The school holidays are just around the corner, and for many families in Dubai, that means it’s time to start planning. Whether you’re looking forward to a short break or need to balance work with family time, it’s important to know when the next school break falls. Here’s a comprehensive guide to all the key dates for the 2024-2025 academic year, including half-term breaks, national holidays and when students are off.

It’s important to note that while there are official holiday dates, individual schools have some flexibility when it comes to their calendar. Schools must adhere to the minimum required number of school days – 188 days for Ministry of Education (MoE) curriculum schools and 182 days for international curriculum schools. To get specific dates for your child’s school, it’s always best to check directly with the school or visit the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) website at web.khda.gov.ae.

Dubai Private Schools that begin their academic year in September

  • August 26, 2024: Start of 2024-2025 academic year
  • October 14-18, 2024: Half-term break (subject to individual school discretion)
  • December 2-3, 2024: UAE National Day (tentative dates)
  • December 16, 2024 – January 6, 2025: Winter Break
  • February 10-14, 2025: Half-term break (at the discretion of each school)
  • March 24 – April 7, 2025: Spring Break
  • June 5-6, 2025: Arafat Day and Eid Al Adha (tentative dates)
  • June 26, 2025: Islamic New Year (tentative date)
  • June 27, 2025: End of Academic Year (Schools may not end before this date)

Dubai Private Schools Starting in April

For schools that operate on an academic year starting in April, here are the key dates:

  • August 26, 2024: Return to school after summer break
  • December 2-3, 2024: UAE National Day (tentative dates)
  • December 16, 2024 – January 6, 2025: Winter Break
  • March 2025: End of Academic Year (Schools may close any day in March as long as they meet the minimum of 182 instructional days)

Upcoming Holidays in the UAE

If you’re not only thinking about school breaks, but also looking forward to public holidays, there’s good news. The next public holiday in the UAE is Union Day, which celebrates the UAE’s National Day. This holiday falls on Monday, December 2 and Tuesday, December 3, 2024, meaning residents can look forward to a four-day weekend if they have weekends off. This is a perfect opportunity to take a mini-vacation or spend some quality time with family and friends.