Although the new academic year has just begun, families in Dubai can already look forward to an early break, which for many Dubai students will come sooner than previously expected.
Several private schools in Dubai have notified parents about the change in October holiday dates, shifting the five-day break forward by a week to align the schedule with the calendar of the UAE Ministry of Education (MoE).
For schools that follow a unified academic calendar, the mid-October break will run from Monday, October 12, to Friday, October 16, 2026. Thus, students will receive five days off. Considering preceding and subsequent holidays, they will be absent from school from October 10 to October 18, and classes will resume on Monday, October 19.
This change is particularly important for families whose schools originally planned holidays from October 19 to 23. A number of Dubai schools, including Dubai British School, Safa British School, and Arab Unity School, have sent notifications to parents confirming the revised dates. The schools explained that this change follows recommendations to bring their schedules into compliance with the calendars of the MoE and the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA).
This adjustment is part of the UAE's move towards a more unified school timetable. The new three-year academic calendar introduced by the MoE sets the period from October 12 to 16 as the first mid-semester break for the 2026–27 academic year. The Dubai KHDA adopted the MoE calendar for schools under its regulation, forcing affected schools to change previously published dates.
The practical takeaway for parents is simple: do not rely on the old school calendar. It is necessary to check the latest approved calendar issued by the child's school before booking flights, hotels, or nurseries.
It is important to note that these October dates apply only to schools participating in the agreements regarding the unified calendar. Private schools using alternative curricula or operating under different regional regulations may have different holiday schedules.
Schools in Sharjah are subject to the emirate's own regulatory provisions, and schools following Asian programs may also operate under different academic calendars. Therefore, parents should consider the individual school calendar as the final reference.
For schools following the MoE calendar, the new academic year started on Monday, August 31, 2026. The first semester is scheduled for 13 weeks and 67 instructional days, with the October break representing the first planned pause in classes. After this, students continue lessons and assessments until November and December before the winter holidays.
Currently, no national holidays are scheduled in the UAE for September 2026. The Prophet Muhammad's Birthday was celebrated on Friday, August 28, shortly before schools resumed operations. The next national holiday in the UAE is National Day, which will take place on December 2 and 3, 2026. These two days are public holidays for both the public and private sectors.
For families, this means that the National Day break occurs shortly before the start of the winter school holidays. According to the MoE calendar for the 2026–27 academic year, winter holidays begin on Monday, December 14, 2026, and last until Sunday, January 3, 2027. Schools plan to resume operations on Monday, January 4, 2027.
Thus, for families planning trips for Christmas or New Year, the last scheduled school day for many students will fall on Friday, December 11. Again, international and alternative schools may publish different dates, so parents should contact their child's school directly.
For schools following the MoE calendar, the end of the academic year is scheduled for Friday, July 2, 2027. Since the academic year began on August 31, 2026, families have several breaks around which they can plan their affairs before the end of the school year. Before making any irreversible travel bookings, it is recommended to consult the school's approved calendar rather than the general UAE holiday calendar.