Today's Edition
AMEINAH ALZEYOUDI (ABU DHABI)
Parents of school children and university students in the UAE have praised the government’s move to restructure the academic calendar, marking a shift toward a “more balanced, flexible, and socially connected educational system”.
According to the 2025-2026 academic calendars released by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research on Wednesday, key dates — such as start and end of classes and term breaks — were unified for schools and universities.
The upcoming academic year will start on August 25, 2025, and end on July 3, 2026, for public and private schools and higher education institutions nationwide. Holiday periods, including spring and winter breaks, have also been standardised. The first term, for example, will end with a four-week winter break from December 8, 2025, to January 4, 2026, with schools resuming on January 5, 2026. The longer break gives students an opportunity to rest after an intensive term and participate in national and community events.
Exceptions and some flexibility are allowed for international universities that follow their home countries’ calendars or those that need to accommodate the requirements of certain academic programmes and specialisations.
For parents, the unified calendar makes planning for vacations much easier. Dania Mabrouk, a mother of two — one studying in a private school and another in university — instantly felt relief.
“My daughter will be graduating soon from a private school. We’ve always struggled with differing academic calendars. Now, we feel much more at ease,” she told Aletihad.
Mabrouk also hailed how the authorities recognised that certain specialisations at HEIs would require some flexibility.
“The fact that the ministry considered the unique nature of some programmes shows deep understanding of student and family needs,” she said.
Mariam Al Ali, a parent of a student in a public school, said the coordinated strategy eases the youth’s transition from school to university.
“We are seeing more consistency now between school and university education. Knowing when the academic year starts at the university level helps us mentally and practically prepare our children for the next step in their education.”
Umm Abdullah, a parent of a student in a public university, said the decision “came at the right time”.
“As educators and families, we need a clear, predictable plan. Having fixed academic start and end dates makes it easier for us to plan our children’s vacations, summer programmes, and even internships,” she said.
