In a significant shift, schools across the UAE have announced a new policy that will count student absences as double during the period from November 10 to 19, 2025. This measure, introduced in alignment with the Ministry of Education’s procedural guidelines, aims to ensure academic discipline and readiness as students prepare for their end-of-first-term exams. Previously, the double-absence rule was only enforced on Fridays for unexcused absences. However, this term, the policy will apply to all days leading up to the examinations, which are scheduled from November 20 to December 4, 2025. The policy stipulates that one unexcused day of absence will be recorded as two, potentially impacting a student’s eligibility to meet passing requirements. School administrations have emphasized the importance of daily attendance during this critical period, which also features several academic and enrichment initiatives designed to enhance student performance. These include the ‘Together with the Structure’ Initiative, the ‘Success Initiative,’ and the ‘Digital Empowerment Initiative,’ all aimed at fostering independent learning, creativity, and innovation. Additionally, schools have urged students and parents to ensure the readiness of electronic devices used for online assessments, with repair costs for damaged devices being the responsibility of parents. Secure browsers can be downloaded through official links to ensure a safe testing environment. The policy underscores the Ministry’s vision to build a disciplined, future-ready generation while maintaining academic excellence.