Plan your holidays! Official UAE school calendar 2017-2018

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The school year will last 181 days.

By Web Report

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Published: Sun 29 Oct 2017, 1:07 PM

Last updated: Wed 9 Nov 2022, 2:11 PM

The official UAE school calendar 2017-2018 has been published on the official website of the UAE Ministry of Education.

According to the calendar, the next school year will start on September 10 for students and September 3 for teachers.


The students will be getting a three-week break during winter and a two-week break for spring. The last day of school for students is June 28, and teachers will work until July 5th. The school year will last 181 days.

Academic Calendar 2017 / 2018


DescriptionDescriptionDate
First day for teaching staff3rd September, 2017
First day for students10th September, 2017
First semester break17th December, 20174weeks
First day for teaching staff2th January, 2018
Classes resume14th January, 2018
Spring break25th March,20182 weeks
First day for teaching staff1th April, 2018
Classes resume8th April, 2018
Last day for students5th July, 2018
Last day for teachers12th July, 2018
School Days181

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The academic calendar Dubai private schools

The Knowledge and Human Development Authority(KHDA), also published the official school calendar for Dubai private schools at its website.

The next school year in all public and private schools in Dubai following the national curriculum will start on September 10, 2017 and end on June 28, 2018.

The winter break is expected to last two weeks, from December 24 to January 14, 2018, for MoE schools and Jan 7 for other schools, when the second term begins.

Private schools in Dubai following MoE curriculum have three weeks winter break in line with the MoE calendar.

The spring break for students begins on Sunday - March 25, 2018 and last two weeks, and the classes resume on Sunday - April 8, 2018.

The last day of school for students is June 28, 2018.

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Also note that the holy month of Ramadan is expected to start on May 27 this year which will affect school hours. This year, Ramadan coincides with exams that will start in early May and continue until the end of June. In 2017, Ramadan will also coincide with midsummer.

The academic calendar for Dubai private schools that begins in September:

Dubai Private Schools - Academic Year 2017/2018
Start of academic yearSeptember 10, 2017Schools starting in September can adjust the opening date by one week (either earlier or later) subject to the school fulfilling the stipulated number of instructional and academic days and receiving KHDA approval.
Winter break beginsDecember 17, 2017Four weeks for MoE curriculum schoolsThree weeks for Other schoolsPrivate schools in Dubai following MoE curriculum have three weeks Winter Break in line with the MoE calendar:The Winter Break begins on 17th Dec 2017 and classes resumes on Jan 7, 2018Other schools (non-MoE) may chose the below based on KHDA approval:-Reduce the winter break to two weeks. Classes resumed on 2nd January 2018-OR, extend the winter break to four weeks. Classes are resumed 14th January, 2018.
Return from winter breakJanuary 14, 2018 for MoE schoolsJanuary 7, 2018 for Other schools
Spring break beginsMarch 25, 2018 (Two weeks)
Return from spring breakApril 8, 2018
End of academic yearJuly 5, 2018Schools starting in September can adjust the closing date by one week (either earlier or later) subject to the school fulfilling the stipulated number of instructional and academic days and receiving KHDA approval.

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The academic calendar for Dubai private schools that begins in April:

The Indian schools have a different schedule - Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and the Indian Certificate for Secondary Education (ICSE) - follow an academic year from April to March. Pakistani and Japanese schools in the UAE also follow this schedule.

Dubai Private Schools Starting in April - Academic year 2017/18
Start of academic yearApril 2, 2017
Summer break beginsJune 25, 2017
Return from summer breakSeptember 5, 2017
Winter break beginsDecember 24, 2017
Return from winter breakJanuary 7, 2018
End of academic yearBetween March 22-25, 2018These private schools can close any day between March 22nd and 29th, subject to the school fulfilling the stipulated number of instructional and academic days and receiving KHDA approval.
New academic year begins 2018-19April 2, 2018

Source: MoE, KHDA


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