UAE schools enforce new age cut-off dates for 2026 admissions

Private schools across the UAE are implementing updated age requirements for the 2026-2027 academic year following a directive from educational regulators. The revised cut-off dates require children enrolling in Foundation Stage 1 (FS1) or Pre-KG to be three years old by a specific date, standardising entry ages across different international curricula. Uniform cut-off dates for new enrolments Under the new guidelines, children starting school in September must have turned three by 31 August for schools following the UK, US, and IB curricula. For schools starting their academic year in April, typically those following the Indian, Pakistani, and Japanese curricula, the child must reach the age of three by 31 March. The policy applies to all new students entering the first year of school at the Foundation Stage or Kindergarten levels. The update follows a series of phased adjustments by the Ministry of Education and local regulators, including the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) in Dubai and the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK). The changes are intended to ensure developmental consistency within classrooms, ensuring students are socially and cognitively prepared for their respective year groups. Impact on parents and registrations The enforcement of these dates affects thousands of families currently navigating the registration window for the upcoming term. Schools have been instructed to verify birth certificates against the new cut-off…