Eid festivities muted as kids gear up for exams

Schools have begun offering intensive virtual academic support sessions aimed at helping students prepare for the third-semester exams

- Sara AlKuwari

Eid Al Adha celebrations in some students' homes in the UAE have been scaled back this year as their exams fall right after the four-day holiday to mark the Islamic festival.

What was once a season filled with family visits, late-night gatherings, travel plans, and hotel bookings has, for many, been scaled down to brief visits and simple greetings.

Final exams in public schools are scheduled to begin on June 10, immediately after Eid Al Adha, and will run through June 19 for students in Grades 3 to 12.

The Eid break begins on Thursday and ends on Sunday. Eid Al Adha falls on Friday leaving little time between the celebrations and the start of final exams.

The Ministry of Education has confirmed that end-of-year results will be released between June 30 and July 2. This tight timeline has left students and families torn between joy and stress, forcing them to reevaluate how they spend Eid.