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

Start of the academic year differs between British, American and Indian curriculums

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.