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The school year in 2025 to 2026
Most expat families in Abu Dhabi choose international schools, and all schools in the emirate sit within the unified academic calendar set by ADEK and the UAE Ministry of Education. For the wider picture of schools and stages, see our international schools in Abu Dhabi directory, and for the consolidated date tables our full Abu Dhabi school holidays 2026 calendar. The unified framework for the 2025 to 2026 year runs as follows.
| Term or break | Dates |
|---|---|
| Academic year begins | Monday 25 August 2025 |
| First term mid-term break | 13 to 19 October 2025 |
| Winter break | 8 December 2025 to 4 January 2026 (classes resume 5 January) |
| Second term mid-term break | 11 to 15 February 2026 (classes resume 16 February) |
| Spring break | 16 to 29 March 2026 (classes resume 30 March) |
| Academic year ends | Friday 3 July 2026 |
This is the unified framework. ADEK confirms it for the emirate, and the detailed 2026 to 2027 dates had not all been published at the time of writing, so treat the next year's start and breaks as indicative until each school publishes its own calendar.
Public holidays that close schools
Whatever calendar a school follows, the UAE public holidays close every school in Abu Dhabi. The dates that matter most for families in 2026 are below. Islamic holidays depend on the sighting of the moon and are only confirmed close to the time, so treat those dates as expected rather than fixed.
| Holiday | Expected dates 2026 |
|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Thursday 1 January |
| Eid Al Fitr (moon dependent) | Around 19 to 22 March |
| Arafat Day and Eid Al Adha (moon dependent) | Around 26 to 29 May |
| Islamic New Year (moon dependent) | Mid June (to be confirmed) |
| Prophet Muhammad's Birthday (moon dependent) | Late August (to be confirmed) |
| Commemoration Day | Tuesday 1 December |
| National Day | 2 and 3 December |
The spring break in mid to late March often falls close to Eid Al Fitr, and the Eid Al Adha holiday in late May can extend into a long weekend, so families who travel should watch both windows. Schools publish how any extra Eid days are applied once the dates are confirmed.
How international schools vary
The unified calendar is the spine, but British, IB and American schools in Abu Dhabi often run a northern-hemisphere year that finishes in mid June rather than early July, with their own October and February half-term patterns. All of them still close for the UAE public holidays above. If you are comparing an international place with a school on the standard framework, expect the broad shape to match while the precise start, finish and half-term dates differ by a few days, so always check the individual school calendar before booking travel.
Choosing a school in Abu Dhabi?
Schools in Abu Dhabi can vary their term dates within the ADEK framework. The school finder filters Abu Dhabi schools by curriculum, area and stage.
Use the school finderPlanning the 2026 year
Three practical points for families planning the year in Abu Dhabi. First, the spring break in March is the main mid-year travel window and often sits near Eid Al Fitr, so book flights early as demand peaks across the UAE. Second, international school fees are usually billed by term or semester, and the August restart is when the larger invoice falls; our guide to international school fees in Abu Dhabi covers the bands and timing. Third, A-level and IB examinations run through May, overlapping the Eid Al Adha period, so senior families should check for any clash before booking travel. Families with younger children can also see stage-specific timing in our Abu Dhabi primary schools guide.
Abu Dhabi school holidays 2026: FAQ
Under the ADEK and UAE unified calendar, the 2025 to 2026 academic year started on 25 August 2025 and ends on 3 July 2026. International schools following British, IB or American frameworks may vary slightly and finish earlier in June, so confirm dates with your school.
The unified calendar sets a winter break from 8 December 2025 to 4 January 2026, a second term mid-term break from 11 to 15 February 2026, and a spring break from 16 to 29 March 2026, before the year ends in early July. International schools may adjust these by a few days.
Not exactly. ADEK sets a unified framework and all schools observe UAE public holidays, but British, IB and American schools often run a northern-hemisphere year that finishes in mid June, with their own half-term patterns. Always check the individual school calendar for the precise dates.
UAE public holidays in 2026 include New Year on 1 January, Eid Al Fitr around 19 to 22 March, Arafat Day and Eid Al Adha around 26 to 29 May, Islamic New Year, the Prophet's Birthday, Commemoration Day on 1 December and National Day on 2 and 3 December. Islamic holiday dates depend on the moon sighting and are confirmed close to the time.
Exact term dates are set by each school within the ADEK framework, and the full 2026 to 2027 dates were not all published at the time of writing. Confirm dates on the school's own calendar, and see our Abu Dhabi school holidays 2026 guide for the consolidated public-holiday and term framework.