UAE Schools Warn of Double Absence After National Day Holidays
Students across the United Arab Emirates have been put on alert ahead of the Eid Al Etihad celebrations, with education authorities confirming that absences immediately after the National Day holidays will be treated more strictly than usual. Parents and students have been warned that skipping school on December 3, 4 and 5 will result in double absences if not supported by an acceptable excuse.
The warning comes because these dates fall directly before the official winter break, which begins on December 8, following the weekend on December 6 and 7. Education officials say the measure is intended to prevent students from extending holidays unofficially and missing critical instructional time.
Double Absence Rule Explained
School administrations across the country have issued official circulars to parents, confirming that any unexcused absence on December 3, 4 or 5 will be counted as two days instead of one. This policy applies to students enrolled in public schools and is based on existing attendance regulations approved by the Ministry of Education.
The Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) confirmed that schools have already notified families through direct communication channels. A spokesperson explained that the rule applies to days immediately before or after official holidays — including Fridays — in order to curb prolonged student absences around festive periods.
Authorities have urged parents to cooperate fully with the academic calendar and ensure students return to school promptly after Eid Al Etihad celebrations.
Attendance Monitoring and Parental Notifications
Public school administrations say attendance monitoring systems are fully active during this period. Parents will receive immediate notifications if a student is absent, and schools will follow up directly with families to determine whether documentation has been submitted.
Officials stressed that failure to provide an approved excuse will automatically result in the absence being recorded as unexcused — and double-counted.
This is not the first time the double absence rule has been enforced during the current academic year. Schools previously applied the same measure between November 10 and 19, a period leading up to first-semester examinations, to ensure student participation in revision and assessment preparation.
Updated Attendance Thresholds
The reminder comes alongside recently updated attendance policies issued by ADEK for the 2025–2026 academic year as part of the Administrative Affairs Policies for Students.
Under these revised guidelines:
For kindergarten, absenteeism becomes a concern when a child misses more than 10 per cent of the school year (approximately 18 days).
For Grades 1 to 12, concern is triggered at 5 per cent absenteeism, or around nine days per academic year.
Importantly, these thresholds include both excused and unexcused absences. Once a student crosses these limits, schools are required to take additional action, which may include parental meetings, intervention plans or escalation to higher authorities.
The Ministry of Education has previously warned that missing just 10 per cent of school days can reduce academic achievement by the equivalent of half a school year. Absences reaching 20 per cent can set a student back by a full academic year.
Public schools have also cautioned that exceeding 15 days of absence may lead to the student’s case being formally escalated to education authorities.
What Counts as an Excused Absence
ADEK’s updated regulations list seven categories of excused absences, including:
Illness
Pre-scheduled medical appointments
Death of a first- or second-degree family member
Official government appointments or obligations
Participation in approved competitions or events
Official public holidays
Approved study leave for examinations or government-mandated closures
In contrast, schools highlighted several common unexcused absence scenarios, such as:
Family vacations during the school term
Staying home without informing the school
Non-urgent medical visits
Absences due to normal weather conditions
Medical Documentation Rules
Medical excuses are tightly regulated. Parents may notify schools of a medical absence for up to three consecutive days per year without formal documentation. From the fourth consecutive day, an official medical certificate is required.
For students with chronic illnesses, families must submit medical reports issued by the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi if absences exceed 12 days. Without proper documentation, such absences may be recorded as unexcused.
Schools emphasised that excused absences do not exempt students from academic responsibilities. Missed assignments, lessons and assessments must still be completed.
Winter Break and Academic Calendar
According to the Ministry of Education’s approved calendar:
Winter break begins on December 8, 2025, and runs until January 4, 2026
Teaching and administrative staff begin their winter break on December 15
Compensatory examinations are scheduled between December 8 and 12
The second semester starts on January 5, 2026
The 2025–2026 academic year includes 178 instructional days across three semesters and will conclude no earlier than June 26, 2026.
Clear Message to Families
Education authorities have made their message clear: attendance matters, especially around public holidays. With Eid Al Etihad celebrations followed closely by winter break, parents are being urged to plan travel carefully and ensure students return to class on time to avoid penalties that could affect academic records.
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