UAE winter break 2026: Families gear up for travel, holiday camps and childcare

Résumé détaillé

The three-week break is about a week shorter than last year's, prompting working parents to plan ahead to keep children engaged during the holidays ...

[Editor’s Note: This article is part of Khaleej Times’ Schools and Parents, a dedicated section designed to support families in the UAE as they explore educational choices. The section offers explainers, guidance from education leaders, expert advice and insights from parents to help readers make informed decisions about schools, curricula and communities.]

With just over a month to go before the UAE’s winter school holidays, families are beginning to organise their December plans, balancing overseas travel, work commitments and activities to keep children occupied during the break.

This year’s winter vacation for schools following the Ministry of Education’s unified academic calendar will run from Monday, December 14, 2026, to Friday, January 1, 2027. The last school day will be Friday, December 11, with students returning to classrooms on Monday, January 4, 2027.

The three-week break is about a week shorter than last year's winter vacation, which ran from December 8, 2025, to January 4, 2026. For working parents, the shorter holiday means making arrangements well in advance, particularly for childcare, holiday camps and family travel.

The winter break also follows the UAE National Day holiday, which falls from Wednesday, December 2, to Friday, December 4, according to the ministry calendar.

For some families, the holiday will mean travelling abroad to experience a different winter climate, while others are splitting their time between overseas visits and extended family in their home countries. Parents who are staying in the UAE are also weighing up holiday camps and outdoor activities against the cost and practicalities of keeping children engaged.

While families may already be looking at flight tickets and holiday itineraries, school leaders are reminding parents that the final weeks of the academic term remain important for students.

Beyond examinations and classroom learning, the run-up to the holidays often includes sports events, performances, residential trips…

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