United Arab Emirates Introduces New School Calendar, Providing Mid-Term Holidays for Both Public and Private Institutions
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ministry of Education has unveiled a new academic calendar for schools following the government curriculum in the 2025-2026 academic year. The calendar is designed to ensure standardisation and facilitate coordination between education and broader social and cultural activities.
The new academic year will commence on August 25, 2025, and conclude on July 3, 2026. The calendar features a series of term breaks and mid-term breaks to support educational quality and social cohesion.
The first mid-term break will take place from October 13 to 19, 2025, with classes resuming on October 20. The winter break will span from December 8, 2025, to January 4, 2026, followed by the second mid-term break from February 11 to 15, 2026. The spring break will occur from March 16 to 29, 2026, although private schools in Sharjah will have a shorter break, ending on March 22. The third mid-term break will be held from May 25 to 31, 2026.
Sharjah-based private schools will conclude the school year a day earlier, on July 2, 2026. All schools must follow the approved calendar, including holding final assessments or completing curriculum requirements in the last week of each term.
The third mid-term break aligns with the Eid Al Adha holiday. The new calendar represents a move towards a September-start academic year with regular breaks. The Education, Human Development, and Community Development Council (EHCD) approved the new structure.
It's important to note that the new academic calendar does not apply to grades taking pre-scheduled international exams. Private schools not following the government's curriculum can schedule mid-term breaks in October and February.
Schools must adhere to the centralised test calendar used in public schools if they follow the government's curriculum. Schools will resume on January 5, 2026, except for private schools in Sharjah, which return on March 23, 2026. The first term will end with an extended four-week winter break from December 8, 2025, to January 4, 2026.
The second term runs from January 5, 2026, through March 15, 2026, followed by a spring break from March 16 to 29, 2026. The third term starts on March 30, 2026, and ends on July 3, 2026, except in Sharjah, where it ends on July 2, 2026.
The UAE Ministry of Education has announced this new academic calendar, which sets unified dates for the start of the academic year, end of the three terms, and end of term breaks. This move aims to promote consistency and coordination across the country's educational institutions.
The UAE Ministry of Education's new academic calendar, effective in the 2025-2026 academic year, includes breaks designed to support both educational quality and social cohesion. The calendar features scheduled mid-term breaks in October, February, May, and spring, with the third mid-term break aligning with the Eid Al Adha holiday. As the new year commences on August 25, 2025, and concludes on July 3, 2026, private schools in Sharjah will end a day earlier on July 2, 2026.
The Education, Human Development, and Community Development Council (EHCD) approved the new structure, which represents a move towards a September-start academic year with regular breaks. Schools under the government's curriculum are required to follow the centralised test calendar and adhere to the unified dates for term ends set by the Ministry.
The new academic calendar's aims include promoting consistency and coordination across the country's educational institutions and facilitating broader social and cultural activities. As such, it may impact various aspects of life in the UAE, including career opportunities, travel plans, health, sports, entertainment, and general news.
