UAE academic calendar for the 2025-2026 school and university year marks a major transition in the educational environment. This ground-breaking decision, announced jointly by the Ministries of Education and Higher Education and Scientific Research of United Arab Emirates. Their aim is to standardize educational timelines across all public and private institutions in the country. UAE academic calendar foster greater consistency, family cohesion, and alignment with national objectives.
According to UAE academic calendar the new academic year will begin on August 25, 2025. It will be a synchronized start for students at all educational levels. The academic year will end on July 3, 2026. Private schools in the emirate of Sharjah will end slightly earlier on July 2, 2026. This standard structure provides clarity and consistency for children, teachers, and families alike, marking a significant change from prior variation that frequently resulted in scheduling problems.
Midterm breaks:
Structured and consistent break intervals are a fundamental aspect of the UAE academic calendar. Schools will now have three different midterm breaks distributed across the academic year. The first of these will take place on October 13-19, 2025. Following this, students will take a break from February 11 to 15, 2026. The final midterm break is slated for May 25-31, 2026. These scheduled periods are intended to give frequent opportunities for relaxation and rejuvenation, resulting in a more balanced learning environment.
Winter break:
The prolonged four-week winter break, which will go from December 8, 2025 to January 4, 2026. This prolonged holiday break, which begins at the end of the first term, provides abundant opportunities for families. They could spend quality time together and participate in a variety of activities. Following that, a two-week spring break is scheduled for March 16–29, 2026.
Family cohesion:
The synchronization goes beyond primary and secondary schooling and includes higher education institutions. All public and private universities in the UAE will follow the same academic year start and end dates. Crucially, their major holiday times, such as the extended winter break and spring break, will coincide with the school calendar. This coordinated method is a purposeful attempt to increase family bonding by allowing families with members in both school and university to take synchronized breaks and vacation together.
There is still some latitude for private schools that do not follow the government curriculum. These universities will be able to schedule their midterm breaks between October and February, as long as each break does not last more than five consecutive days. However, these breaks must be taken within the allocated months and cannot be extended or relocated. This clause maintains a level of autonomy while adhering to the overall purpose of national alignment. The Ministry of Education has also emphasized the necessity of all schools following the official calendar, including completing final examinations and curriculum requirements in the final week of each term, to ensure student attendance until the very last day.
National initiative:
The adoption of this unified academic calendar is more than just an administrative change. it is a strategic national initiative. Sarah Al Amiri, the Minister of Education, emphasized that this new calendar serves as a crucial tool for reinforcing both educational quality and social cohesion within the UAE. She highlighted how consistent holiday dates will enable community, cultural, and tourism entities to better align their programs and offerings with the academic schedule, thereby strengthening the intrinsic link between education and broader society.
The UAE academic calendar for 2025–2026 is a forward-thinking way to think about education in the UAE. By standardizing timelines and integrating school and university schedules, the UAE hopes to create a more efficient, harmonious, and supportive educational ecosystem that benefits students, educators, and the larger community, reinforcing the country’s commitment to overall development and well-being.
