UAE school calendar 2025-2026: Ministry of Education announces full academic schedule

The Ministry of Education has announced the detailed academic calendar for public and private schools for the 2025–2026 academic year.

In a post on its official account on the 'X' platform, the Ministry stated:

“You can view the detailed academic calendar for the 2025–2026 academic year through the dedicated link, which contains general details of the academic schedule for all public and private schools across the country for the 2025–2026 school year.”

The new calendar sets provides the students with adequate rest after an intensive academic term. It also unified and clearly defined dates for the start of the academic year, the end of the three terms, and the conclusion of the school year. It applies to all schools nationwide, both public and private, within a shared framework aimed at enhancing the efficiency of the education system.

The new calendar will take effect on 25 August 2025, marking the start of the first term of the 2025–2026 academic year. This term will conclude with an extended four-week winter break from 8 December 2025 to 4 January 2026, with classes resuming on 5 January.

This schedule provides students with adequate rest following an intensive academic term, enhancing their capacity for comprehension and continued learning, while also offering them the opportunity to participate in national and social events held during this period.

The second term will begin on 5 January 2026 and continue until the spring break from 16 to 29 March, with classes resuming on 30 March, except for private schools in the Emirate of Sharjah, which will resume on 23 March 2026.

This timing sets the stage for a strong start to the third term, which begins on 30 March 2026. The academic year will conclude on 3 July 2026 under a more balanced and transparent system for distributing holidays, supporting knowledge retention and promoting students’ mental and emotional well-being.

An exception applies to private schools in the Emirate of Sharjah, where the last school day will be 2 July 2026.

The calendar also includes mid-term breaks for public schools and private schools following the Ministry curriculum, to provide short, regular rest periods during the year. The mid-term break for the first term will run from 13 to 19 October 2025, serving as an early pause during the longest term of the year.

The mid-term break for the second term will be from 11 to 15 February 2026, falling midway through the term to allow students to regain energy and balance.

In the third term, the mid-term break will be from 25 to 31 May 2026, coinciding with the Eid Al-Adha holiday for 2026.

These short breaks are designed to reduce academic pressure on students and allow for more family time.

The Ministry has granted private schools not following the Ministry curriculum the flexibility to schedule mid-term breaks only during October and February, provided each break does not exceed five consecutive days, and without extending or rescheduling them outside the specified timeframes—ensuring operational needs are met without compromising the national calendar.

The Ministry stressed that all schools must adhere to the approved calendar, including conducting final assessments or fulfilling curriculum requirements during the last week of each term, to ensure student attendance through the final day of school—excluding classes subject to pre-scheduled international examinations.

The Ministry also emphasized that all private schools following the Ministry curriculum must comply with the central examination schedule applied in public schools.