More than 1,180 schools reopen across the UAE for 2026–2027 academic year
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More than 1.27 million students returned to classrooms across the UAE as over 1,180 public and private schools reopened for the 2026–2027 academic year on August 31. The new school year began with a phased return designed to help students and schools ease back into regular routines.
The first four days of the academic year, from August 31 to September 3, were organised with staggered attendance and shorter school hours. Full attendance and the regular Friday timetable were scheduled to resume on September 4.
The Ministry of Education reported that 26,700 new students had joined public schools this year. Preparations for the new academic year also included the opening of 11 new schools and educational complexes, the deployment of 5,810 school buses and the distribution of around 8 million textbooks.
The 2026–2027 academic year also introduced a number of changes to teaching and assessment. Among them was the removal of traditional homework for kindergarten pupils and students in Grades 1 and 2, while the use of digital tools in Grade 6 was being regulated as part of a broader effort to balance technology with classroom interaction and core learning skills.
The ministry also launched a two-year programme to evaluate 100 per cent of public schools and private schools licensed by the ministry. In addition, the Project-Based Learning and Assessment programme was expanded to more than 129,000 students across 366 schools.
Assessment methods were also updated for Cycle 3 students in Group A subjects, with school-based and central assessments each accounting for 50 per cent of the final grade. Teacher-led diagnostic assessments were introduced to help identify learning gaps and support more targeted teaching.
The academic year is scheduled to run from August 31, 2026, to July 2, 2027, according to the UAE Ministry of Education's approved calendar.
The reopening marked the start of a new academic year for more than a million students across the Emirates, with the education system placing greater emphasis on learning outcomes, future skills, technology, assessment and closer cooperation between schools and families.
