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Sat, Jan 17, 2026 | Rajab 28, 1447 | Fajr 05:45 | DXB 
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UAE: 9 new public schools to open amid major education upgrades across nation
The Ministry has also announced the cancellation of centralised examinations, which will be replaced with school-prepared tests from the second semester
Nine new public schools are set to open across the UAE in the new academic year starting from August 25.
Meanwhile, maintenance work has been carried out at 465 schools nationwide. These schools are set to welcome more than one million students.
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“The nine new schools across several emirates will welcome over 25,000 students, supported by more than 800 new teachers, and maintenance work at 465 schools across the UAE has been carried out. This year, 25,345 new students will join the education system, supported by 830 newly recruited teachers and staff,” said Sara Al Amiri, Minister of Education, UAE, during a press conference held on Tuesday, announcing the preparations for the 2025-26 academic year.
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The minister added, “To ensure smooth operations and readiness for the new academic year, 5,560 school buses have been deployed, 46,888 laptops distributed, and more than 10 million textbooks printed. Over 1 million students return for new academic year after summer break.”
Additionally, the Ministry has also announced the cancellation of centralised examinations, replacing them with school-prepared tests starting from the second semester for Cycle 2.
As for semester one and two, students will still have to take centralised examinations.
National identity focus
Al Amiri revealed that this year, the focus will be on strengthening national identity for kindergarten and first-cycle students, as the academic programme will see an increase in teaching hours for Arabic language and Islamic education, with two additional weekly lessons for both subjects in kindergarten.
In addition, a basic assessment of Arabic language skills will be conducted for first-grade students across 100 public and private schools to evaluate their proficiency at the start of the academic year.
Health and family
Eng. Mohammed Al Qassim, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education, announced the launch of the Physical Education and Health program in schools, aimed at promoting a healthy lifestyle and nurturing future athletic citizens. The program includes specialised sports tournaments, adjusted lesson times, and the provision of nutritious meals in public schools.
He noted that parent councils will be activated in all schools across the country to serve as key partners in the educational process, enhancing their role in educational decision-making.
Al Qassim announced that the MoE’s educational campaign, ‘From Skill to Leadership'’, engaging educators, parents and the community, aims to develop students’ skills and transform them into achievements.
The campaign focuses on three pillars: exploration, creating inspiring school environments to discover talent; development, enhancing skills via strategic partnerships and advanced training; and excellence, encouraging participation in local and international competitions. "In the first month back at school, parents will join discussion sessions with their children in classrooms. Success stories and real-life experiences will be shared to motivate students," Al-Qasim added.
Applying AI curriculum
The MoE announced that the upcoming academic year will introduce its nationally developed AI curriculum, the first of its kind in the UAE, featuring lessons from local and international sources on integrating AI into education.
Around 1,000 teachers will teach across all grades to prepare students for responsible AI use. The initiative aims to provide practical insights on AI in education, influencing local policies and contributing to the global dialogue on education's future.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Education trains over 23,000 educational cadres who attend 170 hours of workshops for leaders, teachers, and support staff. Next year, the Educational Competency Assessment Project will target over 12,000 cadres in kindergarten and Cycle 1, and 11,000 in Cycles 2 and 3, to define careers and empower staff per national standards.
Notably, the UAE’s Ministry of Education had earlier announced a unified academic calendar for the 2025–26 school year, covering both public and private schools. The school year will begin on August 25, 2025, and end on July 3, 2026 (with private schools in Sharjah closing a day earlier).
The framework, approved by the Education, Human Development and Community Development Council, aims to unify schedules across the country and balance instructional time with longer breaks to support student well-being.
Under the new plan, pupils will have a four-week winter break in December and a two-week spring break in March. In addition, three mid-term breaks are scheduled in October, February and May.
According to the Ministry’s website, the 2025/2026 academic calendar for public schools and private schools following the ministry curriculum includes a total of 178 school days distributed across 14 weeks in the first term, 9 weeks in the second term, and 13 weeks in the third term.
Sara AlKuwari
Sara AlKuwari is an Emirati reporter who may look shy and quiet but is determined and has a strong desire to highlight Emirati culture in an impactful way. She is also a tea lover and an avid reader.
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