Flexible start and end times for the workday have become the most common option under Dubai's summer work program

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.

The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) announced on Thursday the conclusion of registrations for the 'A Dubai Invite' program after it received over 90,000 applications from residents.

Under this initiative, launched on July 20, more than 30,000 benefit packages have already been distributed. The program aimed to encourage residents to invite friends and relatives from abroad to visit Dubai.

DET reported that high demand forced the program's capacity to be increased more than threefold with the support of participating partners. Despite the closure of new registrations, benefits will continue to be issued to residents who successfully registered visitors before reaching the final limit.

Invited visitors can arrive in Dubai until October 31, 2026. They must enter Dubai directly from outside the UAE and meet the program's criteria. The verification process of their arrival is carried out through a unified system supported by the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA).

Successful applicants will receive their benefit packages within 72 hours of the guests' arrival. These benefits will remain valid at participating locations until December 31, 2026.

Noor Al Ghuzairi, Vice President for Special Projects and MENA at DET, noted that the reaction to the program demonstrated the significant role residents play in promoting Dubai among friends and relatives abroad. She emphasized that 'the exceptional success of 'A Dubai Invite' shows how much our residents want to share Dubai with their friends and family.'

Al Ghuzairi added that residents are among the most active advocates for Dubai, as their personal experiences and recommendations give visitors an authentic insight into the city. Dubai is home to people from nearly 200 nationalities, which provides the emirate with a substantial segment of tourism based on friends and relatives visits.

DET also indicated that this initiative reflects the spirit of UAE Family Year by encouraging residents to host loved ones in the city. The program offered various bonuses in the fields of hotels, attractions, dining, transport, and lifestyle experiences.

Partners included hotels such as W Dubai Mina Seyahi, The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort and Marina, as well as venues from IHG Hotels and Resorts. Benefits were also provided at attractions like Aquaventure Waterpark and IMG Worlds of Adventure. Careem offered a free Careem Plus subscription and discounts on transport in Hala Taxi and other services.

The Department noted that the initiative was developed after nearly a year of collaboration with public and private partners and became part of DET's broader strategy aimed at the friends and relatives tourism segment. The Department stated its intention to continue working with tourism partners and the community of Dubai residents to encourage visitors to discover the city through the experiences and recommendations of local residents.