Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (FBISE) has announced a partial postponement of Secondary School Certificate (SSC) exams in several Gulf countries, citing ongoing regional tensions.

The decision was finalised during a high-level meeting chaired by FBISE Chairman Ikram Ali Malik, following a detailed assessment of the situation across overseas examination centres.

Exams delayed in four countries

According to an official notification, SSC exams for Grades 9 and 10, originally scheduled to begin on March 30, have been postponed in:

• UAE
• Kuwait
• Bahrain
• Iran

Examinations in all other international centres will continue as planned.

Why the decision was made

FBISE officials said the move follows concerns over geopolitical instability and its potential impact on the safe and smooth conduct of exams.

The board conducts exams for around 20,000 expatriate students annually across 12 countries, with a large concentration in the Gulf region.

Based on feedback from affiliated institutions and a seven-member review committee, authorities determined that conditions in the four countries required a temporary delay.

As a result:

• Roll number slips have been withheld for affected students
• Further updates are expected through official channels

Options for students

To minimise disruption, FBISE has introduced alternative arrangements:

• Students can opt to take exams in Pakistan or nearby countries where exams are being held
• Schools can apply for this option via the official FBISE portal
• The board may introduce special measures, including in-house printing of answer sheets at certain centres
• The board has stated that it will review the situation within the next 15 days. It assured students and parents that it is closely monitoring the situation and urged them to remain vigilant, stay in close contact with the board, and follow official updates as developments unfold.

India’s National Testing Agency has announced an important update for Indian expat students who have registered to attend the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main 2026 in Dubai, Kuwait and Bahrain centres.

Due to the current situation, candidates have been advised to regularly check official updates and note that they can request a change of exam city for the exams by contacting the helpline or email support.

According to an official advisory shared by the Embassy of India, Abu Dhabi, exam city intimation slips have now been issued for candidates in Dubai and Kuwait ahead of Session 2, scheduled from April 2 to April 8 in Computer-Based Test mode.

However, students registered in Bahrain are still awaiting confirmation. The NTA said it is currently coordinating with the Indian Embassy to finalise arrangements, with no timeline announced yet.

The update comes as a relief for many expat families who had been waiting for clarity on the exams.

Schools across Dubai will remain on distance learning for at least two more weeks, with authorities extending remote education measures to ensure student safety.

The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) confirmed that all public and private schools, as well as university students, will continue online classes until Friday, April 3. The arrangement came into effect on Monday, March 23, following the spring break.

The decision also applies to teachers and administrative staff, who will continue working remotely during this period.

Situation under weekly review

The Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research will monitor developments on a weekly basis to determine when normal classroom learning can safely resume.

Authorities said the temporary shift to distance learning is aimed at safeguarding the health and well-being of students and the wider community.

Private educational institutions, including nurseries, may submit requests to resume in-person learning, which will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Students begin Term 3 online

Hundreds of thousands of students across the UAE have resumed Term 3 remotely after the spring break, which was brought forward by one week.

The move follows directives from UAE education authorities to ensure continuity of learning while prioritising public safety.