Dubai Schools Move October Half-Term Forward for Nine-Day Break

Several private schools in Dubai have moved their October half-term forward by one week, giving many students a nine-day break from October 10th to 18th once the surrounding weekends are included.

Parents at Dubai British School, Safa British School and Arab Unity School received notices confirming the change, which schools said follows guidance to align with the academic calendar set by the UAE Ministry of Education and the Knowledge and Human Development Authority.

Under the national three-year academic calendar, the mid-term break runs from Monday, October 12th to Friday, October 16th, 2026, with students returning to school on Monday, October 19th.

There is no UAE-wide public holiday in September. The next nationwide public holiday is National Day on December 2nd and 3rd, while the winter school holiday runs from December 14th, 2026 to January 3rd, 2027. Schools are scheduled to reopen on January 4th.

The 2026–27 academic year for schools following this calendar began on August 31st, 2026 and is set to end on July 2nd, 2027.