UAE Announces Age Rules for KG & Grade 1 Admissions 2026–27

If you’re a parent in Dubai with a toddler at home, this update matters.

The UAE Ministry of Education has officially released the age eligibility criteria for kindergarten and Grade 1 admissions for the 2026–2027 academic year. The rules apply to public and private schools, including those following the Ministry curriculum, British curriculum, and other foreign education systems.

For many families, especially those navigating school admissions for the first time, this announcement clears up long-standing confusion around cut-off dates, grade placement, and what comes next after Pre-KG.

And yes, this applies across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and the rest of the UAE.

announcement by ministry

The Ministry has published a detailed age-calculation schedule for students who have not previously been enrolled in any education system. This includes children who stayed home or attended Pre-KG but were not formally registered in school.

The calculation is based on the child’s date of birth and the academic year start, which for most schools in Dubai begins in August or September.

There’s also a key update for parents who were affected last year.

Children who were not eligible for the 2025–26 academic year because they were born between 1 September and 31 December 2021 can now be enrolled in either KG1 or KG2 for 2026–27. The final decision depends on the child’s readiness and the school’s assessment.

For many Dubai parents, this flexibility is a welcome relief.

Age criteria for Ministry curriculum schools

For schools following the UAE Ministry of Education curriculum, the age rules are simple and clearly defined:

• Children born between 1 January 2023 and 31 December 2023
  Kindergarten admission is not mandatory
• Children born between 1 January 2022 and 31 December 2022
  Eligible for KG1
• Children born between 1 January 2021 and 31 December 2021
  Eligible for KG2
• Children born between 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2020
  Eligible for Grade 1

These rules apply to both public schools and private schools offering the ministry curriculum.

British curriculum schools: who goes where?

British schools remain a popular choice in Dubai, especially in areas like Jumeirah, Al Barsha, and Dubai Hills.

Under the updated guidelines, British curriculum schools will follow this structure:

• Born between 1 January 2023 and 31 December 2023
  Eligible for Pre-Foundation Stage
• Born between 1 January 2022 and 31 December 2022
  Eligible for Foundation Stage 2
• Born between 1 January 2021 and 31 December 2021
  Eligible for Year 1
• Born between 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2020
  Eligible for Year 2

While age eligibility is clearly defined, private schools may still carry out readiness checks, especially for younger children entering formal schooling for the first time.

American, Canadian, Australian and other foreign curricula

For schools offering American, Canadian, Australian, IB, and other foreign curricula, the age framework closely mirrors the Ministry curriculum:

• Born between 1 January 2023 and 31 December 2023
  Eligible for Pre-KG or Foundation Year
• Born between 1 January 2022 and 31 December 2022
  Eligible for KG1
• Born between 1 January 2021 and 31 December 2021
  Eligible for KG2
• Born between 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2020
  Eligible for Grade 1

The Ministry has stressed that private schools retain discretion. Admissions depend on a mix of age eligibility, seat availability, and the child’s developmental readiness.

What about schools with an April academic year?

Some private schools in the UAE, particularly those following certain international systems, operate on an April-to-March academic calendar.

For these schools, the Ministry has set 31 March as the reference date:

• Born between 1 April 2021 and 31 March 2022
  Eligible for KG1
• Born between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021
  Eligible for KG2
• Born between 1 April 2019 and 31 March 2020
  Eligible for Grade 1

This distinction is important for parents comparing schools with different academic start dates across Dubai.

UAE updated the admission framework

According to the Ministry of Education, the updated age criteria aim to bring consistency and fairness to school admissions across the country.

The focus is on:

• Supporting healthy academic progression
• Considering a child’s emotional and psychological readiness
• Ensuring equal opportunities for students across curricula
• Reducing confusion around grade placement

Crucially, the Ministry confirmed that students already enrolled in schools will remain in their current grades. No changes will be made to ongoing enrolments.

parents in Dubai should do now

If your child is due to start school in 2026–27, now is the time to plan.

Check your child’s date of birth, confirm the school curriculum, and speak to admissions teams early. In popular neighbourhoods like Mirdif, The Greens, and Arabian Ranches, KG seats can fill up quickly.

This update also ties into broader education coverage, including UAE school admission rules, Dubai education policies, and family-focused local news that parents rely on year-round.

The UAE’s updated school admission age criteria for 2026–27 bring much-needed clarity for parents across Dubai and the wider Emirates. With clear cut-off dates and flexibility for borderline cases, families can now make informed decisions with confidence.

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