Hey Raha blog · Dubai school life
Taaleem term dates 2026-27: half-term, holidays and key days
Taaleem schools on the September calendar start on Monday 31 August 2026 and finish on Friday 2 July 2027. Term 1 ends on Friday 11 December, winter break runs to Friday 1 January, Term 2 ends on Friday 2 April and spring break is Monday 5 to Friday 9 April. The October half-term has moved at some Taaleem schools this year, so check the latest email from your school before you book anything.
Last updated: 11 October 2026
Each Taaleem school publishes its own KHDA-approved calendar, and staff training days differ between them. Use this page as a map and your school's calendar as the final word.
Taaleem 2026-27 at a glance (September-start schools)
| What | Dates |
|---|---|
| First day of Term 1 | Monday 31 August 2026 (some year groups start on Tuesday 1 September) |
| October half-term | Most Taaleem schools: Monday 12 to Friday 16 October 2026. Calendars published earlier in the year showed Monday 19 to Friday 23 October, so check the latest email from your school |
| Commemoration Day and National Day | Wednesday 2 to Friday 4 December 2026 |
| Last day of Term 1 | Friday 11 December 2026 |
| Winter break | Monday 14 December 2026 to Friday 1 January 2027 |
| Term 2 starts | Monday 4 January 2027 (at some schools a staff day, with pupils back Tuesday 5 January) |
| Ramadan (expected) | around Monday 8 February to Sunday 7 March 2027 |
| Eid Al Fitr (expected) | around Monday 8 to Friday 12 March 2027 |
| Last day of Term 2 | Friday 2 April 2027 |
| Spring break | Monday 5 to Friday 9 April 2027 |
| Term 3 starts | Monday 12 April 2027 (at some schools a staff day, with pupils back Tuesday 13 April) |
| Eid Al Adha (expected) | around Monday 17 to Tuesday 18 May 2027 |
| Last day of the year | Friday 2 July 2027 |
Islamic holidays depend on the moon sighting and are confirmed close to the date.
Why your Taaleem school might differ
- October half-term changes. The Ministry of Education's unified calendar sets 12 to 16 October, and KHDA has asked Dubai private schools to align. Calendars approved earlier in the year said 19 to 23 October. Your school's most recent email wins.
- Staff training days after breaks. Some Taaleem schools use the first Monday back as a training day, so pupils return on the Tuesday.
- Different curricula. Taaleem runs British, American, IB and other schools, and orientation days differ.
What to sort before half-term
- Double-check which week it is. Especially this year. Look for the most recent school email, not the calendar you saved in August.
- Note the last-day pick-up time. Early finishes are common.
- Bring everything home. PE kit, swimming bag, reading folder, lunchbox.
- Give your helper or nanny the dates. Which days school is closed, which days you're home, and the first day back.
- Check for staff days either side. A training day on the Monday after the break catches a lot of families out.
- Lay out uniform for the first day back the night before.
Holiday changes, early finishes and training days usually arrive by school email. Hey Raha reads your school emails and sends you and your helper one clear daily WhatsApp plan. Try Hey Raha free for 14 days.
Frequently asked questions
When is Taaleem half-term in October 2026?
Taaleem calendars approved earlier in the year showed Monday 19 to Friday 23 October 2026. Several Taaleem schools have since told parents the break is moving to Monday 12 to Friday 16 October, in line with the unified UAE calendar. Check the latest email from your school.
When is the Taaleem winter break?
Term 1 ends on Friday 11 December 2026 and winter break runs from Monday 14 December to Friday 1 January 2027. Term 2 starts on Monday 4 January, though some schools use that day for staff training.
When is spring break 2027 for Taaleem schools?
Spring break is Monday 5 to Friday 9 April 2027, with Term 3 starting on Monday 12 April.
When is the last day of school for Taaleem in 2027?
Friday 2 July 2027 for September-start schools.
A little help from Hey Raha
This year's half-term shuffle is a good example of why dates are hard to keep straight: one PDF in August, a different week in a September email. Raha reads your school emails, read-only, picks up changes like this as they arrive, and updates your daily WhatsApp plan, and your nanny's plan too. 14 days free, no card needed, then AED 39 a month or AED 299 a year.
Start freeMarie, founder of Hey Raha
Related: Dubai school holidays 2026-27 · GEMS term dates · Aldar Academies term dates · October mid-term break ideas · Nanny briefing template
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