UAE School Attendance: New Rules Revealed

Regular School Attendance in UAE: New Rules and Parental Responsibility

On September 1, the UAE Ministry of Education published new guidelines concerning school attendance, which came into immediate effect in all state institutions. The current question on many minds is: will private schools in Dubai also follow these regulations?

The importance of attendance is not a new topic in education; however, the new regulations propose stricter consequences than ever before for students and parents. The guidelines have a dual purpose: to protect academic achievements and to ensure the overall development and well-being of students.

What exactly has changed?

Under the new policy, even a single unexcused absence may result in a warning. If absences reach 15 days, the school can report the student and their guardian to child protection authorities. More severe is the consequence that unexcused absences exceeding 15 days may jeopardize a student's end-of-year promotion (i.e., moving to the next grade).

Schools are obligated to notify parents, who have five working days to appeal. It is important to note that only justified, documented cases—such as medical certificates or family bereavement—are considered acceptable. Reasons like family vacations, shopping trips, or extra days off are not considered official grounds and can significantly impact a student's progress.

The Role and Attitude of Private Schools

Dubai's private schools generally support the goals of the new guidelines, although many favor positive reinforcement and collaboration rather than punishment. Most institutions strive to understand the reasons behind absences and implement supportive strategies such as make-up classes, counseling, flexible schedules, or mentorship programs.

Most schools emphasize that parents play a key role in the system's success. Cooperation—the "triangle" among student, parent, and teacher—is essential to ensure that the child does not fall behind in school development.

One institution in Dubai, for example, begins attendance registration at 7:40 AM every day, with classes starting at 8:00 AM. Anyone arriving after this is considered late, with repeated tardiness resulting in warnings or even behavioral contracts. Parents are required to notify the school of the reason for absence on the first day via phone, email, or application.

KHDA Requirements and Percentage-Based Evaluation

The Dubai Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) uses a clear attendance evaluation system applicable to all students:

Outstanding: Over 98% attendance (up to 3 days absent)

Very Good: 96–98% (max. 7 days absent)

Good: 94–96% (max. 11 days absent)

Acceptable: 92–94% (max. 13–15 days absent)

Weak: Below 92%

These assessments are communicated to parents at the end of each academic term, making the student's attendance status fully transparent. Many schools employ various incentive tools—awards, certificates, class rewards—to reinforce the importance of regular school attendance.

Flexible Learning Opportunities

The Rahhal program, approved by the KHDA, allows certain students to opt for alternative learning methods in cases where they cannot attend school in person daily due to health or family reasons. This system ensures that even in the event of absence, educational progress does not halt, and students do not feel excluded from the community.

Opportunity for Appeal and Exceptions

The regulation clearly permits parents to file an official appeal with the school if their child has missed too many days for a justified reason. In such cases, a written request must be submitted with all relevant evidence attached—such as a medical certificate or official document.

The school principal evaluates the credibility and weight of the submitted materials and makes a decision. In certain cases, the school board or even the KHDA can be involved in the decision-making process. The aim is always for the process to be fair, transparent, and focused on the student's development.

Summary

The new regulations clearly convey this message: attending school is not just a right but an obligation that requires the cooperation of parents, students, and teachers. Dubai's private schools operate in line with the expectations, yet choose a people-centered, supportive approach rather than a punitive one. The shared goal is to ensure that students are not only present but genuinely engaged in education and do not miss out on opportunities for development. The new system, therefore, is not merely about accountability but also about shared responsibility—for the future of the children.

(Source of the article: Ministry of Education (MoE) announcement.)