UAE confirms 2025–26 school calendar with set term dates and holidays
Spring holidays vary slightly for Sharjah’s private schools
DUBAI: Students across the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will begin their new school year on Monday, 25 August 2025, following the approval of the academic calendar by the Education, Human Development and Community Development Council.
The Ministry of Education (MoE) has announced a unified calendar for all public and private schools, aligning holidays and term structures to promote balance between learning and family time.
The calendar forms part of a broader strategy to enhance education and social cohesion under the goals of the ‘Year of Community’. It applies to schools following both national and international curricula, with few exceptions on certain dates for Sharjah-based private institutions.
Term breaks
The first term concludes on 8 December 2025, followed by a four-week winter break running through 4 January 2026. Students will resume classes on 5 January 2026.
The second term continues from 5 January to 15 March 2026, after which students will enjoy spring break from 16 to 29 March 2026. Private schools in Sharjah will observe a slightly shorter spring holiday from 16 to 22 March, resuming on 23 March 2026.
The third term begins 30 March 2026 and ends 3 July 2026, except for private schools in Sharjah, which will conclude on 2 July 2026.
To support student well-being and academic pacing, the MoE has introduced mid-term breaks for public and private schools following the government curriculum. These include:
- 13–19 October 2025 (Term 1)
- 11–15 February 2026 (Term 2)
- 25–31 May 2026, coinciding with Eid Al Adha (Term 3)
Private schools not following the national curriculum may hold their own October and February mid-term breaks, each not exceeding five consecutive days, and must remain within the assigned month.
Assessment weeks
The Ministry has mandated that all schools conduct final assessments or complete required curriculum activities during the last week of each term. Attendance is compulsory until the final school day, with the exception of students sitting for pre-scheduled international exams.
In addition, private schools under the national curriculum must adhere to the centralised testing schedule used in public schools, ensuring consistency in academic standards across the board.