UAE schools get 3-day National Day break

Several UAE schools will be closed for three days for the UAE's 43rd National Day.

The days will be in-sync with the dates marked for the public sector, with schools closed from December 2 to 4. Schools will reopen after the weekend on December 7 (Sunday).

Dubai’s Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) confirmed the dates to Emirates24|7.

A KHDA spokesperson added, “It is as per the government announcement.  Three days for all schools.”

Private sector will be off on December 2 to mark the National Day.

The long break ahead has put parents working in the private sector in a quandary over child care.

“I get only one day off, and since we don’t have a live-in nanny, I will have to sacrifice my annual leave to stay back home and take care of my children,” said a parent of a 7-year-old and 9-year-old.

“My husband and I work for the private sector so we get only a day off, but since my son’s school is closed for three days, we have no other option but to take off from work,” said another parent.

It’s the limited day-care facilities that put these working parents in a sticky situation. Some day-care centres are linked to schools, while some don't take in students only for a few days.

“If we had the option of putting our child in day-care centres, then it would’ve been ideal. That way, we wouldn’t have to use up our annual leave,” adds Sheila Daniel, another parent