LIVEWatch students, teachers back at classes after summer break, new academic year for manyLast updated: August 31, 2026 | 07:36Gulf News ReportUAE schoolsBack-to-schoolMore than 1.277 million students across the UAE return to classrooms today, August 31, marking the start of the 2026-27 academic year for hundreds of thousands of them while others head back to classes after their summer break.
Gulf News brings you live updates, photos and videos from schools nationwide as families adjust to new routines, students arrive for the first day, and reforms including a four-day phased return, homework changes and updated exam formats take effect in public schools.
07:36 AM, 31 August 2026Students begin arriving for first day back
Students have started arriving at Hamptons International School in Al Twar as schools across Dubai welcome pupils back for the new academic year. Returning students are being joined by many new pupils, with families arriving for the start of the school year.07:35 AM, 31 August 2026’A good feeling as a parent’
For four year old Zad Hassan, this is not just a new school year but the first day of school he has ever had. He starts in FS2, at North Gate British Private School, in Ajman, and his father Hassan Mohyeldin and mother came to drop him off in the class.“It’s really nice, as I said before, it’s a good feeling, as a parent,” Mohyeldin said. “And we’re very excited for him.”The family, who are from Egypt, had been marking off the days at home. “We were counting down the days till the first day of school,” said Mohyeldin.Any nerves seem to have dissolved on arrival. His father watched him settle straight into the play area. “He’s playing, as you can see. He’s accommodating himself as well,” he said.07:24 AM, 31 August 2026Glambot captures first-day memoriesGlambot for the students to make first day back to school memories at North Gate British Private School in Ajman.07:22 AM, 31 August 2026Students welcomed back with drum and lyre performance
