KHDA Issues Rules: New Official Dates for Dubai School Holidays
A revised academic calendar for the 2020/21 academic year has been issued by the KHDA, which states that it will “provide a more aligned school year for all private schools in Dubai”.
The revised calendar includes a minimum of 182 school days and “fulfils each curriculum’s academic and examination requirements”.
The new guidelines will hit hardest those schools that had previously used training days to create an academic half term. This has been the case particularly of UK / British curriculum schools, but will no longer be allowed.
Academic Calendar Guidelines:
- All private schools in Dubai must abide by the dates specified in the academic calendar.
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A minimum of 182 school days must be included in the academic year.
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The academic year must not end before the date specified in the calendar.
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Start dates for the Spring and Winter breaks cannot be changed.
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Schools have the flexibility to take five days off during the academic year – distributed or combined throughout the year, or to extend Spring break. However, these five days cannot be used to extend the Winter or Summer breaks.
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Previously, schools were able to allocate eight days each academic year for training or continuous professional development (student-free days). This option is no longer available.
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The exact dates of public holidays will be announced by the government of the UAE. These holidays can be communicated to parents on a tentative basis, but must not be confirmed until officially declared by the UAE government. Schools should not mark public holidays in the calendar submitted for approval.
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Schools can only share their academic calendar with their community after it has been approved by KHDA.
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All schools are expected to comply with these guidelines. Failure to do so will result in further action, in line with Executive Council Resolution No.(2) of 2017, Regulation Private schools in the Emirates of Dubai.
The Dates
| Academic Calendar for Dubai’s Private Schools Starting in September | |
| Academic Years: 2020/2021 to 2022/2023 Date | |
| Start of academic year | 30th August 2020 |
| Winter break (3 weeks) | 13th Dec 2020 – 31st Dec 2020 |
| Spring break (2 weeks) | 28th March 2021 – 8th April 2021 |
| Academic year not to end before | 30th June 2021 |
| Minimum school days | 182 |
| Academic Year 2021/2022 | |
| Start of academic year | 29th August 2021 |
| Winter break (3 weeks) | 12th Dec 2021 – 30th Dec 2021 |
| Spring break (2 weeks) | 27th March 2022 – 7th April 2022 |
| Academic year not to end before | 3rd July 2022 |
| Minimum school days | Minimum school days |
| 182 | |
| Academic Year 2022/2023 | |
| Start of academic year | 28th August 2022 |
| Winter break (3 weeks) | 11th Dec 2022 – 1st Jan 2023 |
| Spring break (2 weeks) | 26th March 2023 – 6th April 2023 |
| Academic year not to end before | 28th June 2023 |
| Minimum school days | 182 |
Staff at private schools have been advised to refer to their employment contracts or school management to learn if and how these revisions apply specifically to them.
Mid term breaks??
Yes… Likely to be impacted.
Why on earth would they do this and impact people even more negatively than they already are during these times? Kids need a break as do teachers ans parents. This is outrageous.
This is ridiculous .. the teachers have never worded harder and now mid terms have been taken away? Such bad form.
I have heard some schools are shortening half terms. Should this be the case?
This is a certified ‘bruh’ moment.