Abu Dhabi school holidays 2026: term dates calendar

UAE public holidays 2026

Every Abu Dhabi school closes on UAE federal public holidays whatever its curriculum. The headline 2026 dates, with the Islamic dates subject to moon sighting, are below. The UAE Cabinet confirms the lunar holidays one to two days ahead.

Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha depend on the lunar calendar, so build flexibility into return flights when a holiday sits near a weekend. Schools usually announce the practical adjustment within hours of the government decision.

ADEK term dates 2025-26 and 2026-27

ADEK and the Ministry of Education set a unified calendar that applies to Abu Dhabi state schools and to most private schools across the emirate, including the campuses in Khalifa City, Al Reem Island, Saadiyat Island and Mohammed Bin Zayed City. The confirmed 2025-26 shape is below.

The full 2026-27 ADEK calendar is not yet published. ADEK normally releases it around May, so the late-August restart shown here is indicative and will be updated once confirmed. Individual schools may shift dates by a few days within the ADEK framework, so always check your school's own published calendar before booking travel.

International school term dates

Many of Abu Dhabi's international schools follow their home-country calendar rather than the ADEK term shape, because they sit in the northern hemisphere academic tradition that runs from late August or early September to late June. The practical differences:

• British curriculum schools deliver three terms with a one-week half term in October and February, an Easter or spring break in late March, and a summer break from early July.
• IB schools follow a very similar three-term pattern, with an IB Diploma exam window in May that lengthens revision time for Grade 12 and an earlier finish for the leaving cohort.
• American curriculum schools run two semesters with shorter mid-semester breaks, a winter break around late December and a summer break from mid-June.

Whichever calendar a school uses, UAE public holidays still take precedence for instructional days. To understand how each programme structures its year, see our curriculum guides, and for the wider national picture our UAE country hub.

Planning the year

Three practical notes for Abu Dhabi families. First, the winter break in December is the longest fixed holiday at almost four weeks, and it lines up with European Christmas travel, so book long-haul flights by October. Second, the spring break floats with Eid al-Fitr, which means the exact dates move each year and travel prices spike around the confirmed Eid window. Third, fee instalments for most private schools fall at the start of each term, so the August, January and April restarts are the moments to have payment ready. Our Abu Dhabi international school fees guide sets out the fee tiers and instalment timing in detail. For families coordinating with the neighbouring emirate, the Dubai school holidays 2026 calendar shows where the two diverge.

Common questions

When do schools break up in Abu Dhabi for summer 2026? The ADEK and Ministry of Education year ends on 3 July 2026, so most state and private schools break up in early July. International schools on a British or IB calendar often finish a few days earlier.

How long is the summer holiday in Abu Dhabi? Around eight weeks, from early July to late August, with the new year expected to start in the final week of August.

When does the 2026 school year start in Abu Dhabi? The 2026-27 year is expected to begin in the last week of August 2026. ADEK usually confirms dates around May, so treat this as indicative.

Do international schools follow the ADEK calendar? Many do not. They align to their British, IB or American home calendar, though UAE public holidays apply to every school.

Does the spring break move each year? Yes. It floats with Eid al-Fitr, which is set by the lunar calendar and confirmed close to the date.

Related guides

• Dubai school holidays 2026
• Abu Dhabi international school fees
• Abu Dhabi city guide