UAE schools switch to remote learning following Iranian attacks

The United Arab Emirates Ministry of Education announced Monday that all schools across the country will switch to remote learning starting Tuesday 5 May through Friday 8 May 2026, in the wake of a series of attacks attributed to Iran.

"The Ministry of Education announces its decision to shift to distance learning from Tuesday 5 May 2026 until Friday 8 May 2026," the ministry said in a statement published on its official social media channels.

The decision reflects the broader disruption to daily life in the UAE caused by the ongoing regional conflict. Since the outbreak of hostilities triggered by the joint US-Israeli strikes against Iran on 28 February, the Emirates has been subjected to repeated Iranian missile and drone attacks targeting civilian and energy infrastructure, leading Abu Dhabi to issue a travel ban for its citizens visiting Iran, Lebanon and Iraq, and prompting the UAE's top diplomatic adviser to declare that restoring trust with Tehran would take "an eternity."

Switching schools to remote learning is a precautionary measure aimed at protecting students and staff while the security situation remains volatile. The UAE has not indicated when in-person schooling will resume beyond the initial period ending 8 May.