The academic year in Dubai schools for 2026/27 begins on Monday 31 August 2026 and ends on Friday 2 July 2027, with a one week break in October, three weeks at Christmas and one week in April. For the first time the dates come from a unified three year calendar set by the Ministry of Education, and KHDA requires every private school in Dubai that follows a September start to keep to it. This guide lists the term dates and holidays, explains who sets them and why some schools differ, and shows when admissions open so you can plan travel, moves and applications around the school year rather than against it.
At a glance
- First day of school: Monday 31 August 2026. Last day: Friday 2 July 2027.
- Three terms, with breaks on 12 to 16 October 2026, 14 December 2026 to 3 January 2027, and 5 to 11 April 2027.
- Indian, Bangladeshi and Pakistani curriculum schools follow an April to March year instead.
- Applications for September 2027 open at most schools around January 2027, and the busiest entry years fill by late spring.
Academic Year in Dubai Schools 2026/27: Key Dates
The table below follows the Ministry of Education calendar that KHDA has asked all September start private schools in Dubai to adopt. Individual schools may add staff training days or stagger the first week for younger children, so confirm the exact dates with your school before booking anything.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| First day of Term 1 | Monday 31 August 2026 |
| October mid term break | 12 to 16 October 2026 (classes resume 19 October) |
| UAE National Day holiday | 2 to 4 December 2026 |
| Winter break | 14 December 2026 to 3 January 2027 |
| First day of Term 2 | Monday 4 January 2027 |
| Ramadan (expected) | Around 7 February to 9 March 2027, with shorter school hours |
| Eid Al Fitr holiday (expected) | Around 8 to 12 March 2027, subject to moon sighting |
| Spring break | 5 to 11 April 2027 |
| First day of Term 3 | Monday 12 April 2027 |
| Eid Al Adha holiday (expected) | Around 17 to 18 May 2027, subject to moon sighting |
| Last day of the academic year | Friday 2 July 2027 |
Who Sets the School Calendar in Dubai?
Until recently each school published its own calendar within broad KHDA limits, which is why the academic year in Dubai schools often started and ended on different days at neighbouring campuses. From 2026/27 the Ministry of Education has issued one unified calendar covering the three academic years 2026/27, 2027/28 and 2028/29, approved in early 2026. KHDA has reminded all private schools in Dubai to adhere to the unified dates and to publish their calendars clearly to parents.
The new calendar starts the year about a week later than before, shortens the winter break from four weeks to three and brings the spring break down to one week in April. Schools keep some flexibility inside the frame: the mid term break can be taken in October or split between October and February, as long as the total does not exceed five school days.
The unified dates do not apply to schools following the Indian, Bangladeshi or Pakistani curricula, which run from April to March. If your child is moving between a September start school and an April start school, the overlap or gap between the two years needs planning, and our guide to transferring schools in Dubai explains how the transfer certificate and joining windows work.
How the Three Terms Are Structured
British, American and IB schools in Dubai all run three terms inside the same dates, but the rhythm of each term is different.
Term 1: 31 August to 13 December 2026
The longest term runs for fifteen weeks and carries most of the settling in work for new students. Expect a short October break, National Day celebrations in the first days of December and, in most British curriculum schools, end of term assessments for the upper primary and secondary years during late November and early December. Many schools stagger the first week so that Foundation Stage children start a day or two after the older year groups.
Term 2: 4 January to 2 April 2027
Term 2 runs for thirteen weeks and includes Ramadan, when KHDA permits schools to shorten the day and most reduce teaching hours by one to two hours. Mock examinations for IGCSE and A Level students usually fall in January and February, and option choices for the following year are made during this term. Any February half term, where a school takes one, falls here.
Term 3: 12 April to 2 July 2027
The final term is twelve weeks long and is dominated by external examinations. IGCSE, AS and A Level papers run from late April to mid June, and internal end of year assessments for younger students follow in June. Reports, transition days and farewells fill the last fortnight before the summer break. Our guides to IGCSE results day and A Level results day cover what happens when the grades arrive in August.
School Holidays in Dubai 2026/27
Four breaks structure the year: one week in October, three weeks in December and January, one week in April and the summer holiday from 3 July until the end of August 2027. Public holidays sit on top of these. UAE National Day falls on 2 December, with 3 and 4 December added for most schools, and the Islamic holidays move with the lunar calendar. For 2026/27 Eid Al Fitr is expected around 8 to 12 March 2027 and Eid Al Adha around 17 to 18 May 2027, but the exact days are confirmed by the government only a few days ahead, so treat them as provisional until the school announces them.
Schools also close for a small number of staff professional development days, usually attached to a break, and these appear only on the school’s own calendar. Taking a child out of school outside the published holidays is discouraged by KHDA, and attendance is one of the measures inspectors look at, so plan family travel around the dates above.
When Do Admissions Open for the Next Academic Year?
Admissions in Dubai run almost a full year ahead of the first day of school. Most schools open applications for September 2027 around January 2027, and some accept them from the autumn before. Foundation Stage and Year 1 fill first, often by April or May, so a family planning a September start should be applying while the current year is still in Term 2. Assessments are scheduled through the spring, offers follow within days and a deposit, capped by KHDA at ten percent of annual tuition, secures the seat.
Mid year entry is possible where a seat exists, but KHDA sets joining windows. In British curriculum schools, children can join FS1 to Year 6 throughout the year, entry into Years 7 to 10 closes before the second semester begins, and Years 11 to 13 must be completed within 60 days of the start of the year because students would otherwise join part way through an examination course. The age rules also matter: from 2026/27 the cutoff for new early years admissions is 31 December, so a child who turns 3 by 31 December 2026 is eligible for FS1 this year. Our guide to the school entry assessment in Dubai explains what each year group is asked to do before an offer is made.
Families already enrolled are not left out of the cycle. Schools ask returning students to confirm their place for the following year during Term 2, usually with a deposit that is deducted from the next year’s fees and refundable only if written notice is given well before the year starts. Missing that date can mean losing a seat in a full year group.
Planning the Year: Practical Tips for Parents
- Book flights after the school publishes its own calendar. The unified dates are the frame, but staff days and staggered starts are decided by each school.
- Avoid arriving in Dubai during exam season. A move in late April or May lands a secondary student in the middle of external examinations. The natural joining points are the first week of each term.
- Use the October break for the first school visit if you are applying for the following September, and have the assessment done before the spring rush.
- Plan for shorter days in Ramadan. Finish times move earlier for four weeks, which affects transport and childcare arrangements.
- Diary the place confirmation deadline. If your child is already in a Dubai school, the Term 2 confirmation date matters as much as any application deadline.
- Keep the first and last weeks free. Orientation in the first week and transition days in the last are the two points where absence costs a child most.
The 2026/27 Calendar at Dubai Scholars
Dubai Scholars follows the unified calendar with a staggered start so that the youngest children begin in a quieter building. Years 2 to 13 start on 31 August 2026, Year 1 on 1 September, FS1 on 2 September and FS2 on 3 September. Term 1 assessments for Years 5 to 13 run from 16 November to 7 December 2026, the winter break runs from 14 December to 1 January, Term 2 begins on 4 January 2027, spring break runs from 5 to 9 April, Term 3 begins on 12 April and the last day for students is 2 July 2027.
The school day runs from 7:10 am to 2:10 pm for Years 1 to 13 and from 8:15 am to 12:10 pm for FS1 and FS2, Monday to Thursday, with an 11:15 am finish for everyone on Fridays. Parent teacher meetings are set for 8 October 2026, 16 January 2027 and April 2027, with a final round in July for the primary years. The full calendar, including public holidays and professional development days, is published on the timings and calendar page and updated whenever the government confirms an Islamic holiday.
Admissions for FS1 to Year 13 run through the year with the usual sequence of online application, entry assessment and offer, and families planning a September 2027 start are encouraged to apply during Term 2 of the current year.
Academic Year in Dubai Schools: FAQs
When does the academic year start in Dubai in 2026?
Monday 31 August 2026 for September start private schools. Some schools phase in Foundation Stage and Year 1 over the first few days.
When does the school year end in Dubai?
The academic year in Dubai schools for 2026/27 ends on Friday 2 July 2027. The summer holiday then runs until the end of August 2027.
When is the October mid term break in Dubai schools?
12 to 16 October 2026, with classes resuming on Monday 19 October. Some schools may split the five days between October and February.
How long is the winter break in Dubai schools?
Three weeks, from 14 December 2026 to 3 January 2027, with Term 2 starting on 4 January 2027.
Do all Dubai schools follow the same calendar?
All September start private schools follow the unified Ministry of Education calendar under KHDA guidance. Indian, Bangladeshi and Pakistani curriculum schools run from April to March and set their own term dates.
When do school admissions open in Dubai?
Most schools open applications around January for the following September, and popular entry years fill by late spring. Mid year places are offered where seats exist, within the KHDA joining windows.
What time does school start and finish in Dubai?
Most schools start between 7:10 and 8:00 am and finish between 2:00 and 3:30 pm from Monday to Thursday, with an early finish around 11:15 am to 12:00 pm on Fridays. Hours are shortened during Ramadan.
Planning for 2026/27 or 2027/28? Read the Dubai Scholars admission procedure, book a school tour, or contact the admissions team on +971 4 706 9000 or at admissions@dubaischolars.com.
