GEMS Education announces emirate-specific schedules for online and in-person classes.
Dubai: With the UAE extending its distance learning period, one of the country’s largest school operators has provided a detailed, curriculum-specific schedule to help families plan ahead. Some students will begin online classes as early as Monday, March 23, while others are set to return to classrooms on April 6.
GEMS Education, which runs numerous schools across the UAE under various curricula and regulatory authorities, has informed parents of the exact dates each school will transition to online learning and when in-person classes are expected to resume.
The announcement comes after the UAE’s education authorities confirmed on Tuesday that distance learning will continue for schools, universities, and higher education institutions following spring break.
The directive applies to all nurseries, kindergartens, and public and private schools across the country. Authorities will conduct weekly reviews to assess the situation and provide updates through official school communication channels.
Meanwhile, the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources announced flexible remote work options for federal employees with caregiving responsibilities, as part of the Year of the Family initiative.
Key Dates
In its Tuesday circular to parents, titled Important Update on Learning Continuity, GEMS Education confirmed the following schedule:
International curriculum schools, regardless of their regulatory authority, will switch to online learning starting Monday, March 23.
For Indian curriculum schools (CBSE, ICSE, ISC), the schedule differs by emirate. Schools under SPEA in Sharjah and ADEK in Abu Dhabi will move online from Monday, March 30, through Monday, April 6.
KHDA-regulated schools in Dubai will start their new academic year on Monday, April 6.
All GEMS schools are expected to begin the new academic year and resume in-person learning from Monday, April 6, following guidance from education and regulatory authorities.
What Changes for Students
GEMS Education reassured parents that the transition to online learning would be smooth, emphasizing that its schools have “well-established digital platforms, experienced teachers, and structured schedules in place to ensure that learning continues seamlessly.”
During the online period, students will follow their regular timetables, with attendance and engagement continuing as usual, while academic progress and assessments remain on track. Schools will provide families with detailed schedules and access instructions directly.
Support for Families
The group acknowledged that the differing timelines across curricula and emirates may require extra planning, especially for families with children in multiple schools or boards.
“Our teams remain available to support you throughout this period. We will continue to keep you informed of any further updates,” GEMS Education stated in its circular.
