how reopening is expected to work across nurseries, schools, and universities in the UAE.
Dubai: The UAE Ministry of Education (MOE) has announced that regular in-person classes will resume across all nurseries, kindergartens, and public and private schools next week.
The decision ends several days of uncertainty and speculation over the duration of remote learning and provides a clear timeline for schools navigating current regional developments.
Here’s what you need to know:
When will schools and nurseries reopen in the UAE?
Regular on-campus classes will resume for all nurseries, kindergartens, and public and private schools across the UAE on Monday, April 20, 2026, according to the MOE.
What about nurseries in Dubai?
Private early childhood centres in Dubai will begin a phased return to in-person learning from Thursday, April 16, starting with nurseries located in government and commercial buildings, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) announced on Tuesday.
Priority will be given to these centres, while other nurseries may continue providing home-based childcare services in line with approved regulations.
On April 11, the KHDA introduced two new services for children up to six years old. Nurseries can now operate small home-based groups of up to eight children from different families, and can also provide teacher-led home visits for one-to-one learning or small-group sessions involving up to four siblings.
Will school transport be available?
The UAE Ministry of Education (MOE) has announced that school bus services will be temporarily suspended for all public and private nurseries, kindergartens, and schools as in-person learning resumes. The suspension applies to the current phase and will be reviewed weekly in coordination with relevant authorities.
Parents are advised to follow official updates for information on when bus services will resume.
Status of UAE universities
The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research has confirmed that all public and private higher education institutions will return to in-person learning starting Monday, April 20, 2026.
What is happening with final exams?
The situation for international examinations has changed significantly. Several major exam boards have cancelled their external examinations in the UAE for 2026, including:
- CBSE and ISC
- International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP)
- Cambridge International
- Pearson Edexcel
- OxfordAQA
As a result, qualifications such as IGCSEs and A Levels will not involve external written exams in the UAE this year.
Instead, schools and examination boards are expected to directly inform students about alternative methods of assessment and how final grades will be awarded.
Will some UAE schools use a hybrid model?
Yes. Private schools in the UAE will have the flexibility to adopt a hybrid (rotational) learning model if needed, subject to approval and oversight from local education authorities, depending on each school’s readiness.
However, the Ministry has clarified an important rule: schools using hybrid learning must manage staffing carefully, and the same teacher cannot simultaneously conduct both in-person and remote classes. This is intended to maintain teaching quality and ensure fair workload distribution.
Why did UAE schools shift to online learning?
Distance learning was introduced on March 2, 2026 as a precautionary measure due to regional security concerns linked to ongoing conflict in the area, following reported attacks involving Iran and Gulf countries, including the UAE.
The arrangement was initially planned until March 6, but authorities brought forward the spring break and later extended remote learning in phases as they continued to monitor the situation, prioritising the safety of students and staff.
