UAE Families Plan Ras Al Khaimah Staycations, India Holidays and Park Visits While Balancing Work, Family Activities and Schoolwork During the Half-Term Break.
As schools across the UAE begin their October half-term holidays, families are exploring various ways to keep their children entertained while balancing relaxation, recreational activities and family responsibilities.
For some households, the school break provides an ideal opportunity to visit their home countries and spend quality time with relatives. Others are choosing short holidays within the UAE, while working parents are organising playdates, trips to nearby parks and indoor activities to keep their children engaged without placing additional pressure on household budgets.
Under the UAE’s unified academic calendar, schools observing the October half-term holiday will remain closed from Monday, October 12, through Friday, October 16, with classes scheduled to resume on Monday, October 19.
When the weekends on either side are included, students will enjoy a nine-day break, beginning Saturday, October 10, and ending Sunday, October 18.
For many parents, the main focus is on creating a healthy balance between fun activities, sufficient rest and continued learning, helping children return to school feeling refreshed and ready for the next academic term.
A Refreshing Break from the Usual Routine
Dubai resident Dina Hakim is planning a relatively quiet week for her children before taking the family on a short staycation to Ras Al Khaimah towards the end of the school holiday.
With both parents continuing their work commitments during most of the break, Hakim believes enrolling her children in a holiday camp for only a few days would offer limited value.
She explained that the family intends to enjoy a short getaway in Ras Al Khaimah later in the week. Since the school holiday lasts only a few days and parents must continue working, she feels it is more practical for the children to stay home, complete pending school assignments and enjoy a less demanding daily schedule rather than attend a short-term camp.
Hakim is also thinking about taking a day off from work to organise a special activity for her children before the family trip.
Her main objective is to keep the children meaningfully engaged while their parents work, without filling every day with planned activities.
She emphasised the importance of maintaining a balance between keeping children entertained and allowing them enough free time to relax and enjoy their school holidays.
Meanwhile, for Anjana Sengupata, the mid-term holiday provides an opportunity to visit India and celebrate Durga Puja, a significant festival for Bengali families.
With the celebrations beginning later in the week and partly overlapping with the school break, Sengupata has decided to travel with her daughter to participate in the festivities alongside relatives.
The children are expected to return to school the following Wednesday, meaning they will miss a few days of classes after the official holiday ends.
For Sengupata, the journey represents more than a temporary escape from school routines. She believes visits to their home country are particularly valuable for expatriate families, as they allow children to build stronger relationships with extended family members.
She explained that celebrating Durga Puja in India gives children the opportunity to experience Bengali customs and traditions personally, rather than learning about them only through stories while living abroad.
She also hopes the visit will create meaningful childhood memories, strengthen family relationships and help the children develop a deeper connection with their cultural heritage.
Working Parents Choose Playdates and Home-Based Activities
For Dubai-based working mother Mariam Haddad, who has two sons studying in Years 6 and 10, keeping the October school holiday affordable and manageable is a key priority.
Instead of enrolling her children in organised holiday camps, Haddad, who works at a public relations agency in Dubai, has arranged playdates for her younger son.
Meanwhile, she plans to encourage her older son to spend part of the break improving his reading and writing skills, ensuring that he remains academically engaged while still having time to relax.
Haddad explained that she has coordinated playdates with other mothers for her younger son while preparing a daily routine for her older child to focus on improving his reading and writing skills. She has decided against enrolling them in organised holiday camps because of the high costs involved.
The family also intends to take advantage of nearby parks and outdoor spaces, giving the boys opportunities to socialise, play and spend time with their friends.
With several schools observing their mid-term holidays during the same period, arranging activities with other families has become more convenient.
Haddad said the overlapping school holidays make it easier for parents to coordinate outdoor activities, allowing children to meet at neighbourhood parks during the morning or evening to enjoy games, cycling and other recreational activities together.
However, the holiday period also brings academic commitments, particularly for older students.
Haddad’s elder son, Zain, is studying in Year 10 under the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum, making it necessary to dedicate some time to school assignments and academic preparation during the break.
To maintain a balance between learning and leisure, Haddad plans her children’s daily activities before leaving for work.
She explained that although schools have assigned tasks for the holiday, students can use the break to complete their pending work without sacrificing their free time.
By organising a flexible daily schedule, she hopes both children can fulfil their academic responsibilities while still enjoying a refreshing and enjoyable school holiday.
