The initiative aims to provide families and schools with greater clarity while fostering a more student-friendly academic system.
The UAE’s Ministry of Education has introduced a new academic calendar for the next three years — a move that is already prompting discussion among families across the country.
Under the 2026–2027 to 2028–2029 plan, students will experience a shorter winter break, a rescheduled spring holiday, revised mid-term breaks, and a slightly later start to the academic year.
Authorities say the changes are intended to provide families and schools with long-term clarity, while establishing a more stable, student-focused system that supports both learning and wellbeing.
Parents, however, remain divided. While some welcome the added predictability and believe a three-week winter break offers the right balance between rest and routine, others are still considering how the changes might affect travel plans, exam preparation for older students, and family time.
‘Long Holidays Disrupt the Routine’
Anjali Jain, a working mother of a nine-year-old boy, welcomed the revision.
“We are very happy to know that the school holidays have been reduced from one month to three weeks in winter, as we felt four weeks was too long when children already have two months of summer break and two mid-term breaks,” she said.
For her family, maintaining structure is essential. She explained that extended breaks can unsettle the rhythm families work hard to establish during the school term.
“Long holidays disrupt the routine, and then it takes a lot of time for families to reset children back into school schedules,” she noted.
Like many working parents in the UAE, Jain and her husband both hold full-time jobs. Keeping a child meaningfully engaged for an entire month, she said, can be emotionally, logistically, and financially demanding. She also believes frequent and lengthy breaks may contribute to learning loss.
“All in all, I am very happy with the decision and glad that the education authorities are taking cognisance of what families want,” she added.
A More Practical Option for Families
American expat Natalia Miranda expressed support for the three-week winter break, describing it as a more practical arrangement for families.
“I really like this decision,” she said, adding that parents are “getting more of what we paid for” without needing to arrange extended holiday camps.
For Miranda, the revised calendar aligns well with her family traditions. She typically takes time off between Christmas and New Year to spend with her son, and a three-week break fits comfortably within that window.
“We usually plan around the holidays… we go away for the summertime,” she explained, noting that the winter adjustment hasn’t significantly altered their overall travel plans.
Highlighting the UAE’s already generous holiday schedule, she added, “December already includes public holidays, along with National Day and Eid breaks throughout the year. I feel a month-long winter holiday is too long.”
‘A Significant Time Lost’
Not all parents, however, see the shorter break as beneficial. Filipino expat Ben Lebig expressed concern over the academic impact, particularly for older students preparing for crucial exams.
“After the four-week winter break given in previous years, reducing it to just three weeks now feels like a disadvantage,” he said.
For teenagers in Year 11 and above, winter can be a crucial revision period. Lebig stressed that uninterrupted time away from classes allows students to focus fully on board exam preparation.
“These few weeks during the winter break, when there are no classes, are important for students to concentrate on their review. A one-week difference is significant time lost for those preparing for board exams,” he explained.
Beyond academics, he pointed to the emotional impact of shorter holidays. Many expatriate families rely on the extended winter break to travel home for Christmas and spend meaningful time with relatives.
“A shorter winter break means less time for families to be together during the Christmas holidays, when many students travel back to their home countries,” he added.
