In line with ongoing assessments conducted by the National Emergency and Crisis Management Authority, in coordination with the Ministry of Education, bus services for private educational institutions in Dubai will resume starting Monday, April 20, 2026, in accordance with the approved safety protocols.

This decision is an extension of the country’s continuous assessment approach during this period, ensuring continuity of education, student safety, and the efficiency of services provided.

The relevant authorities will continue to monitor and assess the situation regularly, taking the necessary measures in line with any developments while maintaining the highest levels of readiness and stability.

The safety and wellbeing of students, educators, and the wider community remain a top priority at all times.

We encourage you to stay updated via official sources and to adhere to all safety measures.

For more information, you can visit the Reopening Protocols for Private Education Institutions in Dubai poge on our website.

GN

As UAE schools prepare for the gradual return to in-person learning from Monday, April 20, some schools have informed parents they will not be reopening their campuses on that date — while certain schools have made physical attendance compulsory for students who travel by private transport.

Leams Education, which runs several schools across the UAE, has confirmed it will not resume on-campus learning on Monday. CEO and director Nabil Hasan Lahir told Gulf News the schools required additional time to complete final-stage staff training, safety drills, emergency preparedness protocols, and full compliance documentation before KHDA could grant formal approval to reopen.

“Distance learning will continue next week to ensure a safe, fully compliant, and well-coordinated reopening,” he said.

On the learning model going forward, Lahir said a carefully phased transition to hybrid learning would follow KHDA approval, with rotational attendance, reduced on-campus density, and clearly defined timetables. He added that the schools had robust contingency plans in place to switch back to full remote learning immediately if circumstances changed — including trained staff, established online platforms, and structured timetables to ensure continuity without disruption.

Dubai schools hold back

Many Dubai schools echoed the same position with some saying they will continue distance education for at least one week while some said they will operate remotely until further notice.

Dubai Scholars told parents in a circular it will not reopen physically on Monday and continue online learning until further notice, citing pending KHDA approval. “This approval process will take a few days as there are many requirements that need to be compliant,” the circular read.

At Dubai International Academy – Emirates Hills, principal Hitesh Bhagat struck a more reassuring tone in a personal letter to parents, saying the school hoped to reopen “at the earliest opportunity — likely Monday or Tuesday” — though this too remained subject to a successful on-site KHDA inspection.

“As parents, nothing matters more than the safety and wellbeing of our children, and I want to assure you that this remains at the centre of every decision we make,” Bhagat wrote. He confirmed he would write to parents on Sunday with a confirmed date.

Bhagat also addressed how classes would be structured, noting that KHDA guidelines do not permit a teacher to deliver lessons simultaneously to both in-person and online students. For primary school, students opting for distance learning would be placed in a dedicated online class, while senior school students would follow a full hybrid timetable with adjusted groupings where possible.

Surveying parents

Several other Dubai schools have similarly begun surveying parents on their preferred mode of learning as institutions plan hybrid arrangements ahead of the phased return.

JSS Private School in Dubai also told parents that online classes would continue until further notice, while it worked to fulfil all mandatory KHDA requirements.

In a circular signed by principal Chitra Sharma, the school said it was also gauging parent preferences asking families whether they would send their children to school in the absence of bus transport, should the school meet all minimum requirements for reopening.

No buses for now

All schools confirmed there would be no bus services available, in line with government directives.

The UAE Ministry of Education announced on Thursday that school bus operations would be postponed for all public and private nurseries, kindergartens, and schools across the country during the current phase, to allow time for operational readiness in coordination with transport authorities and municipalities. The measure is subject to weekly review.

Sharjah schools take a firmer line

In Sharjah, at least one school has taken a stricter approach. A parent confirmed to Gulf News they had received a circular stating that students who travel by private car would be required to attend school in person — with no option to opt for remote learning.

Students who normally use the school bus, however, would be given a choice between in-person and remote learning. The circular made clear that once a learning method was selected, it could not be changed. If in-person learning was chosen, the parent or guardian would be responsible for dropping off and picking up the student each day. The school said supervisors would contact families to confirm their preferred mode. 

Ready, waiting for inspection

Meanwhile, Cognita UAE said it had completed all necessary preparations and was ready to welcome students back at its school. However, the group was still awaiting the completion of a regulatory inspection by KHDA before reopening its campuses.

Managing director Glen Radojkovich said the group intended to resume full in-person learning while also offering an online option for families needing additional flexibility. “We recognise that every family’s situation is different right now,” he said, adding that the return would be gradual and wellbeing-focused, in line with KHDA guidance.

On switching back to remote learning if circumstances change, Radojkovich said Cognita had a well-established online learning framework that could be activated smoothly if needed, combining live teaching, independent study, and regular teacher contact. On staffing for hybrid delivery, he said the group had planned carefully and would put the right structures in place, fully in line with Ministry of Education guidance, with a strong focus on pastoral care alongside academic continuity.

GN

Regular classes on campuses will resume in all nurseries, kindergartens, and public and private schools in the UAE on Monday, April 20, 2026, the UAE’s Ministry of Education announced on Wednesday.

“The resumption of in-person education for all children and students, as well as educational and administrative staff, in nurseries, kindergartens, and public and private schools, starting Monday, April 20, 2026,” the ministry said in a social media post

This follows schools’ completion of the necessary readiness and preparation plans, including facility preparedness, training of educational and administrative staff, and updating safety and security procedures, thereby reinforcing a safe and reassuring learning environment for students and their families, the ministry clarified.

Hybrid rotational model

Private schools will have the flexibility to implement the hybrid rotational model when needed, in accordance with approved regulations and under the supervision of local education authorities, in a manner that takes into account the readiness of each educational institution and ensures smooth implementation.

However, the ministry clarified that private schools implementing the hybrid rotational model must organise staff deployment in a manner that supports continuity of learning and does not require assigning the same teacher to deliver both in-person and remote instruction simultaneously.

This is to “preserve education quality and balancing professional workloads for teaching staff.”

Prepared for alternative modes

Educational institutions will remain prepared to transition to alternative learning modes when needed, ensuring continuity of education with flexibility and smooth implementation, the ministry added.

The ministry’s announcement ends days of confusion and rumours about how long the UAE will continue distance learning for students. It also clarifies the path forward for educational institutions to face any possible challenges in the context of regional uncertainties.

Wednesday’s announcement is also expected to give ample time for parents to prepare for sending children back to campuses.

Gulf News