OxfordAQA Cancels International GCSE & A Level Exams in UAE

OxfordAQA has confirmed that its IGCSE and International A-Level examinations scheduled to take place in the UAE during the Summer 2026 session will not go ahead, marking the first time a UK-based examination board has cancelled its exams in the region for this series.

The decision affects students enrolled in OxfordAQA’s international qualifications across schools in the UAE, though no details have yet been provided regarding alternative arrangements for affected candidates, including whether grades will be awarded through other assessment methods.

Other major UK exam boards operating in the UAE, including Pearson Edexcel and AQA, have not announced any changes to their Summer 2026 examination schedules at this stage.

The move has been introduced as a precautionary measure in response to regional tensions following reported attacks on the UAE and other Gulf countries in February 2026.