UAE schools to begin 2026-27 academic year on August 31

Students in the United Arab Emirates are set to begin the 2026-27 academic year on August 31. According to the Ministry of Education's new calendar, the year will consist of 185 instructional days divided into three terms. Administrative and teaching staff are scheduled to return on August 24, one week prior to students.

The academic roadmap includes various milestones such as the Arabic Baseline Assessment (ABA), diagnostic assessments, and the Standardised Proficiency Assessment (SPA). The schedule also accounts for the winter holiday starting December 14, spring break on April 5, and final examinations scheduled for late June. The academic year will conclude for students on July 2, 2027.

In addition to the new schedule, artificial intelligence has been integrated into the curriculum as a formal subject from kindergarten through Grade 12. While schools implement different policies regarding generative AI—ranging from supervised use to restricted access—the focus remains on using these tools for conceptual understanding and study assistance rather than completing assignments autonomously.