Families across the UAE can now mark their calendars as the Ministry of Education has officially released the school calendar for the upcoming 2025-26 academic year. The new calendar applies to public and private schools nationwide and comes with important updates that aim to improve student well-being and make planning easier for families.
The academic year will start on 25 August for schools, with the first term running until 7 December. Students will then enjoy a four-week winter break, until 4 January, 2026, resuming classes on 5 January. This longer winter break is designed to help students recharge and engage in local and national activities after a busy start to the year.
The second term will run from 5 January to 15 March, 2026, followed by a two-week spring break from 16 to 29 March. Classes will resume on 30 March, although private schools in Sharjah will return earlier, on 23 March.
The third term begins on 30 March, 2026, with the academic year ending on 3 July for most schools and 2 July for private schools in Sharjah.
One of the major changes this year is the introduction of three mid-term breaks for both public and private schools following the government curriculum. These short breaks are aimed at reducing academic pressure and giving families more quality time together during the school year. The first break is set for 13 to 19 October, 2025, the second from 11 to 15 February, 2026, and the third from 25 to 31 May, 2026, which will also align with the Eid Al-Adha holidays.
Private schools that follow international or non-government curricula have been given some flexibility to set their own October and February mid-term breaks, but these must not exceed five consecutive days and must fall within the designated months.