Tomorrow, over 1.27 million students will return to classrooms as 1,180 public and private schools implementing the Ministry of Education’s curriculum open their doors for the 2026-2027 academic year. This marks the beginning of a new school year, which will feature a gradual return to full attendance, with students enjoying a reduced schedule during the first four days before transitioning to regular hours from Friday, 4 September.
Academic Year Duration and Structure
The new academic year spans 185 school days divided into three terms: 67 days for the first term, 60 days for the second, and 58 days for the third. Each term will follow a structured timeline, with the first term lasting 13 weeks and the subsequent terms lasting 12 weeks each.
Gradual Return and Preparation
The gradual return to school aims to ease students into the academic environment while helping them adjust back to their daily routines. This approach will cover attendance from Monday to Thursday, with full schedules commencing on Friday.
Under the theme “With the Covenant, We Reach the Horizons,” the Ministry of Education anticipates welcoming a diverse student body, including 26,700 newcomers entering the education system for the first time. In preparation for this transition, more than 24,000 educators and teaching staff have undergone intensive training since returning to work on 24 August.
Comprehensive Readiness for a Smooth Start
School directors have confirmed that all necessary preparations have been finalised to ensure operational and academic readiness. This preparation includes reviewing class schedules, student rosters, and ensuring that classrooms and laboratories are ready for the new academic year. Additionally, transportation routes and safety measures have been scrutinised to secure a stable start from day one.
Key Academic Dates and Assessments
The academic calendar for 2026-2027 outlines important dates for study, testing, evaluations, and holidays. Classes commence on 31 August, followed by diagnostic assessments from 7 to 18 September and the Arabic language basic assessment from 7 September to 9 October. Standardised assessments will take place from 21 September to 30 October.
October will feature significant milestones, including a mid-term break for students from 12 to 16 October, coinciding with further specialised training for administrative and educational staff during the same dates. The break for staff will occur on 15 and 16 October.
Testing and Evaluations in November and Beyond
The “PIRLS 2026” study is scheduled from 19 October to 12 November, followed by a mock examination from 18 to 20 November and end-of-term tests from 25 to 27 November. This assessment period will see a pause during the National Day holiday from 2 to 4 December, resuming from 7 to 11 December.
Students will enjoy their winter break starting from 14 December 2026 until 1 January 2027. The period from 14 to 18 December is allocated for the third specialised training for educational staff, along with compensatory tests for the first term. Additionally, the winter break for administrative staff will begin on 21 December 2026, continuing until 1 January 2027.
Beginning of the Second Term
The second term of the academic year will commence on 4 January 2027, with results for the first term announced between 4 and 6 January. The term will continue until the Eid al-Fitr break, scheduled for 8 to 12 March 2027, when studies will pause for evaluations to take place.
Final term assessments will occur from 22 March to 2 April 2027, followed by a spring break for both students and staff from 5 to 9 April 2027, marking the conclusion of the second term’s timeline.
Launching into the Third Term
The third term will kick off on 12 April 2027. It comprises 58 school days, with results for the second term released between 12 and 14 April. This term will see various assessments and international studies, including the “TIMSS 2027” for key subjects from 19 April to 14 May, along with the standardised assessment from 26 April to 4 June.
Holidays will also be observed, including Eid al-Adha from 15 to 18 May and the Hijri New Year holiday on 6 June.
Conclusion of the Academic Year
As the school year draws to a close, preparations will begin for final assessments, including a mock test from 9 to 11 June. The curriculum for kindergarten and grades one and two will conclude on 11 June, followed by enrichment activities until 2 July. Final examinations will take place from 16 to 25 June, with the last evaluative activities conducted from 28 June to 2 July.
The academic year will conclude with results announced from 30 June to 1 July 2027, and the final day of school for students set for 2 July. The calendar also allocates 5 to 8 July for compensatory tests, with results scheduled to be announced on 12 July. Subsequently, the summer break for administrative and teaching staff will commence, marking the end of the 2026-2027 academic year.