UAE schools bring back outdoor activities as campuses take another step towards normality
For students across Dubai, the week of April 28 has felt noticeably different. After seven weeks of suspended outdoor activities, the sound of football on the pitch and the sight of children at play during break time have returned to school campuses, following a new directive from KHDA confirming that outdoor activities could safely resume.
The green light from KHDA
The authorisation came over the weekend of April 26, with KHDA informing private schools across Dubai that outdoor activities would resume from Monday April 28, in accordance with directives from the Ministry of Education. The announcement covered outdoor PE lessons and other curriculum-related activities taking place in designated outdoor spaces, as well as outdoor break times in line with existing school timetables.
Schools were asked to support the return by ensuring students arrive with a hat, have sunscreen applied before school, and wear their PE kit on the appropriate days. KHDA confirmed to Gulf News that the resumption is now in effect across Dubai private schools.
The update follows the broader reopening of campuses on April 20, when students returned to in-person learning after more than 40 days of distance education triggered by the regional tensions linked to the US-Israel-Iran conflict. Outdoor spaces including playgrounds and sports fields had remained closed as a precaution even after classrooms reopened, meaning many students had been back at their desks but still confined indoors during break and activity time.
Schools move quickly to restore normal programmes
Across the Dubai school network, institutions moved swiftly to reinstate outdoor schedules once approval was granted. At GEMS Education schools, CCAs resumed from April 27 and have been embedded back into weekly term plans across the network. Naveed Iqbal, Principal and CEO of GEMS Metropole School, said the first week back had gone well, with systems and routines re-established quickly. "This is a core part of our school experience," he said, adding that as a GEMS Centre of Excellence for Sport, the school is particularly eager to see students back using its facilities and engaging in high-quality sporting programmes.
At Raffles World Academy, a full programme including the sports programme and CCAs was expected to be fully underway by Wednesday of the same week, alongside online academic help desks that had already been introduced. Principal Timothy Roberts noted that the return marks a broader shift towards a more balanced school experience, and confirmed that a reverse evacuation protocol is in place to ensure that students engaged in outdoor activities can be swiftly moved to designated indoor safe zones if required.
Jumeira Baccalaureate School confirmed that outdoor break times, PE lessons and ECAs resumed from Tuesday April 29. Principal Richard John Drew noted that certain activities would continue to be adapted where necessary, but that students would once again benefit from both structured and unstructured outdoor experiences as part of the school day.
Safety remains central
The resumption does not mean a relaxing of the safety measures that have been in place since schools reopened. Schools are continuing with activity-specific risk assessments, trained staff supervision, and regular emergency drills. Gareth Mordey, General Manager of Cognita Enrich Middle East, outlined that the return aligns with KHDA's General Regulations for the Use of Outdoor Areas and the Continuity of Educational, Extracurricular Activities and School Events. Key measures across the network include structured supervision with clearly defined activity zones, strict management of group sizes to prevent overcrowding, defined evacuation routes from outdoor areas to safe zones, and an immediate pause protocol if any official alert is issued during an outdoor session. All teaching staff, coaches and external providers are trained on school-specific safety procedures before delivering any activity.
Simon Jodrell, Principal of Jebel Ali School, described the impact on students as immediate and overwhelmingly positive. "Being outdoors, engaging in sport and reconnecting socially play a vital role in both physical health and emotional wellbeing. It brings energy back into the school day, supports friendships and restores a sense of normality that is so important for young people." He added that the balance between opportunity and responsibility is what allows students to enjoy these experiences safely and confidently.
Sources:
Khaleej Times — "Dubai schools restart outdoor activities after 7 weeks; what changes for students" by Nandini Sircar (April 27, 2026). Read the full article.
Gulf News — "UAE schools to resume outdoor activities after conflict disruptions: KHDA update" by Lakshana N Palat and Zainab Husain (April 27, 2026). Read the full article.
