School Winter in UAE Extend Winter Break to Four Weeks

Schools across the UAE are closing out assessments, parent teacher meetings, outdoor trips and campus events ahead of an extended winter break for international curriculum schools. The holiday follows National Day on December 2nd and 3rd, with the main break running from December 8th, 2025 to January 4th, 2026. Classes resume on January 5th, extending the usual three-week pause to nearly four weeks this year for international curricula. The Ministry of Education approved a unified academic calendar for public and private schools for the 2025–2026 school year, which began on August 25th. Asian curriculum schools that started in April follow slightly different schedules to align with home-country board examination requirements. At Woodlem American School in Ajman, Principal Marah Kaddoura said the final weeks focus on finalising curriculum plans, assessments and parent teacher meetings scheduled before final tests. The school is also preparing National Day celebrations at the end of November. At Credence High School in Dubai, CEO-Principal Deepika Thapar Singh noted that the first round of parent teacher meetings for Grades 2 to 12 has concluded, with early years sessions planned for December. With cooler weather, students are taking field trips across the UAE and beyond. Annual concerts and sports days are underway, while senior students in Grades 10 and 12 continue academic preparation as they approach pre-board examinations. At Ambassador School in Dubai, Principal Sheela Menon said summative assessments, including the first pre-boards for board-exam students, run from November 7th to 22nd, followed by parent teacher meetings into mid-December. She added that exams, inter- and intra-school events and training sessions are running in parallel, with preparations for Term 3 events underway. Term-end examinations have begun for students in Grade 5 and above, and students in Grades 10 and 12 are sitting their first pre-boards alongside board practicals and viva exams. Various external assessments are also in progress during this period.