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From 2026, UAE children must be three to six years old by December 31 for admission/Representative Image
The UAE has announced a major update to its school admission policy, changing the age cut-off for Kindergarten and Grade 1 enrolments. Starting from the 2026–2027 academic year, students will need to meet age requirements by 31st December of the admission year, instead of the previous 31st August deadline.
The move is designed to ensure fairness, improve alignment with child development, and support smoother transitions across different educational systems.
Shift in admission cut-off dates
The Education, Human Development and Community Development Council approved the change following a recommendation from the Ministry of Education. The updated cut-off applies to all schools and kindergartens that start their academic year in August or September.
Schools with academic calendars starting in April will retain their existing 31st March cut-off.Eligibility for admission under the new system is as follows:
- Pre-Kindergarten: Children must be three years old by 31st December. This stage corresponds to Foundation Stage 1 (FS1) in the British curriculum, Petite Section (PS) in the French system, and Pre-KG in other international curricula.
- Kindergarten 1 (KG1): Children must be four years old by 31st December. This aligns with Foundation Stage 2 (FS2) in the British system, Moyenne Section (MS) in the French system, and KG1 in other international systems.
- Kindergarten 2 (KG2): Admission requires children to be five years old by 31st December. This level corresponds to Year 1 in the British curriculum, Grande Section (GS) in the French curriculum, and KG2 in other international curricula.
- Grade 1: Students must be six years old by 31st December. This equates to Year 2 in the British curriculum, Cours Preparatoire (CP) in the French system, and Grade 1 in other international curricula.
The new policy applies only to new admissions for the 2026–2027 academic year. Students already enrolled will continue under the previous rules.
The policy update followed a comprehensive technical and pedagogical review that drew on national academic performance data, international benchmarking, and input from education experts.
The review focused on child readiness in key developmental domains, including cognitive, socio-emotional, language, and motor skills.A national dataset of over 39,000 students, covering ages 3, 4, and 5 under the previous system, was analyzed. The findings showed no significant disadvantages linked to early entry, with some younger students achieving stronger academic outcomes. Students who enrolled later demonstrated slightly lower performance in certain areas.The review highlighted that age alone is not the sole determinant of school readiness. Instead, readiness is shaped by a combination of developmental indicators, emphasizing the importance of aligning admission policies with age appropriate growth stages.
Supporting smooth transitions
The updated age cut-off aims to create a more consistent admission system across schools, particularly for students transferring between curricula such as British, American, or other international programs, or those arriving from outside the UAE.
Placement will be determined based on the last successfully completed grade and approved grade equivalency procedures.This approach ensures that children enter the right level for their abilities and developmental stage, while supporting smoother transitions between different educational systems. It also addresses earlier inconsistencies where age cut-offs varied and sometimes conflicted with developmental readiness.
The Education, Human Development and Community Development Council acknowledged the contributions of schools, policymakers, and researchers in shaping the updated policy. The Ministry of Education also praised the role of parents, educational experts, and researchers for providing valuable insights that informed the study and analysis.The policy change underscores the UAE’s commitment to educational excellence and development. It reflects a national strategy to ensure that early education meets children’s developmental needs while maintaining consistency, fairness, and alignment with international standards.
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