Students of the International Baccalaureate (IB) across the UAE will not sit for their final exams in 2026, due to the ongoing regional conflict. The update was shared with families within hours of the announcement on 30 March.
Brian Cleary, Head of Secondary, Swiss International Scientific School Dubai (SISD), said, "Following discussions between the IB and the UAE Ministry of Education, it has been confirmed that IB Diploma Programme (DP) and the Career-related Programme (CP) students in the UAE will not sit written examinations this year."
Instead, students will be awarded their final grades through the Non-Exam Contingency Measure, meaning all students will still receive their IB qualification.
Brian Cleary, from SISD, said, "Final grades for DP and CP students will be determined using internal assessments, which are externally marked by IB examiners. Furthermore, grades will also be predicted based on teachers’ professional judgement of each student’s overall performance. These grades will then be carefully reviewed by the IB to ensure fairness and alignment with global standards."
While exams have been cancelled, schools are urging students to complete any remaining coursework and work on teacher feedback before final submissions.
The IB has said it will provide additional guidance and support materials for families through its public help platform. Parents and students can also access IB information and support at help.ibo.org.