Some UAE schools, following guidelines shared by the Ministry of Education, will count absences as two days instead of one between November 10 and 19. The rule aims to curb last-minute no-shows around exams and holiday windows, expanding on the earlier policy that applied mainly to Fridays.
Why is the UAE getting serious about day offs?
The UAE has ramped up its efforts to ensure students are in their seats, and not just during regular weeks. A new, much stricter attendance and absence policy is in full swing for the 2025–2026 academic year. The biggest takeaway for families planning those long weekends or term-time trips? An unexcused day off is not always just one day off—it can count as two days, a change that makes the maximum absence limit much easier to hit. This policy is primarily focused on Ministry of Education (MoE) curriculum schools, but the core message of zero-tolerance for skipping class is clear across the nation.
The new double-count trap
The heart of the new policy is a mechanism designed to stop students and parents from extending school breaks. If a student misses school on a specific day without a valid, approved reason, that single absence day is now officially recorded as two days.
- The Double-Day Triggers: An unexcused absence will count as two days if it falls on:
- A Friday.
- The day immediately preceding an official holiday (like the day before a public holiday).
- The day immediately following an official holiday (like the day after the break ends).
- During the last two weeks of the academic year or the periods right before final exams.
- Why the Strictness? The goal is straightforward: to reinforce the importance of consistent attendance for a student’s academic success and to prevent the common practice of families leaving early or returning late to extend their holiday time. Education authorities note that even missing just 10% of school days can result in a significant drop in learning, equal to half an academic year’s worth of progress.
Just how strict are the rules?
The new policy sets a clear and low tolerance for unexcused absences, with a system that begins penalizing students almost immediately. Parents now have a major responsibility to communicate and provide paperwork for every single day missed.
| Unexcused Days Missed (Cumulative) | Consequence/Action Taken |
| 1 Day | Immediate written warning and automatic alert sent to parents. |
| 3 Days | First formal notice sent to the family. |
| 6 Days | Second notice issued, and the student’s file is escalated to child protection units. |
| 10 Days | Third warning issued with further referral. |
| 15 Days | Final, critical referral to Ministry departments and external child protection agencies. The student may be required to repeat the entire academic year. |
The absolute maximum allowed is five unexcused days per term or 15 days per academic year. Hitting the 15-day limit means the student risks failing the year and being required to repeat the grade. If a parent receives an absence notification or disciplinary action, they have the right to file an appeal within five working days of the notification date.
What counts as an excused absence?
Schools will only approve an absence if it is accompanied by the proper official documentation. Family holidays, shopping trips, or unapproved travel are considered ‘unauthorised’ and will trigger the warning system. Accepted excuses include:
- Illness: Requires a certified medical report from an approved health institution in the UAE, especially for absences longer than three consecutive days.
- Medical Travel: Accompanying an immediate family member for medical treatment abroad (with official documentation).
- Bereavement: Death of a first- or second-degree relative.
- Official Duties: Participation in national or international events/competitions, with an official letter of support.
- Special Circumstances: Parents may request up to five days per year for special circumstances, but this must be in a written request supported by official evidence.
Which schools are implementing the absence rule?
The double-absence rule is not being applied by every school in the UAE, but it is currently enforced by many institutions that follow the Ministry of Education (MoE) attendance guidelines. Most MoE-curriculum schools have informed parents that absences between November 10 and 19 may be counted as two days instead of one. In addition, several private schools in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Dubai have chosen to adopt the same rule to discourage families from keeping children home around exam periods or long weekends, issuing circulars to parents between November 8 and 10. Schools that already had the policy of counting Friday absences as double have now extended it to this period, and in some cases to days before or after public holidays as well. However, this is not a blanket rule for all private schools, each school’s management decides how strictly to align with MoE guidance, so parents are advised to check their school’s official circular for the exact dates and applicability.
