Guides · Year groups in Dubai
Which year group will your child join in Dubai?
Dubai counts a child's age on one fixed day. From 2026–27 that day is 31 December for most schools — so the birthday decides the year group, not the age.
Work it out
Three things that change the answer
First school in the UAE, or already here
The 31 December date is for a child's first registration. A child already at a UAE school or nursery keeps the class the 31 August date gave it — so two children born the same day can sit a year apart.
Source UAE Ministry of Education, Admission Age Guide, p. 4 (opens in a new tab) · KHDA, Student Placement Guidelines, parents' FAQ, p. 3 (opens in a new tab)
Schools that start in April
Indian and Pakistani schools start their year in April and count age on 31 March: Grade 1 at six. Moving between an April and a September school, Dubai's age chart decides.
Source UAE Ministry of Education, Admission Age Guide, p. 9 (opens in a new tab) · KHDA, Student Placement Guidelines, schools' FAQ, p. 4 (opens in a new tab)
2026–27 only: a one-year choice
Born September to December 2022 and never at a nursery: FS1 or FS2, the family and the school decide. Born September to December 2021: KG1 or KG2. From 2027–28 the rule is strict.
Source KHDA, Student Placement Guidelines, parents' FAQ, p. 3 (opens in a new tab) · UAE Ministry of Education, Admission Age Guide, p. 7 (opens in a new tab) · KHDA, Student Placement Guidelines, parents' FAQ, p. 4 (opens in a new tab)
The dates, by year
The day a child's age is counted on, by the month the school year starts
| Schools that start in | From 2026–27 | 2021–22 to 2025–26 |
|---|---|---|
| August or September | 31 December, for a first registration | 31 August — and every class that began then keeps it |
| April | 31 March | 31 March, from 2022–23 |
| January (Australian) | «December 31» — the school confirms which | «December 31» — the school confirms which |
Questions families ask
My child turns six on 2 January — can she start Grade 1 anyway?
No: a child born just after the cut-off joins the year group her age gives, and moves up with it. KHDA's FAQ says no exception is made:
«Children who have not reached the required age by these dates cannot be placed in the corresponding grade or year group, even if they are close to the cut-off or have studied that level elsewhere.»
Source KHDA, Student Placement Guidelines, parents' FAQ, p. 2 (opens in a new tab)
We are moving from Finland and he has never been to school.
A child who has never been to school may start in Grade 1 (Year 2) even at seven — KHDA gives exactly this example:
«For example, a seven-year-old moving from Finland joins Grade 1 (Year 2) in Dubai.»
Source KHDA, Student Placement Guidelines, parents' FAQ, p. 3 (opens in a new tab)
Her school abroad put her a year ahead. Does Dubai keep that?
For FS1 to Year 1 a child is placed by age. From Grade 1 (Year 2) up the last school's transfer certificate is the placement reference, and the age chart still applies:
«For Grade 1 (Year 2) and above: the transfer certificate (TC) is the primary placement reference.»
«For Pre-KG through KG2 (FS1 to Year 1): your child will be placed by age, regardless of previous placement.»
Source KHDA, Student Placement Guidelines, parents' FAQ, p. 2 (opens in a new tab) · KHDA, Student Placement Guidelines, parents' FAQ, p. 4 (opens in a new tab)
Year 2, Grade 1, Class 1 — are these the same?
Yes, for the same child: the Ministry names them together. Indian and Pakistani schools call it Grade 1 (or Class 1) and count age on 31 March.
«At the Grade 1 level, children must be six years old by 31 December of the admission year. This equates to Year 2 in the British curriculum, Cours Préparatoire (CP) in the French curriculum, and Grade 1 in other international curricula.»
Source UAE Ministry of Education, announcement of 17 December 2025 (opens in a new tab)
Why do school websites still say 31 August?
31 August was the date until 2025–26 and still decides the class of a child enrolled before 2026–27. For a first registration from 2026–27 the date is 31 December:
«Beginning with the 2026–2027 academic year, the official age cut-off will shift to 31st December of the admission year for all schools and kindergartens whose academic calendars begin in August or September. Previously, the cut-off date was 31st August.»
Source UAE Ministry of Education, announcement of 17 December 2025 (opens in a new tab)
Sources
- UAE Ministry of Education — Admission Age Guide for KG and Grade 1 Students, December 2025 (archived copy) (opens in a new tab)
- UAE Ministry of Education — «UAE announces updated age cut-off date for KG, Grade 1 admissions starting AY 2026-2027», 17 December 2025 (opens in a new tab)
- UAE Ministry of Education — Ministerial Resolution No. 24 of 2021 (Arabic) (opens in a new tab)
- KHDA — Student Placement Guidelines FAQ (Parents) (opens in a new tab)
- KHDA — Student Placement Guidelines FAQ (Education institutions) (opens in a new tab)
Every sentence in quotation marks on this page was checked word for word against its document on 23 September 2026.