For new academic year
Private schools in Dubai emirate following international curricula, including British, American, IB, and others, will resume classes after the current summer break on August 25, 2025, according to Dubai’s education regulator, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA).
According to the academic calendar for private schools in the emirate for the 2025-2026 academic year, these schools are required to provide a minimum of 182 instructional days.
The winter break begins on December 15, 2025, with students returning to classrooms on January 5, 2026. Spring break is scheduled to start on March 23 and run until April 6, 2026. Schools are not permitted to end the academic year before June 26, 2026.
For private schools that operate on an April-start schedule, those offering Indian curricula such as CBSE and ICSE, the academic year will have begun on April 7, 2025. It must conclude no earlier than March 31, 2026. These schools will also observe the same winter break period as the September-start institutions, from December 15, 2025, to January 5, 2026. They must also meet the minimum instructional requirement of 182 days.
Dubai’s diverse school system serves over 300,000 students from more than 180 nationalities.
Islamic holidays, such as Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha, are determined by the Hijri calendar and are announced by the UAE authorities closer to the dates.
Education remains a central part of Dubai’s population planning. According to data from Unesco and the UAE Ministry of Education, the number of private school students in Dubai has steadily increased over the past decade, reflecting a broader regional trend of demand for international education.
The private education sector in Dubai emirate includes over 200 schools, making it one of the most varied and expansive systems in the Arabian Gulf region.
Schools and parents are advised to check with their respective institutions for confirmed internal term dates and any curriculum-specific adjustments.
Image: Education is a central part of Dubai’s population planning. Credit: Alex P
