New absence guidelines issued for UAE public schools

The Ministry of Education has issued attendance guidelines for public schools for the new academic year, with absence alerts set up for the parent community.

A new system will notify parents about their child's "unexcused absence", with the maximum limit set at five days per term.

If the student exceeds the 15-day limit on "unexcused absence" by the end of the school year, then they may be required to repeat the entire academic year. The case will also be referred to the relevant departments and sectors within the Ministry, including external child protection agencies, to ensure appropriate intervention.

According to the guidelines, absence that doesn't include "illness, travel for medical treatment, participation in national and international events, emergency circumstances, or the death of a first- or second-degree relative" will be termed "unexcused". Students with special needs and chronic illness have been given special exemptions. 

"Unexcused absences" on Fridays and days preceding or following official holidays will account for two days of absence, the ministry added. 

Parents will be issued a "written alert after one day of absence without an excuse, followed by a first warning after three days, a second warning after six days and with the file referred to the Child Protection Unit" . A third warning will be issued after 10 days with the file being re-submitted to the Child Protection Unit.

Ministry of Education Approves New Attendance and Absence Guidelines for the 2025–2026 Academic Year pic.twitter.com/v2aCnJcdbF

— UAEGOV (@UAEmediaoffice) September 1, 2025

The Ministry has also mandated schools to develop individual support plans for students at risk of frequent absences. These plans include psychological and educational support sessions, regular communication with parents, and incentive programmes that encourage regular attendance. Plans will be reviewed periodically to ensure their effectiveness.

The Ministry advises parents to update their data regularly to ensure their children's safety during the school day through the notification system.

Specialised educational studies initially highlighted the seriousness of repeated absences and their impact on the level of learning, with a significant educational loss resulting from a student’s absence of 10 per cent of school days leading to a decrease in the level of achievement that is equivalent to half an academic year. 

This loss doubles to the equivalent of a full academic year if absence exceeds 20 per cent of school days.

As such, the new procedures come as part of its efforts to enhance school discipline and ensure student attendance, with the aim of raising achievement levels and instilling positive educational and behavioral values. 

Through this guide, the Ministry aims to instill values ​​of responsibility and accountability in students as fundamental pillars of their future, and to build a more cohesive and disciplined school community.

It also aims to boost attendance on days of increased importance, including days preceding the final exams for each semester, and the last two weeks of the second semester, as these periods have a significant impact on the continuity and quality of the educational process.

The Ministry of Education emphasized the important role of parents' monitoring to  ensure the success of the new provisions.

The Ministry also granted parents the right to file a grievance within five working days from the date of notification of absence, ensuring transparency and fairness in the implementation of the policy.