Kids all across the UAE are probably jumping for joy right now. Indian curriculum schools just dropped some good news, they’re giving students extended Diwali holiday in UAE breaks that range from three to five whole days. That’s a lot of family time for celebrating the Festival of Lights.
The Diwali holiday in UAE followed approvals from Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah education officials to have additional days off. Some schools will literally close between October 18 and 22.
Sharjah Gets the Longest Break
Delhi Private School Sharjah struck gold with a complete five-day Diwali holiday in UAE after it was cleared by SPEA to make Monday and Tuesday holidays. On top of that Friday being a Sharjah weekend off, students get that entire break from October 18 to 22.
GEMS Our Own English High School Sharjah – Boys also went with Monday and Tuesday holidays, which means another five-day Diwali holiday in UAE for their students. But here’s the thing, not every Sharjah school got the same deal. Sharjah Indian School Ghubaiba only announced Monday as a holiday, so their students get a four-day Diwali holiday in UAE instead.
Principal Pramod Mahajan from Sharjah Indian School Ghubaiba explained that SPEA lets schools request two extra holidays when the academic year starts. Since his school already got approval for these holidays before the academic calendar changed, they stuck with their original one-day request for the Diwali holiday in UAE.
Dubai Schools Balance Things Out
The Indian High Group of Schools in Dubai operates three campuses and serves tons of Indian expat families. They declared a three-day holiday that creates a five-day Diwali holiday in UAE when you include the weekend.
Punit MK Vasu, CEO of The Indian High Group of Schools, said they’ll stay closed from Saturday to Wednesday for Diwali celebrations. He also noted that the school community will participate in Dubai’s specially organised Diwali holiday in UAE celebrations to be organised by the Department of Economy and Tourism.
Vasu outlined how this longer Diwali holiday in UAE enables everyone – students, staff and parents, to unwind and reconnect with family, either in Dubai or visiting India. “Learning works best with the balance between learning time and family time,” he said.
Credence High School’s CEO-Principal Deepika Thapar Singh said they’re taking a short midterm break from Monday to Wednesday for the Diwali holiday in UAE. Smart move – they told parents about these dates way back at the start of the school year so families could plan ahead.
GEMS Our Own Indian School in the Diwali holiday in UAE on Friday and Monday and hence gave a four-day break to all. Principal Lalitha Suresh emphasized that Diwali represents light, joy, and togetherness and hence it was all the more important that students and staff members celebrated it with family members.
DPS Dubai made it easy with only Monday being a Diwali holiday in UAE, which allowed them a three-day weekend. Principal Rashmi Nandkeolyar also mentioned that they had taken one of those two extra holidays earlier on Gandhi Jayanti on October 2.
Abu Dhabi Joins the Party
Confirmed two-day Diwali break in UAE in Abu Dhabi schools on Monday and Tuesday, hence creating four-day holidays. Dr. Thakur Mulchandani at Sunrise English Private School Abu Dhabi revealed that they had clearance from ADEK to have holidays on Monday and Tuesday.
Diwali is massive among the Indian community here. We appreciate that ADEK and UAE authorities promote this Diwali holiday in UAE annually,” he added. Paramjit Ahluwalia of Dunes International School added that students and parents alike were excited about the long break, with several families already planning outings home.
UAE Diwali festival date coincides with Dubai’s magnificent Diwali celebrations that extend between October 17 and 26. Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism and the Indian Consulate put up stunning fireworks, cultural programmes, traditional markets, and family events across the emirate. Diwali celebrations this year in non-India destinations could very well become among the biggest.
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