumption date to allow for delays.
For most families, the winter break offers the widest travel window. October and spring breaks are shorter, but the adjacent weekends can make them useful for short trips.
What Parents Should Check With the School
Before finalising travel, camps or childcare arrangements, parents should confirm:
- Whether the school follows the Ministry curriculum
- The exact first and last day for the child’s grade
- Examination and assessment dates
- School-specific professional-development days
- Eid and other government holiday announcements
- Attendance requirements during the final week
- Arrangements for students taking international examinations
If the child attends a private school in Dubai, Sharjah or another emirate, the school’s own published calendar should be treated as the final planning reference.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the UAE academic year 2026-27 start?
Students begin the 2026-27 academic year on 31 August 2026. Teachers and administrative staff begin on 24 August 2026.
When does the UAE school year end in 2027?
The final school day for students is Friday, 2 July 2027. Make-up and resit examinations continue from 5 to 8 July for eligible students.
How many school days are there in the UAE academic calendar 2026-27?
The Ministry calendar includes 185 school days across three terms: 67 days in Term 1, 60 days in Term 2 and 58 days in Term 3.
What are the main UAE school holidays in 2026-27?
The main breaks are:
- October mid-term: 12 to 16 October 2026
- Winter break: 14 December 2026 to 1 January 2027
- Spring break: 5 to 9 April 2027
When is the winter break in the UAE for 2026-27?
The winter break runs from 14 December 2026 to 1 January 2027. Classes resume on 4 January 2027.
When is the spring break in the UAE in 2027?
The spring break is from 5 to 9 April 2027. Students return on 12 April 2027.
Does the calendar apply to Dubai private schools?
Dubai private schools should be checked individually through their school calendar and KHDA information. Many schools follow the national dates, but curriculum and school-specific arrangements can create differences.
Do Sharjah schools follow the same calendar?
Not necessarily. Sharjah private schools operate under the emirate’s specific regulatory framework, so parents should confirm dates with the school.
Are UAE university dates included in this calendar?
No. This Ministry document is for public and private schools following the UAE school curriculum. University students should check the academic calendar issued by their own institution.
