Kate Kelly, KG2 co-ordinator prepares a classroom before the start of the school year at Swiss International Scientific School, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

What is the UAE school calendar? 2025-2026 term dates and holidays revealed


  • English
  • Arabic

As UAE schools mark the end of the academic year, hundreds of thousands of pupils are beginning a two-month long summer break.

Schools will reopen after the break on August 25.

This applies to schools following the federal Ministry of Education (MOE) curriculum and private schools in Dubai following the calendar of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA).

The academic year for public and private schools in the UAE is divided into three terms, which feature winter, spring and summer breaks. The academic year must be made up of at least 182 days, the government says.

Whether it heralds the start of a new academic year or the end of mid-term holiday depends on the curriculum.

For schools that follow British or American curricula, the end of August brings about the start of the 2025-2026 academic year.

For Indian-curriculum schools that started their academic year in April, the summer holiday is an interlude in their calendar.

Winter and spring breaks

Students across the UAE will get their first term break in winter, starting on December 15. Schools will reopen after the winter break on January 5, 2026. These dates apply to all schools in the UAE.

Spring break for schools following the MOE calendar will be from March 23, 2026 to April 12, 2026, with classes resuming on April 13, 2026.

For KHDA-governed schools, spring break will be from March 23, 2026 to April 5, 2026, and classes will resume on April 6, 2026.

Both authorities mention in their official calendars that the academic year should not end before June 26, 2026. End of term dates may vary depending on the curriculum and governing calendar, but the academic year cannot consist of fewer than the 182 days as set out by authorities.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Emergency

Director: Kangana Ranaut

Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry 

Rating: 2/5

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League, last-16 second leg
Paris Saint-Germain (1) v Borussia Dortmund (2)
Kick-off: Midnight, Thursday, March 12
Stadium: Parc des Princes
Live: On beIN Sports HD

Nancy 9 (Hassa Beek)

Nancy Ajram

(In2Musica)

'Doctor Strange in the Multiverse Of Madness' 

   

 

Director: Sam Raimi

 

Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olsen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Wong, Xochitl Gomez, Michael Stuhlbarg and Rachel McAdams

 

Rating: 3/5

 
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
  • Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
  • Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
  • Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
  • Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
  • Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
  • Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
  • Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
BIGGEST CYBER SECURITY INCIDENTS IN RECENT TIMES

SolarWinds supply chain attack: Came to light in December 2020 but had taken root for several months, compromising major tech companies, governments and its entities

Microsoft Exchange server exploitation: March 2021; attackers used a vulnerability to steal emails

Kaseya attack: July 2021; ransomware hit perpetrated REvil, resulting in severe downtime for more than 1,000 companies

Log4j breach: December 2021; attackers exploited the Java-written code to inflitrate businesses and governments

Inside Palestine-Israel
The design

The protective shell is covered in solar panels to make use of light and produce energy. This will drastically reduce energy loss.

More than 80 per cent of the energy consumed by the French pavilion will be produced by the sun.

The architecture will control light sources to provide a highly insulated and airtight building.

The forecourt is protected from the sun and the plants will refresh the inner spaces.

A micro water treatment plant will recycle used water to supply the irrigation for the plants and to flush the toilets. This will reduce the pavilion’s need for fresh water by 30 per cent.

Energy-saving equipment will be used for all lighting and projections.

Beyond its use for the expo, the pavilion will be easy to dismantle and reuse the material.

Some elements of the metal frame can be prefabricated in a factory.

 From architects to sound technicians and construction companies, a group of experts from 10 companies have created the pavilion.

Work will begin in May; the first stone will be laid in Dubai in the second quarter of 2019. 

Construction of the pavilion will take 17 months from May 2019 to September 2020.

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm

Transmission: 9-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh117,059

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Points to remember
  • Debate the issue, don't attack the person
  • Build the relationship and dialogue by seeking to find common ground
  • Express passion for the issue but be aware of when you're losing control or when there's anger. If there is, pause and take some time out.
  • Listen actively without interrupting
  • Avoid assumptions, seek understanding, ask questions
HOW TO WATCH

Facebook: TheNationalNews 

Twitter: @thenationalnews 

Instagram: @thenationalnews.com 

TikTok: @thenationalnews Â  

While you're here
The National's picks

4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young

'How To Build A Boat'
Jonathan Gornall, Simon & Schuster

The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

The British in India: Three Centuries of Ambition and Experience

by David Gilmour

Allen Lane

What can victims do?

Always use only regulated platforms

Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion

Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)

Report to local authorities

Warn others to prevent further harm

Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

F1 The Movie

Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem

Director: Joseph Kosinski

Rating: 4/5

Updated: July 04, 2025, 11:15 AM`