UAE approves new public school timetable for 2025–26 academic year

Dubai: The Ministry of Education has approved a new timetable for all public schools across the UAE for the 2025–26 academic year, setting clear start and finish times from kindergarten through grade 12.

The move aims to ensure discipline, ease congestion in and around schools, and create a balanced learning environment suited to different age groups.

Under the system, students will be divided into two groups with staggered arrival and dismissal times. The first group will start at 7:15am and finish around 2pm, while the second will begin at 8am and end between 2:30 and 3:15pm, depending on grade level.

This staggered approach is designed to prevent overcrowding in hallways, playgrounds and buses, while reducing traffic pressure at drop-off and pick-up times.

The Ministry said the timetable also gives administrators greater flexibility in managing facilities and resources. It is expected to ease parking and transport issues during peak hours while offering families more convenience.

The timetable sets 24 weekly periods for kindergarten, 32 for the first cycle (lower primary) and 36 for the second and third cycles (upper primary and secondary).

Each class will last between 40 to 45 minutes, with schools allowed to arrange breaks, assemblies and transitions according to their needs.

In kindergartens, the day will blend classroom learning with play-based activities, running from 7:30am to 1pm Monday to Thursday, and until 1:25pm on Fridays.

For other stages, group one will begin at 7:15am and end at 2:20pm, while group two will begin at 8am and end at 2:25pm, with Friday schedules shortened in line with national working hours.

The Ministry stressed the importance of aligning school transport with the new timings, setting 7:45am as the arrival time for shared buses serving multiple schools.