UAE President Sheikh Mohamed extends wishes to students, teachers for new academic year

As most schools across the UAE return to campus after the summer break, the UAE’s leaders have extended their wishes to students, teachers, and parents for the start of the new academic year. The country’s President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan wished pupils as they embarked on a new journey of learning.

I extend my best wishes for a successful academic year to all students, teachers, and parents. Together, you continue to ensure that educational excellence is an investment in our nation’s future and a foundation for developing lifelong learners in and out of school.

— محمد بن زايد (@MohamedBinZayed) August 27, 2023

Dubai’s ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid wrote a heartfelt note to students as they begin their new academic year. Sheikh Mohammed noted the the future of the country depended on the learnings of the students of today and their ambitious dreams of the future.

يبدأ غداً العام الدراسي الجديد .. ويبدأ أكثر من مليون طالب رحلة تعليمهم السنوية .. وستبدأ روح جميلة من الإيجابية والحيوية تسري في وطننا بعودة مدارسنا.

كلمتي للطلاب : بكم يسمو الوطن .. وعلى أوراق دفاتركم تسطرون أمجاده .. ومن مقاعد صفوفكم تعلو إنجازاته .. وعلى قدر أحلامكم يعظم…

— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) August 27, 2023

New academic year

The new academic year (2023-2024) will see more than 290,000 students and 23,492 educational professionals, return to campuses today (Aug 28) in government schools across the UAE. Sarah Al Amiri, Minister of State for Public Education and Advanced Technology and the chairwomen of the Emirates Schools Establishment, congratulated both the students and educators on the start of the new academic year, wishing them “a distinguished start to a year full of accomplishments and excellence”.

KHDA declares holiday breaks for new academic year

The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) has declared the dates for the new school terms for the academic year 2023-24.

The academic year has been divided into three semesters.

The KHDA has announced that Dubai private schools starting in September for the academic year 2023-2024 will start school on August 28.

Dubai private schools: Key holiday dates for September start

28 August 2023	Start of academic year
11 December 2023	Start of winter break – All schools
02 January 2024	Resumption of classes after winter break – All schools
25 March 2024	Start of spring break – All schools
15 April 2024	Resumption of classes after spring break – All schools
28 June 2024	The academic year not to end before 28 June 2024

The KHDA allows schools some flexibility in setting the vacation periods but mandates the minimum number of instruction days set out by the UAE’s Ministry of Education. The UAE’s Ministry of Education mandates 188 days as the minimum number of academic days for schools following the MoE’s curriculum and 182 days for those schools following the international curriculum.

Dubai private schools: Key holiday dates for April start

03 April 2023	Start of academic year
03 July 2023	Start of summer break
28 August 2023	Resumption of classes after summer break
11 December 2023	Start of winter break
02 January 2024	Resumption of classes after winter break
01 March 2024 – 31 March 2024	End of academic year

Back to school shopping

Shopping malls across Dubai have launched their annual ‘Back to school’ shopping offers keeping in mind the school re-opening dates. Dubai Shopping Malls Group said that 19 participating malls are hosting its 2023 shopping festival edition with Dhs100,000 in cash prizes up for grabs.

The shopping festival began on August 7 and will go on until September 3. Shoppers who spend Dhs200 at any of the participating malls will be automatically entered into the draws. The names of the twenty winners will be announced on August 27 and September 3.