Parents, students and school leaders across the UAE now have advance clarity. The Ministry of Education has approved the academic calendar for the next three academic years, covering the years 2026-2027, 2027-2028 and 2028-2029, setting fixed start dates, semester breaks and last class days for public and private schools.The move is intended to bring greater stability to the education system and allow families and educators to plan early. According to the Ministry of Education, the calendar supports a sustainable structure that balances teaching time and high-quality learning outcomes, taking into account educational and social factors.
2026–2027 academic year
The academic year will begin on August 31, 2026.
- Mid-term break: October 12 to October 18, 2026
- Courses resume on 19 October 2026
- Winter vacation: December 14, 2026 to January 3, 2027
- Classes will resume on January 4, 2027
- Spring Break: April 5 to April 11, 2027
- Classes will resume on April 12, 2027
- Last class day: July 2, 2027
2027–2028 academic year
Courses will begin on August 30, 2027.
- Mid-term break: October 11 to October 17, 2027
- Classes will resume on October 18, 2027
- Winter vacation: December 13, 2027 to January 2, 2028
- Classes will resume on January 3, 2028
- Spring Break: March 27 to April 2, 2028
- Classes will resume on April 3, 2028
- Last class day: June 30, 2028
2028–2029 academic year
The academic year will begin on August 28, 2028.
- Mid-term break: October 16 to October 22, 2028
- Classes will resume on October 23, 2028
- Winter vacation: December 11, 2028 to January 1, 2029
- Classes will resume on January 2, 2029
- Spring Break: March 26 to April 1, 2029
- Classes will resume on April 2, 2029
- Last class day: June 29, 2029
Compliance Rules and Course Exceptions
The Department for Education stresses that all schools must adhere to designated half-term breaks. However, local education authorities may allow private schools that do not follow the Ministry of Education curriculum to split the October half-term break into October and February. Such divisions may not exceed five instructional days and must comply with operational requirements.This flexibility does not apply to private schools in Sharjah as these schools operate under the emirate’s specific regulatory framework.This calendar does not apply to private schools following the Indian, Bangladeshi or Pakistani curriculum.All schools must comply fully with the approved dates. To ensure student attendance by the last day of each semester, schools must conduct final assessments or complete course requirements during the final week. The only exception is for grades taking pre-scheduled international examinations.
Long-term planning and industry stability
The ministry said the development of a three-year academic framework can enhance preparedness across the education sector. It enables better resource allocation, earlier program planning and smoother operational management.The dates announced by the ministry, which runs until mid-2029, aim to enhance stability while positioning schools as central institutions that prepare for future generations.
