The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA)<\/strong> has officially confirmed the 2025\u20132026 winter holiday schedule: the schools in the United Arab Emirates<\/strong> will benefit from four full weeks\u2019 holiday<\/strong>, from the 8 December 2025 to 4 January 2026 inclusive<\/strong>. Pupils will return to school on 5 January 2026<\/strong>, marking the start of the second term of the school year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This decision, which has been widely welcomed by parents, teachers and those in the tourism sector, is part of a drive to create a a balanced school routine<\/strong>, in line with international standards. It also reaffirms the Emirates\u2019 policy of harmonising the academic calendars of state and private schools, whilst taking into account the needs of families and the well-being of pupils.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By extending the winter holidays to four weeks<\/strong>, the education authorities are responding to growing demand from families for a a better work-life balance<\/strong>. This extended period allows expatriate parents to plan their international travel without rushing, whilst local residents can enjoy quality time with their children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a country where the majority of the population are expatriates, a flexible timetable is a key factor in job satisfaction. Families appreciate the opportunity to spend a longer period abroad<\/strong> or to take part in local educational and cultural activities<\/strong> organised during this period. The aim is to strengthen family bonds and give children the chance to recharge their batteries before the term starts again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Confirmation of these holiday dates also constitutes a good news for the tourism sector<\/strong>. The Emirates, and in particular Dubai and Abu Dhabi, see a sharp rise in visitor numbers every year during the winter months, attracting both residents and international visitors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The four-week holiday is expected to boost the demand for hotels, theme parks, cultural events and seaside resorts<\/strong>, which were already very popular in December. Many players in the tourism sector, particularly in the hotel and catering industries, are anticipating a significant increase in visitor numbers<\/strong> thanks to this extended school holiday period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The mild winter weather, combined with a now more stable school calendar, reinforces the image of the Emirates as the ultimate family destination<\/strong> during the festive season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This measure is a continuation of the education reform<\/strong> which the UAE has been pursuing for several years. The country is seeking to modernise its education system, make it more flexible and promote the pupils\u2019 overall wellbeing<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The new education policies emphasise the quality of life, mental health and motivation<\/strong> as key factors in academic success. By offering a full month of winter holidays, the authorities aim to reduce the stress associated with the academic workload and enable pupils to return to class in better condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, the KHDA encourages schools to offer enriching after-school programmes<\/strong> During this period: art workshops, sporting activities, winter courses or volunteering initiatives. This approach aims to turn the holidays into a different kind of learning experience, focused on creativity and discovery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The standardised school calendar for both state and private schools makes life much easier for families and businesses. Until recently, some schools still followed different calendars depending on their curriculum (British, American, Indian or French), which made it difficult to plan holidays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With this new harmonised system, the predictability<\/strong> is strengthened, enabling families to organise themselves more effectively. Schools, for their part, benefit from a more stable framework for planning their teaching activities, examinations and recruitment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With four weeks\u2019 winter holidays<\/strong>, the United Arab Emirates reaffirms its commitment to a modern education system centred on striking a balance between academic achievement and well-being. This measure benefits everyone: pupils, who enjoy proper rest time; families, who gain greater flexibility; and businesses, which see a new opportunity for growth in the tourism sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The 2025\u20132026 academic year is therefore set to be a key milestone in the evolution of the UAE\u2019s education model, combining academic excellence, family harmony and economic dynamism. This month-long school break perfectly illustrates the the country\u2019s vision for a balanced society, focused on its inhabitants\u2019 quality of life and sustainable development<\/strong>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Un calendrier scolaire harmonis\u00e9 et plus flexible La Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) a officiellement confirm\u00e9 le calendrier des vacances d\u2019hiver 2025\u20132026 : les \u00e9tablissements scolaires des \u00c9mirats arabes unis b\u00e9n\u00e9ficieront de quatre semaines compl\u00e8tes de cong\u00e9s, du 8 d\u00e9cembre 2025 au 4 janvier 2026 inclus. Les \u00e9l\u00e8ves reprendront les cours le 5 janvier […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":18874,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18873","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-actualite"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dubairealestate.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18873","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dubairealestate.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dubairealestate.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dubairealestate.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dubairealestate.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18873"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/dubairealestate.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18873\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18875,"href":"https:\/\/dubairealestate.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18873\/revisions\/18875"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dubairealestate.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18874"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dubairealestate.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18873"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dubairealestate.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18873"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dubairealestate.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18873"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}A whole month to promote family balance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A boon for the tourism sector<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A decision in line with the national educational vision<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Harmonisation that benefits all institutions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Conclusion: a month of balance and opportunities<\/h2>\n\n\n\n