Dubai Announces Early School Finishes on Fridays from January 2026

Dubai’s private schools will finish earlier on Fridays starting January 2026, following an announcement by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA). The move aligns with new nationwide Friday prayer timings that will come into effect next year.

According to the KHDA, all private schools and early childhood centres operating within private schools in Dubai will end the school day no later than 11.30am on Fridays, effective Friday, January 9, 2026. The decision follows consultations with educational institutions across the emirate.

The revised school schedule comes after the UAE announced updated Friday prayer timings at mosques nationwide. From January 2, 2026, Friday prayers will begin at 12.45pm, earlier than the current standard start time of 1.15pm. The change was confirmed by the General Authority of Islamic Affairs, Endowments and Zakat, which said the update aims to standardise prayer timings across the country.

To accommodate families and learning continuity, the KHDA said schools may explore remote learning options on Fridays for older students. For students in Grade 6 (Year 7) and above, schools can seek approval to offer online learning, subject to parental consultation and KHDA approval.

The KHDA clarified that school start and finish times from Monday to Thursday will remain unchanged, and the adjustment applies only to Fridays.

The authority also noted that Dubai’s private education sector continues to expand, with 16 early childhood centres, six new schools, and three international universities scheduled to open for the 2025–26 academic year, reinforcing the emirate’s position as a regional education hub.