Back-to-School: Ultimate UAE guide on exams, holidays, AI lessons, RTA and Dubai Police plans

As the new school year kicks off, more than a million students are set to return to classrooms across the UAE. From innovative curricula and AI lessons to enhanced traffic safety and school security measures, authorities and schools are leaving no stone unturned to ensure a smooth, safe, and enriching start to the 2025–26 academic year. Here’s everything parents, students, and educators need to know.

1. Schools ready for the return

UAE schools are fully prepared for the influx of students, upgrading classrooms, labs, and extracurricular facilities. Health and safety protocols remain a priority, ensuring students return in a secure learning environment.

2. Second-term exams axed

The Ministry of Education has cancelled second-term exams. Instead, schools will rely on continuous assessment, projects, and in-class evaluations, reflecting a shift towards stress-free, skill-focused learning.

3. Dubai Police’s safety blueprint

Dubai Police have unveiled a comprehensive back-to-school security plan, including deployment of 250 security and traffic patrols to secure school zones, regular patrolling, monitoring traffic hotspots, and launching safety awareness campaigns for students and parents.

4. Traffic safety gets a boost

The Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has a robust student safety plan with measures including a package of traffic improvements around schools and a series of innovative awareness initiatives for students, parents and drivers.

5. Official school hours announced

The Ministry of Education has set clear school timings to optimise student engagement and well-being. A reduced schedule has been allocated for Cycle Two students (Grades 9–12) during the first week on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, with different timings applied for boys’ and girls’ schools.

6. AI curriculum debuts

For the first time, UAE schools will introduce an artificial intelligence curriculum. It covers seven key domains: fundamental concepts, data and algorithms, software, ethical awareness, real-world applications, innovation and project design, and policies and community engagement.

7. Crackdown on school zone violations

Authorities have renewed warnings on speeding, illegal parking, and unsafe driving in school zones, with stricter penalties to protect students and encourage responsible driving behaviour. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Interior through its ‘Accident-Free Day’ campaign lets drivers remove four black points by pledging safe driving.

8. GEMS Education expands teaching staff

GEMS Education has recruited 1,700 new teachers across its schools from a diverse range of countries. According to GEMS, the group receives more than 600,000 applications annually for about 2,000 vacancies.

9. 135 days off for students

Under the new school calendar released by the Ministry of Education, UAE students will enjoy 135 days off during the academic year. The calendar shows the year will span 313 days, of which 178 will be instructional days or about 57 percent of the year while the remaining 43 percent will be distributed as weekends, public holidays, and term breaks.

10. New schools on the horizon

Several new schools are opening in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah, offering modern infrastructure, innovative teaching methods, and expanded enrolment capacity to meet the growing demand for quality education.