The Ministry of Education (MOE) established age criteria in Resolution No. 24, which went into force in 2021, and all schools in the United Arab Emirates adhere to them.
The enrollment age varies based on the curriculum of the school and the commencement of the academic year.
For pre-kindergarten:
Children enrolling in FS1 or Pre-KG for schools starting in September must be three years old by August 31 at the latest.
Children registering in Pre-KG for schools starting in April must be three years old by March 31 at the latest.
For educational institutions that open in September:
Children must be four years old by August 31st to register in FS2 or KG1, and five years old by August 31st to enrol in Year 1 or KG2.
For those enrolling in classes beginning in April:
Four years old is the minimum age requirement for KG1 enrollment, while five years old is the minimum age requirement for KG2 enrollment.
In elementary or primary school:
• Children enrolling in Grade 1 or Year 2 for schools commencing in September must be six years old by August 31.
• For schools that open in April, first-graders must be six years old by March 31 to register.
The majority of private schools in the UAE feature an online age calculator on their official websites to make the process of applying to schools easier for parents. Entering the child's birthdate and academic year is mandatory for parents. The appropriate year group or grade for your kid will be sent to you based on those data.
