This winter, many schools in the UAE were set to enjoy a one‑month break from December 8, 2025 to January 4, 2026. But not all will get the full four weeks.
The reason is that some schools follow Asian‑curriculum systems (for example Indian or Pakistani syllabi) which start their academic year in April and end later. Because of this, these schools will continue classes into the second week of December instead of taking a full four‑week break. [oai_citation:0‡Khaleej Times](https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/education/month-long-winter-break-some-schools-wont-get-4-weeks?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
The country’s Ministry of Education created a unified academic calendar for many public and private schools, ending Term 1 and beginning the holiday period for schools following September‑start systems. [oai_citation:1‡Khaleej Times](https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/education/month-long-winter-break-some-schools-wont-get-4-weeks?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
Schools that won’t get the full four‑week break explained that their scheduling must match home‑country academic requirements and board exam cycles. Parents of students at these schools are being informed about the difference. [oai_citation:2‡Gulf News](https://gulfnews.com/uae/not-all-uae-schools-will-get-a-4-week-winter-break-here-is-why-1.500247321?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
For families, this means checking with your child’s specific school to confirm exactly when the winter holiday starts and whether it covers the full four weeks or a shorter period. Planning trips or visits should wait until you know your school’s calendar.
You can read the original article here.
By Sahim Salim. Original content published by Khaleej Times.