Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Education has confirmed that students and teachers across the Kingdom will return to school on Sunday, March 29, 2026 — corresponding to the 10th of Shawwal 1447 AH — marking the official end of the Eid Al-Fitr holiday and the resumption of the second semester. The date, announced ahead of the Eid break, has been widely shared by parents and students preparing for the transition back to the classroom.
Summer School Hours Begin on the Same Day
The March 29 return also brings a change in daily school timings. As of that date, Saudi public schools will shift to the summer schedule, with morning assembly beginning at 6:15 AM and the first class commencing at 6:30 AM. This replaces the winter schedule, under which assembly started at 6:45 AM and lessons began at 7:00 AM. The earlier start reflects both the longer daylight hours of the approaching spring and summer months, and the operational rhythms that Saudi families have been accustomed to for most of the school year’s history.
Parents are advised to adjust drop-off routines and transportation arrangements ahead of the Sunday reopening, which will apply to all public schools across the Kingdom. Some private and international institutions may operate on slightly different schedules in accordance with their own academic calendars.
The Final Phase of a Restructured Academic Year
The return from the Eid break marks the beginning of the final stretch of the 2025–26 academic year — the first year conducted under the two-semester system that Saudi public schools returned to this year, following a period in which a three-semester model had been in place. The change, approved by the Council of Ministers, was made with the aim of aligning the Kingdom’s educational structure with global best practices while giving students and teachers longer, more coherent instructional periods.
The second semester is expected to conclude in June 2026, after which students will enter the summer break. The following academic year, 2026–27, is scheduled to begin on Sunday August 23, 2026 for students, with teaching staff returning a week earlier on August 16.
A Significant Period in the School Calendar
For many Saudi families, the return from Eid is one of the more significant transitions of the academic year — a moment when the festive energy of the holiday gives way to the rhythms of school life once more. With the semester’s final term now approaching, students preparing for end-of-year assessments will need to make the most of the weeks ahead. The Ministry of Education has encouraged schools to ensure a smooth reopening and to welcome students back with adequate preparation for the remaining curriculum.
