Dubai has just unveiled the official 2025-2026 school calendar for private schools, bringing valuable visibility to families, teachers and students. This new educational framework, drawn up by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), sets a minimum of 182 days of effective teaching, while integrating vacation periods and the main key dates of the school year.
A clear structure to anticipate the school year
The calendar applies to all private schools in Dubai, whether they follow a British, American, Indian, French or other curriculum. By establishing a common base of minimum school days, the aim is to ensure pedagogical consistency between schools, while respecting the diversity of educational systems present in the emirate.
It allows parents to plan their family's schedule, school vacations, extra-curricular activities and travel with complete peace of mind. It also helps schools to better manage their administrative year, recruitment and educational programming.
Back-to-school, vacation and year-end dates
While each private school remains free to determine specific dates within the set framework, the guidelines for the 2025-2026 calendar generally provide for:
- Back to school on August 25
- Winter vacation: December 15, 2025 - January 5, 2026
- Spring vacations: March 23 - April 12, 2026
A measure designed to ensure the stability and quality of teaching
The main aim of this calendar is to guarantee educational continuity and equity between students, while leaving schools a margin of flexibility to adapt to their specific needs. By regulating the number of school days, the KHDA reinforces the quality of educational provision in Dubai, while promoting a healthy balance between learning, rest and personal development.
This measure also benefits teachers, who can now organize their programs, assessments, training and timetables more efficiently.
A planning tool for families and expatriates
In a city as dynamic and multicultural as Dubai, a clear school calendar is essential, especially for expatriate families. Whether you're planning trips, managing transition periods or coordinating work and school schedules, the calendar becomes an invaluable everyday tool.
By anticipating the coming school year, families can optimize their organization and guarantee their children a smooth, balanced education.
