Dubai School Calendar 2026-27: KHDA Confirms New Term Dates for Private Schools
Planning ahead for your child's next school year, Dubai parents will want to take note. The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) has released the official Dubai School Calendar 2026-27, and this guide breaks down the Dubai Academic Calendar 2026-27 in simple, easy-to-follow terms.
Whether your child attends a British, American, IB, Indian, or MoE curriculum school, this post covers the start date, term breaks, Ramadan timing, and the minimum school-day rule you'll want to know before booking flights or planning holidays around the new academic calendar.
KHDA follows the wider UAE Ministry of Education (MOE) framework, which now covers term dates all the way through 2029. This gives parents a longer runway to plan ahead. As always, schools must complete a minimum number of instructional days each year, and individual schools keep some flexibility to adjust breaks within that framework.
Most Dubai private schools follow this calendar.
Event | Date | Notes |
| School Begins | Monday, 31 August 2026 | Some schools may offer a phased return for early years |
| October Half-Term | 12-18 Oct 2026 or 19-23 Oct 2026 | Schools pick one window, max 5 days |
| Winter Break | 14 December 2026 - 3 January 2027 | 3 weeks |
| Return to School | Monday, 4 January 2027 | Start of Term 2 |
| February Half-Term | Optional | Depends on individual school policy |
| Ramadan | Around 7 Feb - 9 Mar 2027 | School hours reduced, moon-sighting dependent |
| Eid Al Fitr Break | Around 8-12 March 2027 | Dates confirmed closer to the time |
| Spring Break | 5-11 April 2027 | Students return 12 April 2027 |
| Academic Year Ends | Friday, 2 July 2027 | Minimum school days must be completed |
| Minimum School Days | 185 days | Set by the Ministry of Education |
Schools that follow CBSE, ICSE, or a similar Indian board run on a separate April-to-March cycle.
| Event | Date | Notes |
| Current Year Began | Monday, 6 April 2026 | 2026-27 academic year for Indian-curriculum schools |
| Summer Vacation | Roughly late June - August 2026 | Around 8 weeks, check with your school |
| Winter Break | Mid-December 2026 - early January 2027 | Around 3 weeks |
| Academic Year Ends | 15-31 March 2027 | Exact date varies by school |
| Next Year Begins | April 2027 | Traditional April-start cycle continues |
| Minimum School Days | 182 days | As mandated by KHDA |
The Ministry of Education has already confirmed the unified calendar for the next three academic cycles, so parents can plan well beyond just one year.
| Academic Year | Start Date | Winter Break | Spring Break | End Date |
| 2026-27 | 31 Aug 2026 | 14 Dec 2026 - 3 Jan 2027 | 5-11 Apr 2027 | 2 Jul 2027 |
| 2027-28 | 30 Aug 2027 | 13 Dec 2027 - 2 Jan 2028 | 27 Mar - 2 Apr 2028 | 30 Jun 2028 |
| 2028-29 | 28 Aug 2028 | 11 Dec 2028 - 1 Jan 2029 | 26 Mar - 1 Apr 2029 | 29 Jun 2029 |
Ramadan is expected to begin around 7 February 2027 and end around 9 March 2027, though the exact dates depend on moon sighting. During this period, most Dubai private schools:
Every private school in Dubai, no matter the curriculum, must complete a minimum number of instructional days each year. This is why the exact end-of-year date can shift slightly from school to school if public holidays or extra breaks eat into the calendar, the term simply runs a little longer to make up the difference.
Since January 2026, KHDA has required all Dubai private schools to finish no later than 11:30 am on Fridays. This rule continues into the 2026-27 year and applies year-round, not just during Ramadan, so keep it in mind when planning Friday pickups or activities.
On top of term breaks, schools also close for national and religious holidays, including:
Exact dates for these are confirmed by the UAE government closer to the time, since several depend on moon sighting. They may cause minor shifts in the school schedule, but schools must still hit their required number of instructional days.
Starting this academic year, KHDA has moved the official age cut-off for admissions from 31 August to 31 December of the admission year. In simple terms, a child now only needs to reach the required age by the end of December to be eligible to start school, rather than by the end of August as before. This mainly benefits children with birthdays between September and December, who previously had to wait an extra year to begin school.
Term / Break | Start Date | End Date |
| Academic Year (Sept-start) | 31 August 2026 | 2 July 2027 |
| Winter Break | 14 December 2026 | 3 January 2027 |
| Spring Break | 5 April 2027 | 11 April 2027 |
| Minimum School Days | 185 days (Sept-start) / 182 days (April-start) | – |
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Most September-start private schools begin on Monday, 31 August 2026. April-start Indian curriculum schools began their 2026-27 year on 6 April 2026.
The winter break runs from 14 December 2026 to 3 January 2027, roughly three weeks, with students returning on 4 January 2027.
Ramadan is expected to run from around 7 February to 9 March 2027, with schools adjusting hours and schedules during this period.
September-start schools must complete a minimum of 185 instructional days, while April-start schools follow the 182-day minimum.
Not the core dates. Schools can adjust minor details like staff training days, phased returns, and how mid-term breaks are split, but they must stay within the KHDA-approved framework.
Unlock your child's true potential with a free one-on-one academic assessment. Identify strengths, improve weak areas, and build confidence with expert guidance.
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