UAE unified calendar sets October 12–16 mid-term break for international schools in 2026

International curriculum schools in the UAE will observe a mid-term break from October 12 to 16, 2026, aligned with the UAE Ministry of Education's unified academic calendar. However, many CBSE, ICSE, and other Asian-curriculum schools do not have an October half-term break, as their academic year runs from April to March to align with Indian and South Asian board examination cycles. In October, CBSE schools typically hold first-term examinations or continue directly into the next syllabus unit. The difference reflects how different curricula structure their academic years and the number of instructional days required by their respective education authorities. International school principals emphasize that mid-term breaks support student and teacher wellbeing by providing recovery time amid cognitive demands and performance pressures. CBSE schools, meanwhile, operate under stricter working-day requirements and content-heavy curricula that limit flexibility for additional breaks, with longer holidays occurring at different points in their academic year, such as National Day and Diwali.