UAE schools gear up for new academic year as over one million students return

Public and private schools across the UAE that follow the Ministry of Education curriculum, along with kindergartens, are preparing to welcome students back on Monday, August 25, marking the start of the 2025–2026 academic year.

More than one million students will resume their studies, including over 25,000 new students joining public schools for the first time. Schools have finalized their preparations, following the return of teaching, administrative, and technical staff to duty last week.

Additionally, more than 23,000 teachers and administrators participated in the professional development program organized by the Ministry prior to the start of the academic year. The program included approximately 170 hours of training delivered through 110 specialized workshops, targeting teachers, educational leaders, and supporting staff. These efforts are part of the Ministry’s strategy to enhance staff readiness and improve the quality of educational practices.

Field monitoring plan

Through its official social media platforms, the Ministry of Education announced its intention to implement a field monitoring plan for private schools across the Emirates. The plan aims to ensure full compliance with the mandatory teaching of Arabic, Islamic Education, and Social Concepts in kindergarten and early grades, starting from the 2025–2026 academic year. This initiative reflects the Ministry’s commitment to strengthening national identity and Emirati values from the earliest stages of education.

Engineer Mohammed Al Qassim, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education, explained that private schools will be subject to systematic inspections to verify compliance with the teaching standards of subjects related to national identity, with a focus on Arabic, Islamic Education, and Social Concepts. He noted that inspection teams and specialized offices will regularly monitor quality indicators and learning outcomes.

He emphasized that adherence to these standards directly contributes to embedding identity and values, while enhancing students’ linguistic and cognitive skills.

Strengthening oversight of private schools

The Undersecretary stressed that the Ministry is moving forward in reinforcing oversight of private schools to ensure teaching quality according to rigorous standards. Implementation guides will be circulated to provide clear mechanisms, he added. These integrated efforts embody the Ministry’s commitment to improving the quality of education, consolidating national identity, and providing modern learning environments that equip students with essential skills for both the labor market and life.

He further explained that the monitoring will follow an organized framework, including field visits, follow-up committees, and evaluation reports, ensuring effective implementation. This approach forms part of a comprehensive vision to nurture a generation proud of its mother tongue, connected to its faith and social values, and firmly rooted in its cultural heritage—thereby strengthening its presence academically and socially in the future.

Academic term details

First term

• Starts: August 25 – Ends: December 8 for students (staff break begins December 15).

• Includes: Prophet’s Birthday holiday (September 4), Diagnostic Tests (September 15–19), Midterm Break (October 13–15).

• Final exams: November 20–28.

• National Day holiday: December 2–3.

Second term

• Starts: January 5, 2026 – Ends: March 13, 2026.

• Includes: First-term results announcement (January 7–9), Midterm Break (February 11–15).

• Final exams: March 4–13.

• Spring Break: March 16–29.

Third term

• Starts: March 30 – Ends: July 3 for students (staff continue until July 17).

• Includes: PIRLS International Reading Study (April 15–May 7), TIMSS pilot study in Math and Science, Midterm Break (May 25–29), Islamic New Year holiday (June 16).

• Final exams: June 24–July 3.

178 instructional days

According to the approved academic calendar, the total number of instructional days is 178, distributed across three terms:

• First Term: 67 days (14 weeks)

• Second Term: 47 days (9 weeks)

• Third Term: 64 days (13 weeks)

The Ministry has carefully defined the schedule of official holidays and breaks to maintain a balance between learning requirements and rest periods for both students and teachers.