UAE residents will bring in 2027 with a three-day weekend. Chris Whiteoak / The NationalShow caption: UAE residents will bring in 2027 with a three-day weekend. C…Schools return on August 31 and finish on July 2, 2027The NationalAugust 12, 2026UAE residents will see in the new year with a three-day weekend, with Friday, January 1, set to be a public holiday in the country.That means the first working day of the year will be Monday, January 4, while Ramadan is expected to start on February 8.Eid Al Fitr, which marks the end of the fasting month, will begin on March 9 and will last for either three or four days.If the Shawwal crescent moon is not seen on the evening of the 29th day of Ramadan and the month of fasting completes 30 days, then the 30th day will be added to Eid on March 12 and become a public holiday, giving residents a four-day holiday. In this case, with the weekend to follow the holiday, residents would get a six-day break.Arafah Day, one of the holiest days in Islam, is followed by Eid Al Adha, which adds three more days of holiday. This holiday is likely to run from May 15 to May 18, but remains subject to the official sighting of the Dhu Al Hijja crescent.The Islamic New Year is likely to fall on June 6, depending on the moon sighting, while the holiday for the Prophet Mohammed’s birthday is expected to be August 14, 2027. Children return to school on August 31. Chris Whiteoak / The NationalShow caption: Children return to school on August 31. Chris Whiteoak / The…School term datesAs schools across the UAE prepare to reopen for the new school year on August 31, parents and guardians will be keen to plan their holidays for the next 12 months. Most schools in the UAE follow a unified academic calendar, allowing for clearer planning and consistency.The first half term break will fall from October 12 to October 18, with the winter break beginning on December 14.Pupils return in the new year on January 4, with the Eid Al Fitr holiday in March followed by spring break from April 5 to April 11. July 2, 2027, will be the last academic day of the year.Updated: August 12, 2026, 8:08 AM