UAE school calendar 2025–26: All key dates and holidays in Dubai revealed
Term dates, exam schedules, and breaks every parent should know
DUBAI: Planning the next school year just got easier for parents in Dubai.
The Ministry of Education and Dubai’s Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) have released the official 2025–2026 academic calendar for all public and private schools.
From exact term start dates to spring breaks and exam schedules, here’s a comprehensive look at what lies ahead for students in the new academic year.
Summer holidays
With classes scheduled to begin on Monday, August 25, 2025, students will return after a two-month summer holiday.
All public and private schools following the MoE curriculum must ensure a minimum of 182 instructional days, with the academic year ending no earlier than June 26, 2026.
Schools following international curricula are also expected to meet this minimum, though some flexibility is allowed in implementation.
Term timeline
The winter break will commence on December 15, with students expected to return on January 5, 2026, after a full three-week vacation. The spring break begins on March 23, 2026. Most schools will reopen on April 6, but those following the MoE curriculum will extend the break to April 13. Indian curriculum schools, which follow an April–March cycle, will conclude their academic year on March 31, 2026.
Throughout the academic year, the third term will run for 11 weeks, comprising 52 instructional days. This period leads into final examinations and re-examinations, forming a crucial part of the academic schedule.
Exam schedules
Students in public and private schools under the MoE curriculum will sit their third-term exams from June 10 to June 19, with results issued between June 30 and July 2. The summer holidays for students officially begin on June 30, while teaching and administrative staff will commence their break from July 14, after the release of re-exam results.
Re-examinations are set to run from July 4 to July 10, with final outcomes declared on July 14.
Meanwhile, Grade 12 adult education students will have their second session examinations from June 23 to July 3. The subjects – ranging from mathematics to Arabic and biology/chemistry – will be spread across two weeks, with each paper running from 4pm to 6pm.
Curriculum guidelines
The UAE Cabinet-approved calendar applies across all schools following either the ministry or foreign curricula. It ensures that all institutions observe a unified framework, balancing standardisation with flexibility to accommodate different teaching systems. This move supports strategic planning for schools, educators, and families alike.