All nurseries, kindergartens, and public and private schools across the UAE will remain on distance learning until at least April 17, 2026, following an announcement by the Ministry of Education late Monday night.
The ministry cited the safety and wellbeing of students, teachers, and administrative staff as the basis for the decision, and said the situation would be reassessed on a weekly basis — leaving open the possibility that the deadline could shift again.
The announcement marks the latest extension in a remote learning period that has been in place since March 2. When Term 3 was set to begin on March 23, authorities had already moved the spring break forward by one week in response to regional tensions, with schools pivoting quickly to online delivery. At that point, distance learning had been confirmed through April 3, pending further review.
The new extension carries particular significance for hundreds of kindergarten-age children who have never before attended school remotely. Many institutions ran practice sessions over the weekend ahead of Monday’s formal online start, helping young pupils and their families navigate digital classrooms for the first time. Dubai’s Asian curriculum schools, which had been targeting April 6 for a return to campus, now face a considerably longer wait.
Indian and Pakistani schools operating in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and the northern emirates launched the 2026–27 academic year online on Monday — one week behind schedule — following directives from the Sharjah Private Education Authority and corresponding guidance from regulators elsewhere in the country. Students and some faculty joined sessions from different countries and time zones.
While private schools technically retain the option to apply for an exemption from distance learning, Dubai’s Knowledge and Human Development Authority has set a high bar. Any institution wishing to resume on-site instruction must submit a formal request with clear, detailed justifications. Each application will be considered individually before being referred to the Ministry of Education for a final determination.
The picture is more varied at the tertiary level. Universities began a phased return to campus on Monday, March 30, under a circular from the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, issued in coordination with the Education, Human Development and Community Development Council. The directive permits in-person activity for programmes that require clinical training, laboratory work, or hands-on field-based learning, and also allows examinations to be conducted on campus.
Several American institutions operating in the UAE opted not to participate in that partial reopening. The American University of Sharjah said it would stay fully remote until further notice, and the American University in Dubai confirmed that both classes and operations remain entirely online. The American University of Ras Al Khaimah indicated remote arrangements would remain in place through April 3.
