Friday & Pre-Holiday School Absences Counted Double in UAE

Student absences on Fridays and on days preceding public holidays are now being counted as double in the United Arab Emirates, as authorities seek to curb patterns of mass absenteeism in schools. The issue was raised at the Federal National Council amid broader discussions on attendance and student discipline.
The Ministry of Education reported overall first-term attendance of 94.7% across all school days, with 86% of students recording full attendance during the term, up from 3.8% previously. Minister of Education Sarah Al Amiri said a series of measures have been implemented to address absenteeism, including Ministerial Resolution No.79 of 2025 regulating attendance and absence in government schools.
The resolution standardises how absences are recorded and strengthens disciplinary procedures. Electronic attendance monitoring has been activated, with instant notifications sent to parents. A comprehensive attendance and absence management guide for the 2025–2026 academic year sets the maximum number of unjustified absences at 15 days per school year.