For students, the most noticeable change will be consistent winter breaks running from late December into early January, making it easier to plan travel, family time and seasonal work
University students are set to benefit from longer, more predictable New Year breaks and clearer summer schedules after UAE authorities approved a unified academic calendar for higher education institutions over the next three years.
The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research has signed off on a three-year academic calendar covering 2026–2027, 2027–2028 and 2028–2029, standardising semester timelines and holiday periods across federal and private universities nationwide.
For students, the most noticeable change will be consistent winter breaks running from late December into early January, making it easier to plan travel, family time and seasonal work around the New Year — traditionally one of the busiest travel periods in the UAE.
Beyond longer end-of-year breaks, the new structure introduces clearer semester boundaries and fixed summer windows, helping students better plan:
Summer semesters will run for six weeks, offering flexibility for students who want to accelerate their studies or balance academic commitments with employment.
The calendar applies to all UAE-based federal and private higher education institutions, while international branch campuses may continue aligning their academic year start and end dates with their parent universities abroad.
Universities will still have limited flexibility to:
2027–2028
2028–2029
Each academic year will include:
Official holidays and scheduled breaks are excluded from teaching weeks.
Education officials say the unified structure is designed to create a more balanced academic experience, giving students greater certainty when planning their academic, professional and personal commitments.
© Khaleej Times
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