Dubai schools return to campus from April 20 - and parents are getting ready
After more than six weeks of distance learning, the UAE's school communities have a date to work towards. Dubai's Knowledge and Human Development Authority has confirmed that campuses will reopen, and parents are already navigating the mix of relief, excitement, and anxiety that comes with a return that feels anything but ordinary.
The official confirmation
KHDA confirmed via social media that following the latest updates issued by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, private schools and higher education institutions in Dubai will resume on-site learning from April 20. The return will be carefully managed, and approvals will be based on each institution's readiness and full compliance with health and safety measures issued by the relevant authorities, ensuring a safe and supportive environment for all students.
Schools and universities may also offer a combination of on-site and distance learning based on their community's needs. "We know how important continuity of learning is, and we are here to support our educators, students, and families every step of the way. The safety and wellbeing of our students, staff, and families will always remain our highest priority," the authority added.
More than logistics
For many families, the return involves considerably more than packing school bags. Parents across the UAE have described the transition as an emotional reset — one that requires careful preparation for children who have grown comfortable at home.
Swaleha Madani, an assistant professor and cardiac rehabilitation specialist based in Al Ain, is particularly aware of what lies ahead for her young daughter. Her child had only just begun settling into nursery life before schools moved online. "She was just getting used to the nursery," Madani says, "and then the schools shut down." Now, with reopening approaching, she fears the separation anxiety her daughter had only recently overcome will resurface. "It has been the biggest challenge. It used to be hard to see her cry while I was leaving her at the school door. She just got used to it, she was happy, and then things changed suddenly."
Her approach in the weeks since has been one of gentle continuity — keeping the idea of school alive at home through small, familiar cues. She has been showing her daughter her school bag, water bottle, and snack box, reminding her of the friendships and activities waiting for her. She is also letting her return in casual clothes rather than uniform, since the uniform itself had become a trigger for tears. "I strongly feel it's going to take a while, maybe a week or 10 days, for her to get back into that mode," she says.
A different kind of readiness
Not every family is approaching the return with anxiety. In Abu Dhabi, media owner Asha Sherwood describes her daughter as genuinely excited to reconnect with friends and return to face-to-face lessons. The adjustment for her household is largely a practical one — restoring the rhythm of early mornings, packed lunches, and a full schedule. "For my role as a media owner, it's back to playing Tetris with schedules," she says.
In Fujairah, community builder Foram Dattani, mother of a 13-year-old, describes the past weeks as an emotional rollercoaster. When news of the reopening came, it brought relief alongside a quieter undercurrent. "A sense that life is slowly finding its way back, but along with that relief came a quiet anxiety that every parent carries, hoping our children step back into school feeling safe, secure, and emotionally ready." Her preparation has extended beyond uniform and stationery to adjusting sleep schedules, reducing screen time, and making space for honest conversation. With teenagers, she says, the key is to listen rather than push — reminding him of the positives: meeting friends again, returning to a familiar routine, and reconnecting with a sense of normal life.
Advice from the experts
Louise Hurley, founder of Parent Prosper Coaching, urges families to approach the transition with realistic expectations. "There are a plethora of emotions surrounding this return, and a lot of uncertainty. And children don't directly state what's on their mind, they show it in their behaviour. They will test boundaries." She advises parents to plan goodbyes carefully, avoid emotionally charged drop-offs, and resist the temptation to minimise a child's worry by saying they have been through it before. Simple reassurances — telling a child their teacher will take care of them — go a long way.
Behaviour specialist Laura Brennan, founder of I CAN Collective, adds that children often mirror adult anxiety. After weeks of disruption, many will have absorbed more stress than they can articulate. Her advice is to walk children through the shape of their day calmly and clearly, gradually restore routines around screen time and sleep, and avoid fixating on unsettled news. Small comforts can also ease the transition — a favourite toy in their bag, a familiar blanket in the early days, or a simple reward system to mark the return.
Sources:
Gulf News — "Dubai's KHDA confirms back-to-school schedule to begin on April 20" by Karishma H. Nandkeolyar (April 15, 2026). Read the full article.
Gulf News — "UAE back to school: How parents are easing children through anxiety and excitement after distance learning" by Lakshana N Palat (April 16, 2026). Read the full article.
