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UAE announces academic calendars for higher education institutions until 2029
The calendar overview for the next three academic years includes dates of winter breaks, summer breaks, and summer semesters
- PUBLISHED: Tue 24 Feb 2026, 12:30 PM UPDATED: Tue 24 Feb 2026, 12:59 PM
The academic calendar for higher education institutions (HEIs) in the UAE has been revealed on Tuesday, one day after a similar step was taken by the country's Ministry of Education in the UAE regarding public and private schools.
In a statement, the Ministry of Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MoHESR) said that revealing the academic calendar for the years: 2026-2027, 2027-2028 and 2028-2029 supports the unification of the academic calendar across schools and HEIs. It applies to all UAE-based federal and private HEIs, while allowing international branch campuses to align their academic year start and end dates with their parent campus calendars.
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The calendar overview for the next three academic years includes dates of winter break, summer breaks, and summer semesters.
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2026-2027
The academic year starts on August 31, 2026.
Winter break runs from December 21, 2026 through January 1, 2027, with classes resuming on January 4, 2027.
Spring break takes place from April 5 to April 9, 2027.
The academic year includes a summer semester from May 24 to July 2, 2027 and ends on July 2, 2027.
2027-2028
The academic year starts on August 30, 2027.
Winter break runs from December 20, through December 31, 2027, with classes resuming on January 3, 2028.
Spring break is scheduled from March 27 to March 31 2028.
There will be a summer semester from May 22 to June 30, 2028, and the academic year ends on June 30, 2028.
2028-2029
The academic year begins on August 28, 2028.
Winter break runs from December 18, through December 29, 2028, with classes resuming on January 2, 2029.
Spring break takes place from March 26 to March 30, 2029.
The academic year includes a summer semester from May 21 to June 29, 2029 and ends on June 29, 2029.
The ministry stressed that the new calendar allocates 16 teaching weeks for the first semester, 17 for the second semester and six for the summer semester, excluding official holidays and breaks from the total teaching weeks.
It also ensures "a balanced and well-structured academic framework that evenly distributes study periods and breaks, enhancing students’ learning and overall academic experience, supporting a broader vision to enhance the quality, stability and efficiency of the higher education ecosystem."
Yasmin Hussein is an Assistant Digital Editor who believes that every news story carries a human element. Her motto is 'get it first, but first get it right'.
