UAE School Holidays 2026–2027: Term Dates, Mid-Term Breaks and Winter Holidays
By Thasmiya
Parents across the UAE can plan ahead for the 2026–2027 academic year, with the Ministry of Education confirming the major school dates, including the October mid-term break, winter holidays, spring break and the final day of school. Parents planning family trips around the spring and early-summer breaks can also review the [expected Ramadan, Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha dates in the UAE for 2027](https://www.whatmatters.ae/post/ramadan-eid-al-fitr-eid-al-adha-2027) before making holiday arrangements.
For schools following the UAE’s unified academic calendar, students started the new academic year on **August 31, 2026**, while the school year will conclude on **July 2, 2027**. Parents should also be aware of the key [school rules and requirements for the 2026–27 academic year](https://www.whatmatters.ae/post/dubai-schools-202627-four-major-rules-every-uae).
Here are the important dates families need to know.
## **When did the 2026–2027 UAE school year begin?**
The 2026–2027 academic year officially began for students on **Monday, August 31, 2026**.
Teaching and administrative staff returned earlier, with the Ministry calendar setting **August 24, 2026** as the beginning of the academic year for school staff.
The calendar applies directly to UAE public schools and private schools following the Ministry of Education curriculum. Rules for other private schools can vary depending on their curriculum and local education authority.
## **[October mid-term break: October 12 to 18](https://www.whatmatters.ae/post/no-october-mid-term-break-uae-cbse-students)**
The first major break of the new academic year arrives in October.
Students following the unified calendar will have their **first-term mid-term break from October 12 to October 18, 2026**, with classes resuming on **Monday, October 19**.
The detailed Ministry calendar lists the school-day portion of the break as **Monday, October 12 to Friday, October 16**. When the weekends on either side are included, students effectively get **nine consecutive days away from school, from October 10 to October 18**.
That makes October one of the first opportunities of the school year for families to plan a short UAE staycation or overseas trip.
## **Dubai schools changed some October break dates**
Some Dubai private schools had originally scheduled their [October half-term](https://www.whatmatters.ae/post/uae-schools-begin-9-day-october-half-term) for **October 19 to 23**.
However, schools subsequently informed parents that the break had been moved forward to **October 12 to 16**, aligning it with the Ministry of Education calendar. Students return on October 19.
Parents should therefore use their individual school’s latest calendar rather than relying on an older term schedule.
## **UAE National Day school holidays**
The Ministry’s detailed calendar marks **December 2 to 4, 2026** for the UAE National Day holiday period.
Public-holiday arrangements can still be subject to official government announcements, particularly for private schools and individual emirates.
Families should wait for their school’s final circular before booking travel around public holidays.
## **UAE winter school holidays 2026–2027**
The longest break during the first half of the academic year begins in December.
The Ministry’s overall calendar states that the student winter break runs from **December 14, 2026 to January 3, 2027**, with students returning to school on **Monday, January 4, 2027**.
The detailed calendar identifies **December 14 to January 1** as the formal student winter-break period, with the following weekend extending the time away from classes through January 3.
That gives most students around three weeks away from the classroom.
## **When does Term 2 begin?**
Students return from the winter holidays on **Monday, January 4, 2027**.
The second part of the academic year then runs through the early months of 2027 before the spring holiday in April.
## **Can schools have a February mid-term break?**
This is where parents need to pay particular attention to their own school’s calendar.
The Ministry says private schools that do not follow the Ministry curriculum may be allowed flexibility over mid-term breaks in **October and/or February**, subject to approval from the relevant local education authority.
The total permitted variation is up to **five school days**, depending on operational requirements. Private schools in Sharjah are treated separately under the emirate’s regulatory arrangements.
So a February half-term should **not** be assumed to apply to every UAE school.
## **Spring break in April 2027**
The next major nationwide break comes in April.
Students following the unified calendar will have their **spring break from April 5 to April 11, 2027**.
Classes resume on **Monday, April 12, 2027**.
As with the October break, the detailed calendar identifies the weekday school closure as April 5 to 9, while the surrounding weekend extends the overall student break through April 11.
## **When does the 2026–2027 school year end?**
The final day of the academic year is scheduled for **Friday, July 2, 2027**.
Students will then begin their main summer holiday ahead of the 2027–2028 academic year.
The Ministry has already confirmed that the following academic year will begin on **August 30, 2027**, giving parents more certainty when planning summer travel.
## **UAE school holidays 2026–2027 at a glance**
**August 31, 2026** — First day of school
**October 12–18, 2026** — First-term mid-term break
**October 19, 2026** — Students return
**December 14, 2026–January 3, 2027** — Winter holiday
**January 4, 2027** — Students return
**April 5–11, 2027** — Spring break
**April 12, 2027** — Students return
**July 2, 2027** — Last day of the academic year
## **Do all UAE schools follow these exact dates?**
Not necessarily.
The calendar applies to public schools and private schools following the Ministry of Education curriculum. Private schools following other curricula may have approved variations, particularly around mid-term holidays.
Dubai parents can check individual private-school calendars through KHDA. For example, KHDA’s published calendars show school-specific dates and distinguish between confirmed school holidays and [public holidays](https://www.whatmatters.ae/post/uae-public-holidays-2027-expected-dates-long-weekends) that remain subject to government announcements.
Schools following April-to-March academic years, including some Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi curriculum schools, can also have substantially different term dates.
## **Why parents should check before booking flights**
The introduction of a multi-year academic calendar gives UAE families considerably more visibility when planning holidays. Parents looking beyond the academic calendar can also check the [UAE's November 2026 roundup for upcoming events, National Day planning](https://www.whatmatters.ae/post/uae-november-2026-new-rules-events-school-dates) and other important dates.
However, differences between curricula, individual private schools and emirate-level regulators mean parents should still check the latest calendar issued directly by their child’s school before booking non-refundable flights or hotels.
This is particularly important for **October and February mid-term breaks** and [public holidays](https://www.whatmatters.ae/post/uae-public-holidays-2027-expected-dates-long-weekends) whose final dates may depend on official announcements.
## **Why this matters**
The 2026–2027 UAE school calendar gives families clear dates for the year’s biggest breaks.
The next major holiday is the **October 12–18 mid-term break**, followed by the winter holiday beginning **December 14**. Spring break follows in April, before the academic year finishes on **July 2, 2027**.
With the UAE now publishing academic calendars years in advance, families have more time to coordinate annual leave, childcare, staycations and overseas travel.
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