Schools Return to Two-Semester System This Year

Public schools across the Kingdom are adopting a two-semester system starting with the 1447/1448 AH academic year (2025–2026), replacing the previous three-term format. The new model applies to general education, including kindergartens and all public stages.

The Ministry of Education has issued a four-year unified academic calendar covering 1447–1450 AH (2025–2028) to ensure stability across schools. Private and international schools, universities, and vocational institutions keep the flexibility to choose their own academic model and are not bound to the public two-semester format.

For the 1447 AH year (2025–2026), public schools have around 180 instructional days. The mid-year break runs Rajab 20–28 (9–17 January 2026), with the second semester starting Rajab 29 (18 January 2026). The Eid Al-Fitr break is scheduled from Ramadan 17 to Shawwal 9 (6–28 March 2026), and the Eid Al-Adha break from Dhu Al-Hijjah 5–15 (22 May–1 June 2026). The year-end vacation begins Muharram 10, 1448 AH (25–26 June 2026).

Students return for the 1448/1449 AH year on Sunday, 10 Rabi' al-Awwal 1448 AH (23 August 2026). That calendar sets 183 actual school days across two semesters and an eight-week summer break, and introduces a new autumn break — one scheduled from Jumada al-Thani 10–18 (about 20–28 November 2026).

Why it matters

The changes affect the daily routines of thousands of families. During the winter shift in major cities such as Riyadh in 2025–2026, morning assembly begins at 6:45 a.m. and classes at 7:00 a.m. Parents are advised to review the official calendar to plan travel and family commitments around the new autumn and mid-year breaks.

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