Students to spend only 4 hours for four days as part of gradual return to schools: MoE

The UAE Ministry of Education (MoE) has specified the school attendance mechanism during the first week of the 2026-2027 academic year, as part of the gradual return plan for students, where schools will implement reduced hours for four days, from Monday Aug.31 until Thursday Sept.3, provided that all students attend full-time starting from Friday Sept.4.

According to the general framework of the plan, each school determines the attendance days for students from Monday to Thursday based on its readiness and plan, allowing for the organised gradual return of classes, while classes not scheduled for attendance on the same day are excluded.

According to the Ministry of Education, reduced attendance hours vary by educational stage, as kindergarten students will have to attend from 8:15am until 11:30am, while two options were set for the first cycle, of which the first from 7:15am until 11:15am, and the second from 8:15am until 12:15pm.

Attendance for second and third cycle male students starts from 7:15am until 12:15pm, while female students attend from 8:15am until 1:15pm.

The MoE granted school administrations, kindergartens, and educational complexes flexibility in rearranging the return schedule and increasing student attendance days, according to readiness and needs, with the necessity of coordinating with school transport service providers to avoid bus schedule conflicts, leading up to the return of all students and the implementation of full-time attendance on Friday.