UAE schools shift October half-term break forward by one week

Several UAE schools have announced that this year's October half-term break will run from October 12 to 16, one week earlier than in previous years. The change aligns with the unified calendar adopted by the Ministry of Education and the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), which regulates private schools in Dubai. Schools including Dubai British School, Safa British School, and Arab Unity School have notified parents of the shift. The MoE announced the spring break start date as October 12 in its academic calendar released in February, though local education authorities were given flexibility in how private schools implement the break. Some parents have expressed concern about the timing, noting conflicts with exam schedules and pre-booked holidays.