Eid Al Adha 2024: Dubai announces holiday dates for private schools

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Dubai’s Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) has announced the holiday dates for private schools, universities, and nurseries in observance of Eid Al Adha in 2024. 

This announcement follows the UAE’s official confirmation of the Eid Al Adha holiday dates for both public and private sectors.

All private schools, universities and nurseries in Dubai will be closed from Saturday, June 15 to Tuesday, June 18 for Eid Al Adha, and will reopen on Wednesday, June 19. We wish you all an enjoyable Eid break.

— KHDA | هيئة المعرفة والتنمية البشرية بدبي (@KHDA) June 9, 2024

Eid Al Adha holiday

• Holiday period: Private educational institutions in Dubai will close from Saturday, June 15 to Tuesday, June 18.
• Resumption of classes: Schools will reopen on Wednesday, June 19.

Eid Al Adha, known as the “Festival of Sacrifice,” is one of the two major Islamic holidays and is celebrated on the 10th to 12th days of Dhul Hijjah, the last month of the Islamic lunar calendar. 

The holiday commemorates the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God.

Unified holiday dates across sectors

Dubai’s announcement aligns with the broader UAE government’s holiday schedule for Eid Al Adha, ensuring consistency across various sectors:

• Government sector: Public sector employees will enjoy a paid holiday from Saturday, June 15 to Tuesday, June 18, with work resuming on Wednesday, June 19.
• Private sector: The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) has declared the same holiday period for private sector employees.

This synchronised break provides an extended opportunity for families to celebrate the occasion together.

Educational calendar 

For Dubai’s private schools, the holiday is part of the broader academic calendar, which includes:

• End of current academic year: The academic year concludes on June 28, 2024.
• Start of new academic year: Schools following the April start will commence their new academic year on April 1, 2024 while those following the September start will begin classes on August 26.
• Summer break: The KHDA says classes will not end before June 27, hence, most schools will begin the summer vacation from June 28 until August 25, 2024 or from July 1 to August 25.
• Winter break: Running from December 16, 2024, to January 3, 2025.

Visit the KHDA site to know more.

Planning ahead

The announcement provides a clear schedule for families and educational institutions to plan their activities around the Eid Al Adha holiday. 

For parents, this means preparing for a brief pause in the academic calendar and ensuring that students are ready to resume classes promptly after the break.

Educational authorities and institutions can also use this period to manage administrative tasks and prepare for the upcoming term. 

Read: UAE announces Eid Al Adha 2024 holidays for public, private sector