More than 1.27 million students across the UAE are set to return to classrooms on Monday, August 31, marking one of the country’s biggest back-to-school periods in recent years. The 2026-27 academic year will see students return to full-time in-person learning, following the disruptions of the previous academic year, when schools shifted between classroom and distance learning amid regional developments.
The Ministry of Education said more than 1,180 public and private schools across the country are prepared to welcome students for the new academic year. The total includes around 26,700 students joining the public education system for the first time, reflecting continued demand for school places across the UAE.
Ahead of the new academic year, the Ministry has opened 11 new schools and educational complexes to expand capacity and support growing student numbers. Authorities have also deployed around 5,810 school buses and distributed approximately 8 million textbooks to ensure schools, students and transport services are ready for the start of classes.
The Ministry said schools will begin the academic year as planned while relevant authorities continue to monitor regional developments. Educational institutions have also retained the contingency plans developed during the previous academic year, allowing them to respond quickly if circumstances require changes to normal operations.
In Abu Dhabi, authorities have prepared around 10,000 school buses to transport more than 279,000 students across the emirate. The preparations are part of wider efforts to ensure a smooth and safe return to school, with education authorities, schools and transport operators coordinating ahead of the first day of the new academic year.
