In a landmark moment for education in the UAE, Aldar has partnered with the prestigious King’s College School Wimbledon to launch its first regional campus on Abu Dhabi’s Fahid Island.

Slated to open in September 2028, subject to regulatory approvals, the new K-12 super-premium school will accommodate more than 2,200 students. It will offer a direct academic pathway to some of the world’s leading universities, further enhancing the emirate’s global education standing.

Spanning 50,000 square metres, the state-of-the-art campus will integrate cutting-edge facilities, a rigorous academic curriculum, and a strong emphasis on student wellbeing. Located within the nature-inspired, master-planned community of Fahid Island, the school is designed to nurture a balanced and enriching educational experience.

Recognised among the UK’s top independent schools, King’s College School Wimbledon is globally renowned for academic excellence and for developing high-achieving, well-rounded students.

The new King’s College School campus marks the first phase of Aldar’s education masterplan for Fahid Island, with more institutions set to follow. Across the capital, Aldar Education is also on track to add more than 4,000 new student seats by the 2028–29 academic year, expanding access to high-quality, internationally recognised learning.

The UAE Ministry of Education has confirmed that summer holidays for students will begin on June 30, according to the official 2024-2025 academic calendar. Teaching and administrative staff will begin their break two weeks later, on July 14, after the release of re-examination results.

Exam Dates and Results

• Third-term exams will run from June 10 to 19 across all grades in public and private schools, following the ministry curriculum.
• Final results will be released between June 30 and July 2.
• Re-examinations are scheduled for July 4 to 10, with results announced on July 14.

The third term spans 11 weeks, totalling 52 instructional days, part of the 185 school days required for the academic year.

Next Academic Year and Breaks

The 2025-2026 school year will officially begin on August 25, 2025.

• Winter break: December 15, 2025 – January 5, 2026
• Spring break: March 23 – April 13, 2026
• Schools must complete at least 182 instructional days before closing, with the academic year set to conclude no earlier than June 26, 2026.

Adult Education Grade 12 Exams

The ministry has also released the end-of-term exam schedule for adult education Grade 12 students:

• Exams run from June 23 to July 3, with one subject tested per day from 4pm to 6pm.
• The series starts with Mathematics on June 23, followed by English (June 24), Social Studies (June 25), Physics (July 1), Arabic (July 2), and concludes with Biology or Chemistry on July 3.

Unified National Framework

The academic calendar, approved by the UAE Cabinet, applies to all public and private schools, regardless of whether they follow the Ministry’s or international curricula. While schools are allowed flexibility, they must comply with a minimum of 182 school days or their equivalent in teaching hours.

Private schools in Abu Dhabi can now temporarily suspend operations for a minimum of one year and up to three academic years, subject to prior approval from the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK).

The updated school licensing policy, now available on ADEK’s official website, outlines a detailed framework for temporary closures, including application procedures, stakeholder communication, and legal obligations.

How Temporary Closures Will Work

Schools seeking to suspend operations must formally request approval from ADEK at least six months before the end of the academic year. The request must include:

• A clear reason for the temporary closure
• The intended closure date (which must align with the academic year’s end)
• Plans to support student transfers to other schools
• A communication strategy for parents, staff, and stakeholders

Once approved, schools are required to notify all stakeholders within seven days. If a school remains closed beyond three academic years, its licence will be automatically revoked. Reopening would then require reapplying for a new licence.

Permanent closures are also permitted through a separate formal request process.

8 Key Responsibilities for Temporarily Closing Schools

Schools approved for temporary closure must fulfil eight key obligations:

1. Honour all legal and contractual obligations to staff, students, and parents
2. Clear all legal and financial obligations
3. Settle dues with staff per UAE labour laws
4. Refund unearned tuition fees to parents
5. Remove transfer restrictions via the eSIS system
6. Cancel staff work permits through the PASS system at least 20 working days before closure
7. Submit all student records to ADEK within 20 working days of closure
8. Issue final academic reports and transfer certificates to parents

ADEK may also enforce a forced closure and revoke a school’s licence if it fails to comply with these regulations.

Licence Types Explained

ADEK issues three types of licences under the Private Schools Regulatory Framework (Executive Council Resolution No. 26 of 2013):

1. Provisional Licence

• Granted to new schools
• Valid for one academic year, renewable once
• Cannot be extended beyond one year from school start date
• Renewal must be requested 60 days before expiry

2. General Licence

• Issued after a school passes an inspection with a rating of at least “acceptable”
• Valid for two years
• Renewal applications must be submitted at least 60 days in advance

3. Accredited Licence

• Granted, following a comprehensive inspection by ADEK or a third party
• Valid for up to five years
• Only for schools meeting ADEK’s minimum accreditation standards

Revocation Authority

ADEK’s Director General retains the right to revoke any type of licence—Provisional, General, or Accredited—if a school fails to meet regulatory requirements.

The updated licensing policy came into effect in Term 1 of the 2024–2025 academic year. Full compliance is expected by the start of the 2025–2026 academic year.