UAE School Holidays 2025–2026: All the Dates Parents Need to Know

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From winter break to summer holidays, here’s the full UAE school calendar you’ll want to save.

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Schools across the UAE are officially back after the winter break, and if you’re already planning your next family escape, this one’s for you. The UAE’s unified school calendar for 2025–2026 is now in place, covering both public and private schools across all emirates.

Here’s a clean, no-fluff breakdown of the key school breaks to know.

UAE’s Unified School Calendar Explained

The UAE rolled out a unified school calendar in 2025, approved by the Education, Human Development and Community Development Council (EHCD) and the Ministry of Education (MoE).

What this means: the same start dates, term endings, and major breaks across the country, making life a lot easier for parents planning leave, travel, and childcare.

UAE School Holidays for Academic Year 2025–2026

These are the main breaks for the school year:

  • Winter break (Term 1): December 8, 2025 to January 4, 2026

  • Mid-term break: February 11 to February 15, 2026

  • Spring break & Eid Al Fitr (Term 2): March 16 to March 29, 2026

    • Sharjah private schools return earlier on March 23, 2026

  • Mid-term break & Eid Al Adha: May 25 to May 26, 2026

  • Summer break (Term 3): Starts July 4, 2026

Official School Holidays by Term

Here’s how public holidays are spread out across the school year:

  • Term 1: Three holidays, including UAE National Day and Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) birthday

  • Term 2: No official holidays

  • Term 3: Five holidays, including Eid Al Adha and Islamic New Year

A Quick Note on Eid Dates

Eid holidays are still subject to official moon sighting. Based on current predictions, Eid Al Fitr is expected to begin around March 20, 2026, lining up neatly with the spring break. Final dates will be confirmed by the UAE Council for Fatwa.

Private schools that don’t follow the government curriculum may adjust mid-term breaks, as long as they meet MoE guidelines.

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