Over 1.27 Million Students Return to UAE Schools Amid Phased Reopening

Aug 30, 2026

72 min

Aug 30, 2026 09:30

More than 1.27m pupils return to 1,180 UAE schools Monday under phased reopening

## Phased Reopening Begins

More than 1.27 million students are returning to over 1,180 schools across the UAE as the 2026-27 academic year kicks off. The reopening is phased, with reduced hours from Monday to Thursday, before full attendance resumes on Friday, September 4.

## New Students and Preparations

This year, 26,700 new students are joining public schools. Teachers and staff have been preparing with academic planning, classroom setups, and safety checks. Over 24,000 educators participated in professional training sessions.

## Educational Resources and Infrastructure

The Ministry of Education has prepared 8 million textbooks, 5,810 school buses, and opened 11 new educational facilities. The "Guided by the Charter, Building Tomorrow" campaign emphasizes the National Education Charter's implementation.

## Changes in Homework and Digital Tools

Notably, homework has been eliminated for kindergarten and Grades 1 and 2, encouraging reading at home. Additionally, digital tool usage is being regulated for Grade 6 students, following a successful pilot program.

## School Evaluations and Assessments

A two-year evaluation program will assess all public and ministry-licensed private schools. The Arabic Baseline Assessment expands to include 30,000 students, establishing early benchmarks for language skills.

## New Assessment Models

For Cycle 3, assessment rules now split grades equally between school-based and central assessments. The Project-Based Learning and Assessment program will involve over 129,000 students, with Grade 7 students undertaking integrated projects across multiple subjects.

The school year runs from August 31, 2026, to July 2, 2027.

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