The UAE education sector is preparing for the official start of the 2025-2026 academic year because the summer breaks in the UAE schools are coming to an end. In addition, public schools and private schools that follow the Ministry of Education curriculum across all emirates will welcome teaching, technical, and administrative staff on Monday, August 18, 2025. Moreover, students across all grades are going to return a week later, as classes are scheduled to start on Monday, August 25, 2025.
Teacher Training and Professional Development in the UAE Schools
Before the academic year starts, teachers will join a two-phase professional development programme that is developed to boost teaching methods and classroom readiness. Below are the details related to these phases:
- Phase one: August 18–22, 2025
- Phase two: October 13–15, 2025
The training is focused on empowering educators with innovative tools and methods. In addition, it ensures a strong academic base for the year ahead.
Academic Calendar 2025–2026
As per the new academic calendar, there will be 178 instructional days in this year. Thus, you can see the breakdown of these days below:
- First term: 67 days (August 25 – December 15)
- Second term: 47 days (January 5 – March 19)
- Third term: 64 days (March 30 – July 3)
Students are going to enjoy a four-week winter break from December 8, 2025, to January 4, 2026. On the other hand, the staff follow a slightly later schedule because their holiday will begin on December 15.
Key Dates and Holidays
- Prophet’s Birthday: September 4, 2025
- Diagnostic Assessments: Mid-September
- Mid-Term Break (First Term): October 13–15, 2025
- Final Exams (First Term): November 20–28, 2025
- UAE National Day Holidays: December 2–3, 2025
The second term will feature the February mid-term holiday. On the other hand, the third term will end with a final assessment and international benchmarking exams such as PIRLS and TIMSS.
Unified National Calendar
The Ministry of Education has introduced a unified school calendar approved by the Council for Education, Human Development, and Society for the first time. Moreover, this structure harmonizes holidays across the public and private schools.
Thus, it ensures a balanced academic schedule and supports the Year of Community initiative. Moreover, the unified calendar promotes family cohesion and consistency across the diverse education system in the UAE. In addition, the nation is set for a strong academic year by offering students a balance of learning, rest, and cultural observances through a clear academic roadmap.
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[…] UAE Schools Set to Reopen: Teachers Return August 18, Students Begin Classes August 25 […]
[…] UAE Schools Set to Reopen: Teachers Return August 18, Students Begin Classes August 25 […]