The UAE school holidays 2026-27 start with the October mid-term break, from Monday 12 to Friday 16 October 2026. Classes resume on Monday 19 October. The winter break runs from 14 December 2026, with school back on 4 January 2027. Spring break is 5 to 9 April 2027, and the last day of the year is Friday 2 July 2027. Schools on the April calendar, such as many Indian and Pakistani schools, follow different dates. Both calendars are below, with the public holidays and 8 tips for parents.
We checked every date on the Ministry of Education academic calendar 2026-2027 and the KHDA calendar for Dubai private schools on 9 October 2026.
UAE school holidays 2026-27
One school year, three breaks and a few holidays
Schools that start in September: 31 August 2026 to 2 July 2027. Weekends next to each break included.
1 week
October mid-term: 12 to 16 Oct, back 19 Oct
3 weeks
Winter break: 14 Dec to 1 Jan, back 4 Jan
1 week
Spring break: 5 to 9 Apr, back 12 Apr
Sources: UAE Ministry of Education academic calendar 2026-2027 and KHDA academic calendar for Dubai private schools, checked 9 October 2026. Eid dates are planning estimates.
UAE school holidays 2026-27 at a glance
This table is for schools that start in September. That covers public schools, private schools that teach the Ministry of Education (MOE) curriculum, and most British, American, IB and other private schools in Dubai.
| Date | What happens | Back at school |
|---|---|---|
| Mon 31 Aug 2026 | First day for students | |
| Mon 12 to Fri 16 Oct 2026 | October mid-term break | Mon 19 Oct 2026 |
| Wed 2 to Fri 4 Dec 2026 | National Day holiday | Mon 7 Dec 2026 |
| Mon 14 Dec 2026 to Fri 1 Jan 2027 | Winter break | Mon 4 Jan 2027 |
| About 8 to 12 Mar 2027 | Eid Al Fitr holiday (estimate) | Depends on the moon |
| Mon 5 to Fri 9 Apr 2027 | Spring break | Mon 12 Apr 2027 |
| About 15 to 18 May 2027 | Eid Al Adha holiday (estimate) | Depends on the moon |
| Fri 2 Jul 2027 | Last day for students | Summer break starts |
Add the weekends and the breaks feel longer. The October break runs from Saturday 10 to Sunday 18 October. The winter break runs to Sunday 3 January, and spring break to Sunday 11 April. In total, the year has 185 school days.
October mid-term break 2026: 12 to 16 October
The UAE school calendar 2026-27 puts the first mid-term break on 12 to 16 October 2026. The KHDA page lists this break for MOE private schools. Other Dubai private schools had more freedom, and some first told parents the break would be 19 to 23 October.
That changed in September. KHDA, the authority that regulates Dubai private schools, reminded schools to follow the unified Ministry of Education dates. Many schools, mostly British curriculum schools, then moved their break forward to 12 to 16 October. If your school sent an email about this, the latest email wins.
Some schools may also split their mid-term days between October and February. If you plan to travel, check your own school's calendar first.
Winter break and spring break
In Dubai, the winter break is the one date both calendars share. September schools and April schools have the same dates. Students finish on Friday 11 December and return on Monday 4 January 2027. New Year's Day falls inside the break.
The winter break is now three weeks, not four. The Ministry's calendar keeps this three-week winter break for the next three school years.
Spring break is one week: Monday 5 to Friday 9 April 2027. Classes start again on Monday 12 April. This break applies to September-start schools only. April-start schools are close to the end of their year by then.
Eid and public holidays that fall in term
UAE public holidays are set by the government. The official list on u.ae gives National Day as 2 and 3 December. The school calendar gives students 2 to 4 December off, so with the weekend it is a five-day break.
Two of the UAE school holidays 2026-27 depend on the moon. The Islamic holidays move each year, because they follow the lunar calendar. The Ministry calendar marks Eid Al Fitr for about 8 to 12 March 2027 and Eid Al Adha for about 15 to 18 May 2027. These are planning dates, not final dates. The real days are announced shortly before each Eid, after the moon sighting. Ramadan comes before Eid Al Fitr, and our guide to Ramadan rules in Dubai explains what changes during the month.
Holidays inside term
Which school holidays can you book now?
Holidays that fall inside the 2026-27 school year, sorted by how certain the date is.
Fixed: book now
Set by the calendar. These dates do not move.
Moon: estimate only
Islamic holidays. Final dates come after the moon sighting.
Sources: UAE Ministry of Education academic calendar 2026-2027; u.ae public holidays page (Islamic holidays follow the moon sighting). Checked 9 October 2026.
Schools on the April calendar
Many Indian and Pakistani curriculum schools in Dubai start their year in April. KHDA lists these Dubai school holidays separately:
- Start of the 2026-27 year: 6 April 2026
- Summer break: from 6 July 2026, back on 31 August 2026
- Winter break: from 14 December 2026, back on 4 January 2027
- End of the year: between 15 and 31 March 2027, once the school has taught at least 182 days
Each April school picks its own short breaks, so ask the school. The dates for the year that starts in April 2027 are not out yet. Schools in Sharjah follow Sharjah's own rules, so their dates can also differ.
8 tips for parents planning around the school holidays
1. Check your own school's calendar
The UAE school calendar 2026-27 sets the frame, but each school publishes its own dates. KHDA links every Dubai school's calendar from its school profile.
2. Book break-week flights early
Everyone travels during the Dubai school holidays, so fares out of Dubai often climb in the October, winter and spring breaks. Book as early as you can, or fly a day or two either side of the break.
3. Treat Eid dates as estimates
Do not lock in a non-refundable trip on an estimated Eid date. The holiday can move by a day or two once the moon is sighted.
4. Use the long weekends
The National Day break, Wednesday 2 to Sunday 6 December, is a short trip without missing school. If you are new to the country, here is how the UAE weekend works.
5. Book summer camps early
Summer starts after the last day of school on 2 July 2027. Popular camps fill up in spring, so start looking around the spring break.
6. Watch for new school start and finish times
KHDA now lets Dubai schools change their daily start and finish times to ease traffic. Schools need KHDA approval and parent support first, The National reported on 1 October 2026. Check for any change before you plan the school run.
7. Ask about extra closure days
Schools can add their own staff training days. These are not in the national calendar, so ask early and plan childcare.
8. Moving to Dubai? Use the winter break
The winter break is a good time to arrive with children, as they can start school in January. Our guide to moving to Dubai with kids covers school places and waiting lists. For the money side, see the monthly budget for a family of four.
