Hey Raha blog · Dubai school life

Ramadan school timings 2027 in the UAE: Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and public schools

By Marie Adly · 22 October 2026

Ramadan 2027 is expected to begin on Monday 8 February 2027 and last 29 or 30 days, so it falls entirely in term time. That date is UNCONFIRMED until the official moon sighting. No UAE regulator has announced Ramadan 2027 school hours yet. The best guide is what they did in 2026: Dubai capped the private school day at five hours, Sharjah capped it at six, and public schools studied from home on Fridays.

Last updated: 22 October 2026

Ramadan changes the whole family's rhythm: shorter school days, earlier pick-ups, different work hours and later evenings. Here's what we know for each emirate, what's still to be confirmed, and how to keep the school run and your helper's day on track.

Ramadan 2027 and the school year: the dates

What	Date	Status
Ramadan begins	Expected Monday 8 February 2027	UNCONFIRMED, moon sighting
Ramadan ends	Expected Monday 8 or Tuesday 9 March 2027	UNCONFIRMED, moon sighting
Eid Al Fitr	Expected Tuesday 9 or Wednesday 10 March 2027	UNCONFIRMED, moon sighting
Ministry of Education school Eid holiday	Monday 8 to Friday 12 March 2027 (for public schools and Ministry-curriculum private schools)	Published by the Ministry, still subject to the moon sighting
Spring break	Monday 5 to Friday 9 April 2027	Confirmed, after Ramadan

The expected dates come from the UAE's Astronomy Centre, as reported by Khaleej Times. The Ministry of Education's 2026-27 calendar lists the 8 to 12 March Eid holiday, and the school calendars we checked at GEMS, Taaleem and Aldar schools show the same week.

One thing to watch: a few private schools split their October break and kept a day or two for February. GEMS Dubai American Academy, for example, lists a February break on 11 and 12 February 2027, which would fall in the first week of Ramadan. See February half-term and spring break 2027.

What each UAE regulator did in Ramadan 2026

None of these rules has been announced for 2027. They are last year's arrangements, which is what schools are likely to start from.

Dubai private schools (KHDA), 2026

The school day could not be longer than five hours.
Friday classes had to finish by 11.30am.
Fasting pupils were excused from PE.
Each school then set its own times and emailed parents.

More detail, including Friday remote learning, in Ramadan school timings in Dubai.

Sharjah private schools (SPEA), 2026

Schools could set their own start and finish times, as long as the school day did not exceed six hours.
Timetables had to follow the approved academic calendar and allow for differences between stages, with shorter days reported for kindergarten and primary at several operators.

Sharjah term dates are in our Sharjah school term dates 2026-27 guide.

Abu Dhabi private schools (ADEK), 2026

We couldn't find ADEK's 2026 Ramadan circular published online, so we aren't quoting hours. UNCONFIRMED.
Khaleej Times reported that Abu Dhabi schools ran reduced days, with at least one school planning around four hours of lessons on Fridays, "to be confirmed by" ADEK.
Your school will email its exact timings once ADEK sets the rules. See Abu Dhabi school term dates 2026-27.

Public schools (Ministry of Education), 2026

Public school pupils studied from home on Fridays during Ramadan under the "Ramadan with the Family" initiative, as reported by The National.
From 9 January 2026, the Ministry moved public school Friday hours to finish by 11.30am at the latest (kindergarten 8am to 11.30am), and urged private schools to end Friday classes by 11.30am too.

Working hours

In Ramadan 2026, MoHRE cut private-sector working hours by two hours a day. If something similar is announced for 2027, the school run may get a little easier for some working parents. Plan with the announcement, not the assumption.

New Ramadan timetables arrive by email. Raha reads them.

Ramadan timetables usually land a few days before the month starts, and then change again around Eid. Hey Raha reads your school emails, read-only. When the new pick-up times or a moved Eid closure arrive, she spots the change, updates your family plan and tells you on WhatsApp. Your nanny or helper gets her own version, without fees or private notes. Try Hey Raha free for 14 days, no card needed.

What it could mean for your school run in 2027

If 2027 follows 2026:

Earlier pick-ups. A five- or six-hour day often means children are home by lunchtime or early afternoon.
A short Friday, finishing by 11.30am, or a remote Friday at public schools.
Shifted drop-offs. Some schools start later in Ramadan.
Clubs pause or move. After-school activities often change for the month. Our kids' activities guide has tips on tracking club times.
Surveys. Some schools ask parents before setting times. Answer them.

Your nanny or helper's Ramadan routine

An earlier pick-up changes your helper's whole day: lunch at home instead of a lunchbox, a longer afternoon with the children, and maybe iftar preparation too.

Update the weekly plan as soon as your school's Ramadan timetable arrives, day by day, especially Fridays.
Rethink lunch if the children are home by early afternoon.
Check the workload adds up. UAE law (Federal Decree-Law No. 9 of 2022) gives domestic workers at least 12 hours' rest a day, including 8 in a row, and a paid weekly day off. Late iftars and early starts can squeeze that.
Be considerate if your helper is fasting.

Our guide on briefing your nanny or helper on the school week has a template you can adapt.

A Ramadan 2027 planning timeline

Now: pencil in Ramadan from about 8 February to 9 March 2027, and Eid from about 8 to 12 March. Both UNCONFIRMED.
January: talk to your employer about Ramadan hours and to your helper about the change in routine.
Early February: watch for KHDA, ADEK or SPEA guidance, then your school's timetable email.
First week of Ramadan: expect a few changes. Update pick-ups, lunches and clubs.
Late February: look out for the Eid closure email. Full holiday list: UAE public holidays 2027, and which school days actually close for Eid and National Day.

For the whole year's dates, see Dubai school holidays 2026-27, or the KHDA calendar, explained.

Ramadan school timings FAQ

When does Ramadan 2027 start in the UAE?
It is expected to start on Monday 8 February 2027, based on Astronomy Centre calculations. The official start depends on the UAE moon sighting.

What are UAE school timings during Ramadan 2027?
They haven't been announced. In 2026, Dubai private schools were capped at five hours a day with Fridays ending by 11.30am, Sharjah private schools were capped at six hours, and public schools studied from home on Fridays.

What are Abu Dhabi school timings in Ramadan?
ADEK sets the rules for Abu Dhabi private schools and schools email their exact times. We couldn't find ADEK's 2026 circular online, so check your school's Ramadan email.

Do Sharjah private schools have shorter days in Ramadan?
In 2026, SPEA let Sharjah private schools set their own Ramadan times as long as the school day did not exceed six hours. The 2027 rules haven't been announced.

Is Eid Al Fitr 2027 a school holiday?
Yes. Eid Al Fitr is expected on 9 or 10 March 2027, depending on the moon sighting. The Ministry of Education's calendar closes its schools from 8 to 12 March 2027, and many private school calendars show the same week.

Sources

Khaleej Times, likely dates for Ramadan, Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha 2027 (Astronomy Centre estimates, updated 1 September 2026)
UAE Ministry of Education, Academic Calendar 2026-2027 (PDF; Eid Al Fitr holiday 8 to 12 March 2027)
UAE Ministry of Education, updated Friday school hours from 9 January 2026
Gulf News, 9 February 2026, Dubai caps Ramadan school day at five hours, exempts fasting pupils from PE
The National, 12 February 2026, UAE public schools to adopt online learning on Fridays during Ramadan (also KHDA's five-hour cap)
Gulf News, 8 February 2026, Sharjah caps private school day during Ramadan (reporting the SPEA circular)
Khaleej Times, 10 February 2026, Ramadan 2026: how UAE schools adjust timetables (Abu Dhabi examples)
MoHRE, reduction of private-sector working hours by two hours daily during Ramadan (2026)
UAE Legislation, Federal Decree-Law No. 9 of 2022 on Domestic Workers
GEMS Dubai American Academy, Academic calendar (February break 11 and 12 February 2027)

A little help from Hey Raha

Ramadan is a lovely month, and a busy one for school emails: new timings, short Fridays, iftar events, then the Eid closure. Hey Raha reads your school emails, read-only, and sends you and your helper one daily WhatsApp plan, so the new pick-up time is clear for everyone.

Start free

Marie, founder of Hey Raha

If schools ever move online, our UAE remote learning guide for parents covers the lesson timings and rules MOE, KHDA and ADEK set during the spring 2026 period.

More from the blog: the Hey Raha blog hub. New here? Our practical guides walk through the day-to-day.