Some UAE schools to introduce 45-minute lessons and staggered start times
The UAE Ministry of Education (MoE) has announced adjustments to the academic schedules of government schools for the 2025–2026 school year, introducing 45-minute lessons in some stages and staggered start times across different cycles.
The Ministry explained that the changes are designed to ensure smooth daily operations within schools and to facilitate student transportation, particularly for Cycle 2 and Cycle 3 students, who will now have separate timings for boys and girls.
Kindergarten
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Classes run Monday to Thursday, 8:00 am – 1:00 pm, with five 45-minute lessons daily.
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A 15-minute story reading session is scheduled after lessons and before dismissal.
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On Fridays, classes run 8:00 am – 11:45 am, with four shorter lessons, totaling 24 weekly lessons.
Cycle 1 (Grades 1–4)
Students are divided into two groups for smoother school operations:
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Group 1: 7:15 am – 1:25 pm (seven lessons). On Fridays, 7:15 am – 10:35 am (four lessons).
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Group 2: 8:00 am – 2:20 pm (10 lessons). On Fridays, 8:00 am – 11:45 am (four lessons).
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Both groups will have 40-minute lessons, with Group 2 completing 32 lessons weekly.
The Ministry stated that these changes are intended to balance instructional time with logistical efficiency while maintaining high educational standards across all stages.
