Dubai school calendar 2025-2026 with term dates and holidays

Find winter, spring, and summer break dates for all private schools in Dubai

Last updated:
Zainab Husain, Features Writer
2 MIN READ
Find out the official academic calendar for Dubai’s private schools, including term start dates, holidays, and school breaks for both April and September schedules.
Find out the official academic calendar for Dubai’s private schools, including term start dates, holidays, and school breaks for both April and September schedules.
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Dubai: Parents and students across the UAE can now start planning ahead as the Ministry of Education (MOE) has released the official school calendar for the 2025–2026 academic year. The schedule outlines key dates for term starts, breaks, and the end of the school year, applying to all public and private schools nationwide, including those in Dubai under the KHDA.

UAE Ministry of Education (MOE) 2025–2026 school calendar

The Ministry of Education (MOE) has released the official school calendar for the 2025–2026 academic year, applying to all public and private schools across the country. The new school year will begin on Monday, August 25, 2025, with unified dates set for the start and end of terms, as well as term breaks.

Schools following the September-start calendar

For schools operating on the September-start academic year, the schedule is:

  • Start of academic year: August 25, 2025

  • End of first term / Winter break: December 8, 2025 – January 4, 2026

  • Classes resume: January 5, 2026

  • Spring break: March 16 – 29, 2026

  • Classes resume: March 30, 2026

  • End of academic year: July 3, 2026

The MOE has instructed all schools to strictly follow the approved calendar. This includes holding final assessments or completing curriculum requirements during the last week of each term to ensure students attend until the final day of school.

Dubai private school calendar

Dubai’s Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) aligns its academic calendar with MOE guidelines. All private schools in Dubai must comply with the approved dates for the start and end of the academic year, as well as winter, spring, and summer breaks, while meeting the minimum required number of school days.

Dubai private schools starting in April – Academic year 2025–2026

(Primarily Indian curriculum schools)

  • August 25, 2025: Classes resume after summer break

  • December 15, 2025: Winter break begins

  • January 5, 2026: Classes resume after winter break

  • March 31, 2026: End of academic year*

*March 2026 date applies if the school meets the required minimum of 182 school days.

Dubai private schools starting in September – Academic year 2025–2026

  • August 25, 2025: Classes resume after summer break

  • December 8, 2025: Winter break begins (all schools)

  • January 5, 2026: Classes resume after winter break (all schools)

  • March 16, 2026: Spring break begins (all schools)

  • March 30, 2026: Classes resume after spring break (all schools)

  • July 3, 2026: End of academic year

All private schools will share tentative dates for public holidays, such as Eid and UAE National Day, with parents in advance and confirm them once announced by the UAE Federal Government.

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