Teachers work through the night to keep lessons, exams on track during shift online

Last updated: May 06, 2026 | 17:24

The Ministry of Education announced a temporary shift to distance learning from Tuesday, May 5, 2026, until Friday, May 8, 2026, for students, teaching staff and administrative employees across nurseries, as well as public and private schools nationwide. Shutterstock

The Ministry of Education directed all institutions to return to online learning, with schools moving quickly overnight to ensure classes continued without disruption.

For schools in the UAE, the top priorities were to communicate with parents, maintain the existing coursework schedule, and prepare materials for a rapid transition to remote learning, all within a matter of hours.

A smooth pivot, built on existing foundations

Many schools reported that the transition was far less disruptive than it might have been, owing to the infrastructure and experience already in place.

Nicholas Brain, Deputy Executive Vice President…