Updated 30 April 2026 with the UAE Ministry of Education's confirmed school mid-term break dates (25 to 29 May 2026).
UAE schools will close for a five-day Eid Al Adha mid-term break from Monday, 25 May to Friday, 29 May 2026, with classes set to resume on Monday, 1 June. Combined with the surrounding weekends, families will have a continuous nine-day holiday from Saturday 23 May to Sunday 31 May. The school break has been confirmed by the UAE Ministry of Education for the third-term academic calendar.
The four public holidays approved by the UAE Cabinet are Arafah Day on Tuesday 26 May and the three days of Eid Al Adha on Wednesday 27, Thursday 28, and Friday 29 May. Monday 25 May is an additional school holiday added by the Ministry of Education for students and staff. Final Eid dates remain subject to the official moon sighting, in line with standard practice for all Islamic holidays in the UAE, and a one-day shift in either direction is possible until the moon is officially confirmed.
When does the Eid Al Adha 2026 school break start?
The school break begins on Monday, 25 May 2026, the first official day off school under the Ministry of Education's third-term calendar. The break runs through to Friday, 29 May. Combined with the weekends on either side (Saturday 23 May, Sunday 24 May, Saturday 30 May, and Sunday 31 May), most families have a continuous nine-day holiday before classes resume on Monday, 1 June.
How long is the school break for Eid Al Adha 2026?
The school break lasts five school days, from Monday, 25 May to Friday, 29 May 2026, as confirmed by the UAE Ministry of Education. Combined with the weekends before and after, most families enjoy a continuous nine-day holiday.
The four official public holidays approved by the UAE Cabinet are Arafah Day on Tuesday 26 May and the three days of Eid Al Adha on Wednesday 27 May, Thursday 28 May, and Friday 29 May. Monday 25 May is a school-specific holiday added by the Ministry of Education for students, teachers, and administrative staff.
What is Arafah Day, and is it a school holiday?
Arafah Day is the second day of Hajj, the Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, and falls on the day before Eid Al Adha begins. In the UAE, Arafah Day is recognised as a public holiday in its own right, separate from the three Eid days. For school families this year, the official school break begins on Monday, 25 May 2026 (the day before Arafah Day), per the Ministry of Education's third-term calendar.
When do schools reopen after Eid Al Adha 2026?
UAE schools will reopen on Monday, 1 June 2026 to resume the third term, as confirmed by the UAE Ministry of Education. A one-day shift in the Eid public holiday block is still possible based on the official moon sighting, but the school reopening date is set.
How much flexibility do UAE schools have for the Eid Al Adha 2026 holiday?
The five-day school break confirmed by the UAE Ministry of Education (Monday 25 May to Friday 29 May) is the standard arrangement for the third-term mid-term break. Within this framework, individual schools may make minor adjustments to the days adjacent to the break depending on each school's published calendar and the framework set by KHDA in Dubai, ADEK in Abu Dhabi, SPEA in Sharjah, or the Ministry of Education for federal and Northern Emirates schools.
School principals can grant additional discretionary days off within their regulator's framework, which in practice may mean:
An additional day at the end of the holiday, extending the return by a day past the public holiday block.
Adjustments to assessment schedules to accommodate the holiday timing.
Modified timings on the days immediately before or after the break.
Parents are encouraged to confirm dates and any adjacent-day arrangements directly with their child's school, particularly as the official moon sighting can shift the start of Eid by a day in either direction.
How does the Eid Al Adha break fit into the rest of the school year?
For UAE schools that follow a September-start academic year, which is the most common pattern in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the Eid Al Adha break sits in the final term of the year, roughly four to six weeks before the summer holidays begin. The break therefore arrives during the period when many schools are running end-of-year assessments, and parents may wish to check their child's assessment calendar for any tests scheduled immediately before or after Eid.
For schools on an April-start academic year, the Eid Al Adha break falls early in term one, approximately five to six weeks after the academic year resumed on 20 April.
What should parents do to plan ahead?
Five practical steps for parents in the lead-up to the Eid Al Adha 2026 break:
Confirm dates with your child's school. While the public holiday block is fixed, individual schools may issue circulars confirming reopening days, modified timings, or any adjustments around assessments.
Check the assessment calendar. If end-of-year tests are scheduled around the break, plan revision time so the holiday does not disrupt preparation for assessments immediately before or after Eid.
Plan travel around the moon sighting. If your family is travelling, allow flexibility in flight bookings to absorb any one-day shift in the start of Eid.
Coordinate with after-school activity providers. Sports clubs, tutoring centres, and music schools may close for some or all of the break. Confirm hours in advance.
Check school transport arrangements. Bus services typically pause during the break and resume on the school's reopening day.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Eid Al Adha 2026 in the UAE?
The UAE Cabinet has designated Arafah Day and Eid Al Adha as a four-day public holiday, projected to run from Tuesday 26 May to Friday 29 May 2026. The UAE Ministry of Education has additionally confirmed Monday 25 May as a school holiday, making the school break five days (25 to 29 May) and the total holiday nine days when including the surrounding weekends. Final Eid dates remain subject to the official moon sighting.
Are UAE schools closed for the full Eid Al Adha 2026 holiday?
Yes. The UAE Ministry of Education has confirmed a five-day school break from Monday 25 May to Friday 29 May 2026, covering Arafah Day, the three days of Eid Al Adha, and an additional school holiday on Monday 25 May. Combined with the surrounding weekends, this creates a nine-day holiday for most school families.
How much flexibility do UAE schools have around the Eid Al Adha 2026 holiday?
The five-day school break (25 to 29 May) is set by the UAE Ministry of Education for the third-term calendar. Individual schools, particularly private schools following international curricula, have some discretion over days adjacent to the break, such as extending by a day at the end or adjusting assessment schedules. Principals can grant additional discretionary days within the framework set by KHDA in Dubai, ADEK in Abu Dhabi, SPEA in Sharjah, or the Ministry of Education for federal and Northern Emirates schools.
When do UAE schools reopen after Eid Al Adha 2026?
Schools will reopen on Monday, 1 June 2026 to resume the third term, as confirmed by the UAE Ministry of Education.
Could the Eid Al Adha 2026 dates change?
Yes. Like all Islamic holidays in the UAE, the final Eid public holiday dates depend on the official moon sighting. A one-day shift in either direction is possible until the moon is officially confirmed. The Ministry of Education's school reopening date of Monday 1 June 2026 is set.
Do private schools and public schools have the same Eid Al Adha holiday?
The Ministry of Education's five-day school break (25 to 29 May 2026) applies to public schools and to private schools following the MOE-curriculum framework. Other private schools, particularly those on international curricula, are expected to align with similar dates under their respective regulator (KHDA in Dubai, ADEK in Abu Dhabi, or SPEA in Sharjah). Parents should always check directly with their child's school for confirmation.
