Could Diwali holidays in UAE give some schools up to a 4-day weekend?

Diwali could bring an extended break for Indian families in the UAE this year, as some schools plan a four-day holiday around the Festival of Lights.

Diwali falls on Sunday, November 8, 2026. Some Indian curriculum schools are aligning their holiday schedules with the weekend, giving students additional time to celebrate with their families before returning to classes.

At GEMS Our Own Indian School in Dubai, the holiday arrangement will allow families to enjoy an extended break, according to the school's principal and chief executive, Lalitha Suresh.

She described Diwali as a cherished celebration that brings families and communities together through joy, hope and togetherness.

Suresh said the school plans its academic calendar to accommodate important festivals while ensuring it meets the required number of instructional days.

She added that the four-day break would give families an opportunity to reconnect and create lasting memories.

Abu Dhabi School Also Plans Four-Day Diwali Holiday

In Abu Dhabi, Shining Star International School is also planning a four-day break by incorporating Diwali holidays into its academic calendar in line with the emirate's teaching-day requirements.

Principal Abhilasha Singh explained that schools must maintain the prescribed number of instructional days while accommodating important cultural and religious occasions.

She said the school meets the required teaching-day criteria and can allocate two days for Diwali and one day for another autumn festival. The school has also designated one day for a parent-teacher meeting.

Singh explained that the school follows the necessary approval process before confirming holidays.

The school submits requests for exceptions through the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge's (ADEK) activity calendar. Once approval is granted, the holidays are announced in the school calendar.

Extended Break Gives Families More Time to Celebrate

For parents and students, a four-day Diwali break offers more time to enjoy the festival without the immediate pressure of returning to school.

Families can use the additional days to:

Organise family gatherings and festive celebrations.
Prepare traditional Diwali sweets and meals.
Visit relatives and friends.
Decorate their homes and participate in cultural activities.
Plan short outings during the extended weekend.

The holiday arrangement also allows children to take part in family traditions and celebrations while enjoying a break from their regular academic routine.

Why Some UAE Schools Cannot Offer Extra Diwali Holidays

Not all Indian curriculum schools across the UAE will provide additional days off for Diwali.

At Sharjah Indian School, the academic calendar follows the emirate's school-week structure, with festival holidays planned within the available teaching days.

A school representative explained that schools now have three days off each week, leaving four working days. This arrangement limits their flexibility to allocate additional holidays for individual festivals.

Previously, schools had a buffer of four days annually that they could use for occasions such as Onam and Diwali. However, the current schedule, combined with the extensive CBSE curriculum, makes it difficult to offer extra days off.

The representative added that the arrangement had been discussed with school principals at the beginning, and the schools had agreed to the approach.

Diwali Holiday Plans Vary Across the UAE

The holiday schedules show that Diwali breaks will differ between schools, depending on their academic calendars, teaching-day requirements and approval arrangements.

While some schools are planning an extended four-day break, others will accommodate the festival within their existing schedules.

Parents are advised to check their children's school calendars for confirmed holiday dates and any updates before making festive travel or family plans.