Abu Dhabi School Holidays (2026)

The Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) publishes the school calendar in Abu Dhabi. There are two academic calendars. One calendar is followed by private schools that follow foreign curriculums, and another calendar is for public and private schools following the Ministry of Education’s curriculum.

For private schools following foreign curriculums, the first day of school will fall on August, while teachers must return a week early. Students will get a three-week-long winter break, starting on December 11 and ending on January 1. Moreover, there will also be a three-week-long spring break.

Meanwhile, public and private schools following the Ministry of Education curriculum will also begin the new academic year on August 26 but will get a longer, three-week winter break from December 16 to January 5.

School Holidays – Academic Calendar

* The above dates are applicable to all public and private schools teaching the curriculum of Ministry of Education. Other private schools teaching foreign curricula will take a break of 3 consecutive weeks as allowed in each emirate or take two consecutive weeks and a third week later within the year.

** Summer break must not be more than 8.2 weeks for all schools in the UAE, irrespective of the curriculum they teach.

*** The above school days are applicable to all public and private schools teaching the curriculum of Ministry of Education. For other schools, school days must not be less than 182 days.

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