Due to the celebration of Diwali, the Festival of Lights, which falls on Sunday, November 8th this year, some schools with an Indian curriculum in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are considering granting students extra time to spend with loved ones, which could result in a four-day break.
At GEMS Our Own Indian School in Dubai, Director and CEO Lalita Suresh stated that the festive period adjacent to the weekend will allow families to celebrate the festival together. She emphasized that Diwali is a valuable celebration that unites families and communities in an atmosphere of joy, hope, and unity.
The school plans its academic calendar to accommodate the festival while maintaining the required number of school days. Lalita Suresh noted that thanks to the holiday adjacent to the weekend, families can enjoy a welcome four-day break, which will be a wonderful opportunity to pause, reconnect, and create unforgettable memories with relatives.
In Abu Dhabi, Shining Star International School is also planning a four-day break, integrating Diwali holidays into its calendar in accordance with the emirate's requirements for school days. Director Abhilasha Singh stated that schools are obligated to adhere to the prescribed number of school days while allocating time for important cultural events.
Abhilasha Singh clarified that ADEK allows a maximum of 196 school days with a minimum requirement of 191 days. The school meets this requirement and is entitled to allocate two days for Diwali and one day for another autumn festival, as well as one day for a parent-teacher meeting. She added that the school goes through the necessary approval procedure before announcing holidays to families by submitting applications through the ADEK events calendar.
For parents, such an extended break provides an opportunity to organize family gatherings, prepare traditional festive dishes, and help children participate in celebrations without the immediate pressure of returning to school.
However, not all schools with an Indian curriculum in the UAE grant extra days off for Diwali. At Sharjah Indian School, the academic calendar is structured around the emirate's weekly school structure, and holidays are included within the available school days. A school representative explained that there are no separate Diwali holidays in Sharjah because schools now have three days off every week, leaving four working days.
He explained that previously, schools had a reserve of four days off per year that could be used for festivals like Onam or Diwali. However, the current system, which mandates four working days a week and a comprehensive CBSE curriculum, does not allow for additional days off. This agreement was reached with the school directors initially.
