If you’re eagerly planning your next family getaway and wondering when your kids will have their winter break, here’s everything you need to know! Dubai schools, following both the April and September 2024-2024 academic year, are gearing up for a three-week winter break, which will start this weekend! Come with me, and I’ll show you which dates to mark on your calendar. And I’ll be nice enough to also throw in calendar dates for the rest of the academic year!

Winter Break Dates For Dubai Schools

For Dubai’s private schools following the Ministry of Education (MoE) calendar or an international curriculum, winter break will officially start on Monday, December 16, 2024, until Monday, January 6, 2025. This means, yep you got it – you can start your winter break on Saturday, December 14th! This 3-week break applies to private schools that start their academic year in either September or April.

Key Dates For The 2024-2025 School Holidays

Here’s a breakdown of the important dates for the September academic year:

• Winter Break Begins: Monday, December 16, 2024
• Classes Resume After Winter Break: Monday, January 6, 2025
• Spring Break Begins: Monday, March 24, 2025
• Classes Resume After Spring Break: Monday, April 7, 2025
• Classes Resume for MoE Curriculum Schools: Monday, April 14, 2025
• Last Day of School: No date earlier than Friday, June 27, 2025

Here’s a breakdown of the important dates for the April academic year:

• Classes Resume After Summer Break: Monday, August 26, 2024
• Winter Break Begins: Monday, December 16, 2024
• Classes Resume After Winter Break: Monday, January 6, 2024
• Last Day of School: Between March 1 – March 31, 2025 (“Private schools can close any day in March 2025, subject to the school fulfilling the stipulated number of school days and receiving KHDA approval.” according to the KHDA)

Calendar Flexibility For Schools

While this calendar sets the main dates, schools have some flexibility in their academic calendar, as long as they meet the minimum required school days: 188 for MoE curriculum schools and 182 for those following an international curriculum. For specifics, it’s a great idea to check the official Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) site at web.khda.gov.ae where each school’s exact schedule is listed.

With these dates in mind, now’s the perfect time to start planning your next family holiday or weekend getaway!