UAE unveils new university academic calendar for 2025–2026: What students need to know
TL;DR
UAE university year runs from 25 August 2025 to 3 July 2026, applying to all HEIs.
Winter break is 8 Dec 2025 – 4 Jan 2026; Spring break is 16–29 March 2026.
Minor flexibility allowed: holidays can shift by up to one week, but durations stay fixed.
New calendar aims to balance academics with wellbeing, family time, and national priorities.
In a step that reflects the UAE's broader focus on harmonizing educational progress with community values, the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MoHESR) has unveiled a revamped academic calendar for the 2025–2026 university year.
The change, recently approved by the Education, Human Development and Community Development Council, will be applied across all public and private higher education institutions (HEIs) in the country.
The new calendar structure introduces more consistent term schedules and better-aligned holiday breaks, reinforcing the government's commitment to creating a balanced, student-centered learning environment—especially in a year officially marked as the 'Year of Community.'
A New Approach to the Academic Year
Effective from the next academic cycle, the updated university calendar is designed to unify start and end dates across all HEIs in the UAE. The shift is aimed at improving educational efficiency, supporting students' mental and academic wellbeing, and ensuring family cohesion during major breaks.
Key features of the new academic structure include:
Academic Year Start: Monday, 25 August 2025
Winter Break: A four-week holiday from 8 December 2025 to 4 January 2026
Classes resume on 5 January 2026
Spring Break: A two-week holiday from 16 to 29 March 2026
Classes resume on 30 March 2026
Academic Year End: 3 July 2026
These changes will bring the university calendar more in line with the national school system, allowing families with students in both sectors to enjoy synchronized breaks.
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Balancing Flexibility with Structure
Dr. Abdulrahman Al Awar, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation and Acting Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, emphasized that the new schedule marks a 'qualitative shift' in how higher education institutions approach academic planning. He described it as a step toward a more flexible, integrated and student-focused academic system.
'This step reflects our ongoing efforts to enhance the efficiency of the higher education system by aligning academic policies with community development goals and student needs,' Dr. Al Awar said.
'The changes mark a qualitative shift toward a more flexible, balanced system that supports students' well-being, community engagement and personal growth.'
In line with this goal, universities will also be granted limited flexibility:
Institutions can adjust start and end dates of the academic year based on their academic programs and summer semester schedules.
Holiday dates may be shifted by up to one week earlier or later, provided that the total duration of each break remains unchanged.
However, all HEIs, local or international, operating in the UAE are expected to adhere to the unified start and end dates, unless international universities are following home-country academic calendars, in which case exemptions may apply.
Supporting Students and National Development
The revised calendar is not just an administrative update, it represents a broader national effort to integrate education with societal wellbeing and long-term development. The Ministry states that the redesign is part of a strategic move to enhance the quality, relevance and responsiveness of higher education in the country.
By balancing academic rigor with rest periods that align more naturally with students' rhythms, the new framework aims to:
Foster family cohesion and community integration
Enhance student wellbeing and academic performance
Prepare graduates to meet the evolving needs of the national and global workforce
Provide institutions with the flexibility needed to support diverse academic models and specializations
In a year when the UAE has designated 'community' as a national theme, the updated academic calendar reflects an effort to align educational planning with broader social priorities, offering a structure that supports both institutional goals and student wellbeing.
FAQs:
Q. Who must follow the new academic calendar?
All public, private, and licensed higher education institutions in the UAE.
Q. Are universities allowed to change start or end dates?
Start date is fixed; end date and breaks can shift slightly based on programs.
Q. What are the key term dates in the new structure?
Start: 25 August 2025; End: 3 July 2026; breaks in December and March.
Q. Do international branch campuses need to comply?
Yes, unless their home country calendars require different term structures.
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