The United Arab Emirates’ recently implemented age cut-off adjustment for school admissions has created distinct pathways for different educational systems operating within the country. While the revised policy permits children born between September and December to commence pre-kindergarten earlier beginning the 2026-27 academic year, this change exclusively benefits institutions following the September intake calendar.
Indian curriculum schools, which constitute a significant portion of the UAE’s educational landscape, remain unaffected by these modifications. These institutions continue to operate according to their traditional April-March academic calendar, maintaining their longstanding March 31 age cut-off date. This continuity ensures that children born after this threshold will still enroll in the subsequent academic year, preserving the established admission framework.
Educational authorities emphasize that this consistency is strategically intentional. Indian schools in the UAE mirror admission regulations prevalent in India, and any alteration to the cut-off system could potentially disrupt grade placement protocols, board examination requirements, and student transfers—particularly for families frequently moving between the two nations.
Meena Menon, Primary Section Supervisor at Global Indian International School (GIIS), clarified that while the new policy offers flexibility for international curriculum schools, “nothing changes for them” regarding Indian curriculum institutions. This stability provides parents with clarity, consistency, and smoother educational transitions, enabling confident academic planning despite broader systemic evolution.
For inter-school transfers, whether international or curriculum-based, placement decisions will continue to rely on the last successfully completed grade, with institutions following approved equivalency and assessment procedures to maintain educational continuity.
Education leaders have welcomed the policy’s child-centered approach while acknowledging the practical necessities of maintaining parallel systems. Dr. Sharafudean Thanikatt, Principal of Crescent English High School, described the broader change as “a positive move toward child-centred education” that could reduce stress for both children and parents with appropriate early years support.
Springdales School Dubai Principal David Jones noted that while the revision offers “welcome relief” for September-born children in international systems, Indian schools continue to provide parental guidance regarding long-term implications for senior board examinations where Indian age norms remain applicable.