School students in the UAE will get a continuous nine-day break in October. Several private schools in Dubai have revised their October half-term dates as part of aligning with the UAE Ministry of Education’s unified academic calendar.
According to the revised calendar, the half-term break will run from Monday, October 12 to Friday, October 16, covering five academic days. With the weekends of October 10-11 and October 17-18 added on either side, students will not need to attend school from October 10 to 18, a total of nine days. Classes will resume on October 19.
Earlier, some schools had announced the half-term break for October 19 to 23. Institutions including Dubai British School, Safa British School, and Arab Unity School have informed parents of the updated dates.
Why the change in holiday dates?
The change is part of efforts to further unify the school academic calendar in the UAE. The Ministry of Education’s calendar for the 2026-27 academic year sets the first semester’s midterm break from October 12 to 16. Since KHDA, the regulatory body for Dubai’s private schools, follows this calendar, some schools revised their previously announced holiday dates.
Are the dates the same for all private schools?
Not necessarily. Schools following different international or Asian curricula may have separate academic calendars, and Sharjah schools have their own regulatory framework. Parents are advised to check their child’s school’s latest official calendar before booking flights, hotels, or travel.
Key dates for the 2026-27 academic year
For schools following the UAE Ministry of Education calendar, the new academic year began on August 31, 2026. The first term has 13 weeks and 67 academic days. Winter break runs from December 14, 2026 to January 3, 2027, with classes resuming January 4, 2027. The 2026-27 academic year ends on July 2, 2027.
Currently, no public holiday is scheduled in the UAE for September. The next national public holiday will be UAE National Day on December 2 and 3.
Parents who were earlier told the half-term break was October 19-23 are advised to check their school’s email, parent portal, and latest academic calendar to confirm if the dates have changed.
