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The UAE Ministry of Education directed all public and private schools, nurseries and universities to resume in-person operations on May 11, 2026, covering students, teachers and administrative staff nationwide. The decision followed continuous monitoring of regional developments together with coordination among authorities to maintain educational continuity and support scheduled academic assessments. Institutions will uphold existing safety and security measures while keeping contingency plans for remote instruction available if conditions change, according to the ministry statement. Further guidance will reach schools and families through established official channels.
A four-day shift to distance learning took place from May 5 to May 8 after emergency alerts connected to missile and drone activity, Gulf News reported in its coverage of the ministry announcement. The ministry confirmed the remote period served as a precautionary step amid heightened regional tensions that prompted air defence responses. Coordination across educational bodies ensured minimal disruption during that window, with the latest directive aimed at restoring normal classroom activity as soon as the situation stabilised.
The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research issued a parallel confirmation that all public and private universities would likewise return to on-campus activities for students, faculty and staff on the same date. This alignment across education levels reflects established inter-ministerial procedures refined through earlier security-related adjustments, including a prior resumption of in-person classes in April 2026. The higher education ministry noted that priority programmes involving laboratory work or clinical requirements had continued face-to-face where feasible during the brief remote interval.
Technavio projected that the UAE education market would expand by USD 5.2 billion from 2026 to 2030, advancing at a compound annual growth rate of 8.3 percent. Market reports placed higher education enrollment near 230,000 students in 2025, while national figures showed 57,035 additional higher education enrollees in the 2024-25 academic year, a 13 percent rise year on year. World Bank data recorded primary gross enrollment at 108 percent in 2024, underscoring broad access that the current resumption seeks to protect.
Secondary enrollment alone exceeds 318,000 students according to education sector compilations, making rapid return-to-classroom decisions central to maintaining learning outcomes. The latest announcement builds on protocols developed during past disruptions, including extended remote periods in previous years. Authorities continue to track conditions that could affect the education system, the ministry stated.
In its May 10 communication the ministry underlined that the resumption would proceed while preserving readiness to activate alternative delivery models if required by future developments. This approach has characterised UAE education policy amid fluctuating regional security dynamics. Updates on any adjustments will be disseminated promptly to all institutions and stakeholders.
