Sheikh Mohammed Walking Through City Centre Mirdif To UAE’s New School Year Starting In August; 5 GCC Updates

Keeping up with the updates from across the GCC can be quite tiring. After all, with the new updates coming in every day, it’s not easy to ensure that one is on top of all of them every day. So, making sure that you are ahead of these developments, we have made a list of some important updates from across the GCC region that you wouldn’t want to miss.

GCC Updates

1. UAE’s New School Year To Begin In August

If you happen to be a parent living in the UAE, then you will want to know that the Ministry of Education has confirmed that the 2026-2027 school calendar and classes are set to begin on August 31st, 2026. Yes, Dubai private schools will begin the summer break on July 6th, which would mark the start of the long holiday period for students and families. These would be across the emirate.

2. 100 Years of Bollywood: The Musical Is Coming To Abu Dhabi

If you happen to be a Bollywood fan, then you cannot miss out on this musical that is heading to Abu Dhabi for the first time. After selling out audiences in Dubai, 100 Years of Bollywood: The musical, which is produced by Malhaar, will take place on June 5th. It will be staged at the Cultural Foundation Theatre, Qasr Al Hosn, and will bring together over 40 performers in a live theatre experience.

3. Public Sector Holiday Announced For Islamic New Year In Oman

Public sector employees can enjoy a three-day break in Oman this month. This is true as the Islamic New Year public holiday would fall on Thursday, June 18th. After this, it will be followed by the weekend of Friday and Saturday in the Sultanate. The New Year public holiday has been set according to the annual public holiday calendar. This is issued by the Ministry of Labour. Not to mention, it has also been approved by the Council of Ministers, which offers a three-day extended holiday.

Also Read: Kuwait International Airport’s Terminal 1 Struck; Emergency Response Measure Activated

4. Sheikh Mohammed Walks Through City Centre Mirdif

Ordinary shoppers in City Centre Mirdif were in for a surprise! After all, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who is the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and the Ruler of Dubai, made an appearance. He was seen walking with a group of officials while visiting the popular mall, drawing smiles and excitement. The video, which was shared on social media, shows how he walked through the corridors of this lifestyle place with ease and simplicity.

5. KHDA Announces Short-Notice Inspection Visits

The Knowledge and Human Development Authority recently announced that private schools will receive short-notice inspection visits. This will be from the 2026-27 academic year. In fact, the schools will be given more than 24 hours’ notice before the quality assurance team arrives for inspection.

So, with these updates laid out for you, we hope you’re able to stay ahead of the news from the GCC region.

Cover Image Courtesy: Canva Pro/Aflo Images  (Cover images are for representtaive purposes only)