UAE schools to move to Friday distance learning during Ramadan 2026

From the school run to the morning rush, Ramadan mornings in Dubai already feel different. Slower. Calmer. More reflective. Now, UAE families will feel that shift even more clearly.

Public school students across the UAE will move to distance learning every Friday during Ramadan 2026, as part of the country’s ‘Ramadan with the Family’ initiative. The decision has been confirmed by the Ministry of Education, UAE, marking the second year in a row the programme has been rolled out nationwide.

In simple terms, children won’t need to go to school on Fridays during Ramadan. Instead, they’ll learn from home through online platforms, while schools remain operational for staff and families who need support.

It’s a small change on paper. In daily life, it makes a real difference.

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More than online classes: the family learning model

Every Friday during Ramadan will now be officially designated as a distance learning day for all public school students in the UAE.

Lessons will continue online. Students will follow their school schedules digitally. Teachers will remain engaged. Learning won’t pause — it simply moves home for the day.

There is only one exception:
If a student has a pre-approved exam scheduled on a Friday, in-person attendance will still apply for that assessment.

For most families, though, Fridays will look different:

• No early school alarms
• No school drop-offs
• No traffic near the school gates
• No rushed mornings during fasting
• No daily commute pressure

In Dubai, where school zones often clog up by 7 am and daily schedules move fast, that one quiet weekday shift will be felt immediately.

‘Ramadan with the Family’ isn’t just about online classes

This initiative goes beyond screens and logins.

Alongside distance learning, schools will roll out a structured family-based learning programme. A dedicated guide will be shared with parents, offering curriculum-linked activities and shared learning experiences designed to happen at home.

These include:

• Simple academic tasks
• Family discussion activities
• Cultural learning moments
• Ramadan-themed projects
• Community-focused learning
• Values-based exercises

The idea is not to overload families with homework. It’s to create meaningful, calm learning moments that fit naturally into Ramadan life — between prayers, meals, rest, and reflection.

For many households, it shifts learning away from pressure and towards presence.

Timeline for Friday distance learning

Even though students will be learning remotely, schools will remain open.

Teaching staff and school administration teams will continue working on campus every Friday.

Parents will also have the option to bring their children to school if they are unable to supervise learning at home. However, transport will be the responsibility of families.

This flexible model gives parents real choice:

• Home learning for families who want that space
• On-campus support for working parents
• No forced structure
• No one-size-fits-all rule

It’s practical. It’s realistic. And it reflects how families actually live in Dubai and across the UAE.

The real-life impact on parents and students

Ramadan in Dubai already changes the rhythm of the city.

Work hours are shortened. Evenings stretch longer. Roads feel calmer. Life slows down — just enough to breathe.

This education policy fits naturally into that flow.

It also aligns with:

• Flexible working hours for public sector employees
• Remote work options during Ramadan
• Family-first policies across government sectors
• Community wellbeing initiatives
• Cultural and social values of the holy month

For many households, especially where both parents work, this creates real alignment between school life and work life — something families have long struggled to balance.

No competing schedules, clashing routines or daily pressure points.

Just one weekday that feels lighter.

Timeline for Friday distance learning

Ramadan is expected to begin on Thursday, February 19, 2026, based on current moon sighting predictions. The official date will be confirmed following the traditional moon sighting process.

Once Ramadan begins:

• Every Friday becomes a distance learning day
• Schools shift to Ramadan schedules
• Family learning initiatives activate
• Flexible work models apply
• Community-focused programmes roll out

This marks the second consecutive year the UAE has introduced Friday distance learning during Ramadan for public school students.

How UAE education is evolving?

This policy isn’t just about Ramadan.

It reflects a wider change in how education is structured in the UAE — one that puts families at the centre, not the margins.

Instead of separating school life from home life, the system now blends them:

• Education at home
• Learning through culture
• Growth through family connection
• Values through daily life
• Structure without pressure

It’s education that fits into real life — not the other way around.

For Dubai families, especially, this feels grounded. Human. Practical. And thoughtful.

From February 2026, UAE public schools will shift to distance learning every Friday during Ramadan, giving families more time, flexibility, and balance during the holy month.

It’s not a dramatic policy, nor a complicated reform.
It’s a simple, human decision.

• One day.
• One pause in the rush.
• One space for family.

And sometimes, that’s enough to change the whole rhythm of a month.

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