UAE announces three-year academic calendar for schools and universities from 2026: Check details

UAE academic calendar 2026–2029: The Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research have unveiled a unified three-year academic calendar covering 2026-2027, 2027-2028 and 2028-2029, bringing long-term clarity for students, parents, schools and universities across the UAE. According to officials, the move strengthens system-wide readiness, improves resource management and allows institutions to plan academic and extracurricular activities well in advance. ## Schools: Key dates for 2026–2029 ### Academic year 2026–2027 • Start: August 31, 2026 • End: July 2, 2027 • Mid-term break (semester 1): October 12–18, 2026 • Winter break: December 14, 2026 – January 3, 2027 • Spring break: April 5–11, 2027 ### Academic year 2027–2028 • Start: August 30, 2027 • End: June 30, 2028 • Mid-term break (semester 1): October 11–17, 2027 • Winter break: December 13, 2027 – January 2, 2028 • Spring break: March 27 – April 2, 2028 ### Academic year 2028–2029 • Start: August 28, 2028 • End: June 29, 2029 • Mid-term break (semester 1): October 16–22, 2028 • Winter break: December 11, 2028 – January 1, 2029 • Spring break: March 29 – April 1, 2029 ## What schools must follow • All schools must adhere to the approved calendar. • Final assessments or curriculum completion must take place in the last week of term (except for students sitting international exams). • Private schools not following the MoE curriculum may split the October mid-term break (max five school days). • The exception: Private schools in Sharjah will continue under the emirate’s regulatory framework. • The calendar does not apply to schools following alternative curricula such as Indian, Bangladeshi or Pakistani systems. ## Universities: Unified calendar for higher education One day after the school announcement, the MoHESR confirmed a standardised calendar for federal and private universities nationwide, The move aligns semester timelines and holiday periods, while allowing international branch campuses to follow their parent universities abroad. ## Higher education key dates • Start: August 31, 2026 • Winter break: December 21, 2026 – January 1, 2027 • Spring break: April 5–9, 2027 • Summer semester: May 24 – July 2, 2027 • End: July 2, 2027 • Start: August 30, 2027 • Winter break: December 20–31, 2027 • Spring break: March 27–31, 2028 • Summer semester: May 22 – June 30, 2028 • End: June 30, 2028 • Start: August 28, 2028 • Winter break: December 18–29, 2028 • Spring break: March 26–30, 2029 • Summer semester: May 21 – June 29, 2029 • End: June 29, 2029 ## Teaching weeks Each academic year will include: • 16 teaching weeks (semester 1) • 17 teaching weeks (semester 2) • 6 teaching weeks (summer semester) • Official holidays and breaks are excluded from the total teaching weeks. ## Why this matters For students and families, the most noticeable change is predictable winter breaks stretching into the New Year, making travel planning easier. For university students, clearer semester boundaries help in: • Planning internships. • Scheduling overseas exchanges. • Managing professional certifications. • Organising graduation timelines. Authorities said the unified structure creates a more balanced and stable academic ecosystem, enhancing quality and long-term planning across the UAE’s education sector. The Express Global Desk at The Indian Express delivers authoritative, verified, and context-driven coverage of key international developments shaping global politics, policy, and migration trends. The desk focuses on stories with direct relevance for Indian and global audiences, combining breaking news with in-depth explainers and analysis. A major focus area of the desk is US immigration and visa policy, including developments related to student visas, work permits, permanent residency pathways, executive actions, and court rulings. 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