The overview of the academic calendar for the next three years outlines the dates for winter breaks, summer breaks, and summer semesters.
The academic calendar for higher education institutions (HEIs) in the UAE was announced on Tuesday, following a similar release by the Ministry of Education for public and private schools the previous day.
In a statement, the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research said that publishing the academic calendars for 2026-2027, 2027-2028, and 2028-2029 aims to unify the academic schedule across schools and HEIs. The calendars apply to all federal and private HEIs in the UAE, while allowing international branch campuses to align their academic year start and end dates with those of their parent institutions.
The academic calendar for the next three years provides an overview of winter break, summer breaks, and summer semester dates.
UAE Higher Education Academic Calendar 2026–2029
2026–2027
- Academic year starts: August 31, 2026
- Winter break: December 21, 2026 – January 1, 2027 (classes resume January 4, 2027)
- Spring break: April 5 – April 9, 2027
- Summer semester: May 24 – July 2, 2027
- Academic year ends: July 2, 2027
2027–2028
- Academic year starts: August 30, 2027
- Winter break: December 20 – December 31, 2027 (classes resume January 3, 2028)
- Spring break: March 27 – March 31, 2028
- Summer semester: May 22 – June 30, 2028
- Academic year ends: June 30, 2028
2028–2029
- Academic year starts: August 28, 2028
- Winter break: December 18 – December 29, 2028 (classes resume January 2, 2029)
- Spring break: March 26 – March 30, 2029
- Summer semester: May 21 – June 29, 2029
- Academic year ends: June 29, 2029
The ministry highlighted that each calendar allocates 16 teaching weeks for the first semester, 17 weeks for the second semester, and six weeks for the summer semester, excluding official holidays and breaks.
It also ensures a balanced and well-structured academic framework, evenly distributing study periods and breaks to enhance students’ learning, improve overall academic experience, and support the broader goal of boosting the quality, stability, and efficiency of the UAE higher education ecosystem.
