Friday School Hours Updated By UAE MOE Effective January 9
The Ministry of Education has set a new timetable for Friday school hours in all public schools, effective from Friday, 9 January 2026. The move aligns with the nationwide adjustment of Friday prayer and sermon to 12:45 PM, while keeping Friday as a regular teaching day.
Under the decision, attendance and dismissal rules will continue without changes, even though lessons end earlier on Fridays. The Ministry of Education stated that the shorter day must not affect instructional quality, and that schools remain responsible for full compliance with existing policies.
The Ministry of Education explained that revising Friday school hours supports both religious duties and educational stability. The schedule is designed to allow students and staff sufficient time to prepare for Friday Prayer, while recognising the special status of Fridays within the UAE’s social and religious life.
Officials noted that the new timing framework aims to strengthen religious and national values among students. By synchronising school departure with the fixed 12:45 PM Friday prayer schedule, the Ministry of Education wants learning environments to respect worship needs and support stronger family interaction after school.
The Ministry of Education divided public school timings by educational cycle and level. Kindergarten, Cycle 1, Cycle 2 and Cycle 3 now follow specific windows, with some variation by gender in the upper cycles. The approved timetables for government schools on Fridays are shown below.
| Level | Track / Group | Start time | End time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten | All | 8:00 AM | 11:30 AM |
| Cycle 1 (Primary) | Track 1 | 7:10 AM | 10:30 AM |
| Cycle 1 (Primary) | Track 2 | 8:00 AM | 11:30 AM |
| Cycles 2 & 3 (Intermediate & Secondary) | Boys | 7:10 AM | 10:30 AM |
| Cycles 2 & 3 (Intermediate & Secondary) | Girls | 8:00 AM | 11:30 AM |
Alongside the public school changes, the Ministry of Education instructed all private educational institutions to revise their Friday school hours. Private schools may choose their own starting times, but classes on Fridays must finish no later than 11:30 AM across the UAE.
The Ministry of Education stated that these coordinated Friday school hours balance classroom needs with religious practice and family life. By fixing an upper limit on Friday sessions and clarifying schedules by cycle, the Ministry seeks consistent implementation across public and private schools while preserving educational continuity.
With inputs from WAM
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