UAE School Year 2026–27: Key Dates, Holidays and Exam Periods for Parents

The UAE school year 2026–27 is officially underway, and parents are already planning around school holidays, exams and family travel.

For schools following the UAE Ministry of Education curriculum, students returned on 31 August 2026, making September the first full month of the new academic year. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

Here are the dates parents need to know.

UAE School Calendar 2026–2027: Key Dates

School year begins 31 August 2026

First mid-term break 12–18 October 2026 Students return on 19 October.

Winter break Begins 14 December 2026 Students return on 4 January 2027.

Spring break 5–11 April 2027 Students return on 12 April.

Last day of the academic year 2 July 2027. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

What About Dubai Private Schools?

Parents in Dubai should remember that private-school calendars can vary slightly.

The Ministry allows some private schools to adjust their mid-term breaks, subject to approval from the relevant local education authority. Individual Dubai schools therefore publish their own approved calendars through KHDA. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

For example, KHDA calendars for several Dubai schools show the 2026–27 academic year beginning on 31 August 2026, with public holidays and school-specific breaks added separately. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

Always check your child's own school calendar before booking travel.

Important UAE School Holidays in 2026

Alongside school breaks, parents should watch official UAE public-holiday announcements.

Dubai school calendars currently include UAE National Day on 2–3 December 2026, while other religious holidays remain subject to official government confirmation. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}

This matters because public holidays can create shorter school weeks around already busy assessment periods.

When Are UAE School Exams in 2026–27?

Exam dates depend on the curriculum and school.

For Ministry-curriculum schools, the official calendar includes formal assessment periods throughout the year. The Ministry's published Term 3 schedule, for example, includes mock examinations from 14–18 June 2027 and end-of-term examinations from 21–30 June 2027. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}

International schools following British, Cambridge, Edexcel, IB, American or other curricula may use different internal assessment and external-exam dates.

Parents should therefore check both:

• the school's academic calendar
• the relevant international exam-board timetable

What Parents Should Plan for Now

September is the best time to identify problems before they become exam-season problems.

Check:

• which subjects your child finds difficult
• upcoming school assessments
• IGCSE, GCSE, A Level or IB examination plans
• holiday periods that can be used for focused revision

Students beginning a demanding exam year should not wait until mock exams to discover that they have major gaps.

If your child needs additional academic support during the 2026–27 UAE school year, explore online tutoring for students across Asia and the UAE.

Parents can also book a free parent or student consultation with OTA Learning Studio to discuss subjects, exam preparation and the right academic support plan.

The new UAE school year has only just started. A strong September can make the rest of the year considerably easier.