UAE summer holidays: When do school terms end for the academic year?

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As the 2023-2024 academic year draws to a close, students across the UAE are preparing for their much-anticipated summer vacation.

Both public and private schools following the UAE’s Ministry of Education (MOE) curriculum will wrap up their third and final semester on June 14, 2024. The summer break will officially begin on July 1, 2024, providing students with over two months of rest and relaxation.

Academic calendar highlights

1. Summer vacation dates:
   • Students: Summer break starts on July 1, 2024.
   • Teaching, technical, and administrative Staff: Their vacation begins on July 15, 2024.
2. MOE regulations:
   • The MOE mandates that summer vacations should not exceed 8.2 weeks for any curriculum. This regulation ensures uniformity across all educational institutions in the UAE, providing a balanced academic schedule.
3. Final exams and results:
   • Students have completed their final exams for the third semester between June 5 and June 14, 2024.
   • Results for these exams will be released by July 5, 2024.
   • For those needing to retake exams, re-assessments will occur from July 8 to July 12, 2024, with final results announced between July 13 and July 15, 2024.

Next academic year

The upcoming academic year, 2024-2025, is set to commence on August 26, 2024, and will conclude on June 27, 2025. This academic year will span 182 instructional days, aligned with the school calendar adopted by the UAE Cabinet.

Key breaks include:

• Winter Break: December 16, 2024, to January 5, 2025.
• Spring Break: March 24, 2025, to April 13, 2025.

Flexibility for private schools

While these dates are broadly applicable, private schools, especially those following international curricula, have some flexibility in setting their calendars.

For example, Dubai’s private schools, which start their academic year in September, will end their year no earlier than June 28, 2024. They will commence the 2024-2025 academic year on August 26, 2024.

Meanwhile, those starting in April will end their year between March 1 and March 31, 2024, with summer breaks stretching from July 4 to August 26, 2024.

Additional information for parents

Parents are encouraged to stay informed about their child’s specific school calendar, as exact dates for holidays and staff training days may vary. This ensures families can plan their activities and vacations accordingly.

Read: Dubai: KHDA reveals top private schools for 2023