Parents preparing for the 2026–2027 school year can now plan ahead, as the UAE Ministry of Education has officially released age eligibility guidelines for Kindergarten and Grade 1 admissions across all major curricula.
The updated framework applies to children not previously enrolled in any education system and uses date of birth as the primary reference point, ensuring consistency across public and private schools.
A key highlight of the announcement concerns children born between September and December 2021, who were previously ineligible for admission. For the upcoming academic year, parents may choose to enrol them in KG1 or KG2, subject to school assessment and seat availability in private institutions.
Age Criteria at a Glance
- Ministry Curriculum:
- KG1: Born in 2022
- KG2: Born in 2021
- Grade 1: Born in 2020
- British Curriculum:
- Pre-Foundation: 2023
- FS2: 2022
- Year 1: 2021
- Year 2: 2020
- American, Canadian, Australian & Other Systems:
- Pre-KG: 2023
- KG1: 2022
- KG2: 2021
- Grade 1: 2020
For schools following an April start, children’s ages will be calculated using March 31 as the cut-off date.
The Ministry stated that the revised guidelines are designed to support children’s academic and emotional readiness while maintaining fairness and equal access. Students currently enrolled will continue without changes to their grade placement.
