When is half-term break for schools in the UAE?

Many schools set for first week-long holiday of the year, starting on February 13

UAE pupils will have nine days off once both weekends are factored in. Photo: The National

Many schools in the UAE will close for a week next month so that pupils and families can have a half-term holiday, the first break of the year.

Schools will be closed from February 13 to 17, but the holiday will last for nine days as the weekend falls on February 11 and 12 and also 18 and 19. Classes will resume on Monday, February 20.

Which schools will have a half-term break?

British schools typically follow similar dates for the half-term break so families that have children attending different schools can have holidays at the same time.

All Taaleem schools and Hartland International School will follow the same dates.

Gems Education schools will start half-term on February 13 but not all schools in the group will follow the same dates and duration of holidays.

Most American curriculum schools will not have a half-term break next month — Gems Dubai American Academy and American School of Dubai, for example.

But some that follow the International Bacculerate curriculum will get a short holiday. For example, Emirates International School in the Meadows and Jumeirah in Dubai will be closed for two days — February 13 and 14.

Indian schools that begin their academic year in April will not have a half-term break next month but they will have more than two weeks off at the end of March.

Schools are allowed some flexibility in their calendar, as long as they complete a certain number of days in the year.

The February break is one of the busiest periods of the year for tourism, with tens of thousands of foreign visitors heading to the Emirates as European schools take a week-long holiday.

When is the next school holiday?

Pupils have their next holiday in the spring break which is due to start on March 27 until April 7. Classes will resume on April 10.

Ministry of Education curriculum schools will have a holiday from March 27 to April 14.

There are two half-term breaks during the year, the other being in October.

Some schools include both in their calendar, but the one in October is shorter while others have only one break in February.

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Dubai's top ranked schools - in pictures

Dubai English Speaking School (Dess), one of the oldest schools in the country, was established in 1963 in a room of a residential villa in Dubai. Ruel Pableo / The National

Located in Barsha South, Gems Dubai American Academy focuses on celebrating diversity, resilience, creativity and driving positive change. Reem Mohammed / The National

The Jumeirah English Speaking School at Arabian Ranches. The non-profit school was started in an apartment in Deira in 1975 with only 17 pupils. Stephen Lock / The National

Dubai College in Al Sufouh is one of the oldest in the city and often touted as one of the best in the emirate. Pawan Singh / The National

Gems Modern Academy, located in Nad Al Sheba 3, was founded in 1986 and is the only Indian curriculum school in Dubai to be ranked as outstanding by the KHDA. Victor Besa / The National

Located in Emirates Hills, Dubai British School has 1,171 pupils and is sought after by families. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Horizons English school, situated in Dubai’s Al Wasl area, caters to foundation stage one to Year 6, with almost 1,000 pupils enrolled. Photo: Horizons English School

Kings School Barsha is a relatively new school, opening in September 2014, and has managed to achieve a DSIB score of 'outstanding' in its last two inspections. Satish Kumar / The National

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The Repton School located in Nad El Sheba is one of three branches in the UAE. Photo: Repton Dubai

Gems Jumeirah Primary School in Jumeirah 3 is one of the most sought-after primary schools in the emirate and has been rated 'outstanding' since 2010 by the KHDA. Photo: Jumeirah Primary School

Jumeirah College, a UK curriculum school located in Al Safa 1, has 1,125 pupils from 59 countries. Photo: Jumeirah College

Pupils at Lycee Francais International Georges Pompidou have a consistently outstanding performance in mathematics across all ages, DSIB's latest quality indicators report showed. Pawan Singh / The National

Jumeirah English Speaking School at Al Safa 1 has a little more than 2,000 pupils. Pawan Singh / The National

Dubai English Speaking College at Academic City was established with the aim of providing quality British education for pupils up to the age of 18 and preparing them for entry into university. Pawan Singh / The National

Victory Heights Primary School, located in the heart of the Sports City community opened in 2012. Teaching the British curriculum, it has just under 1,000 pupils. Pawan Singh / The National

The Nord Anglia International School Dubai, located in Al Barsha 3, teaches pupils from early years up to Year 13. Photo: Nord Anglia International School Dubai

Dubai International Academy opened in Emirates Hills in 2005. It has more than 2,600 pupils, ranging in ages from 3 to 18. Reem Mohammed / The National

Deira International School, in Al Badia, Festival City, has just over 1,800 pupils enrolled, ranging in age from 3 to 18. Photo: Deira International School