UAE students return to classrooms on 31 August as Ministry unveils three-year academic calendar

UAE students return to classrooms on 31 August as Ministry unveils three-year academic calendar

Students at public schools and private institutions following the UAE Ministry of Education curriculum will return to classrooms on 31 August for the start of the 2026-27 academic year, according to a new calendar that forms part of a three-year planning framework extending through 2028-29.

The Ministry of Education released the comprehensive calendar to provide schools and families with long-term planning visibility, outlining key dates for school terms, holidays, examinations and national assessments through to July 2027.

Administrative and teaching staff will report back on 24 August, one week before students begin classes. The schedule provides for 185 instructional days spread across 37 weeks, divided into three terms: 67 days across 13 weeks in the first term, 60 days across 12 weeks in the second term, and 58 days across 12 weeks in the third term.

First Term and Assessment Schedule

The first term will include several key assessments, beginning with the Arabic Baseline Assessment, a comprehensive online benchmark test that measures reading, listening, writing and speaking skills for Arabic, Islamic Education and Social Studies subjects. Schools will also conduct diagnostic assessments and the Standardised Proficiency Assessment, which measures core subject skills in Arabic, mathematics and English for grades 4 to 11 in public schools.

A mid-term break will provide students and staff with time off before end-of-term examinations. The Ministry emphasizes that all schools across the UAE must adhere to the mid-term break for the first semester, though local education authorities have flexibility for private schools not following the Ministry curriculum to divide breaks between October and February, provided the total duration does not exceed five school days.

Students will begin their winter holiday on 14 December, while administrative and teaching staff will start their break on 21 December.

Second and Third Terms

The second term will commence on 4 January 2027, when first-term results will be announced and final school assessments conducted. The term will include the Eid Al Fitr holiday, followed by the spring break starting on 5 April.

The third term begins on 12 April and features participation in TIMSS 2027, the ninth cycle of the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study. This digital assessment, conducted every four years since 1995, evaluates fourth and eighth-grade students' mathematics and science achievement globally. More than 70 countries participate in TIMSS to benchmark their education systems, with TIMSS 2027 marking the second fully digital cycle after the transition in 2023.

Schools will complete remaining Standardised Proficiency Assessment tests during the third term and conduct mock examinations ahead of end-of-year tests. Final examinations are scheduled for 21-30 June, with supplementary and resit examinations to follow before final results are announced.

Year-End Arrangements

According to the calendar, 2 July 2027 will be the final school day for students, while administrative and teaching staff will remain on duty until 16 July. Staff will begin their summer break on 19 July after completing professional development programmes and final administrative procedures.

The calendar applies to public schools and private schools following the Ministry of Education curriculum. The UAE education sector encompasses over 600 private institutions serving more than 800,000 students across over 16 different curricula, with approximately 70 percent of students in Dubai and Abu Dhabi attending private schools.

The Ministry said the academic calendar is intended to provide schools, students and parents with a clear roadmap for the year, enabling early planning for key academic milestones, assessments and school holidays.