Academic Calendar

NYU Abu Dhabi's AY 2026-2027 session dates can be found below. Please see NYU AD Academic Calendar for other operational dates and deadlines. Note that Islamic holidays are determined according to moon sighting and are subject to change. Last-minute changes to the holiday calendar may result in Legislative Days needing to be scheduled after the semester begins.

NYU Abu Dhabi 2026-2027 Academic Calendar

Orientation

Date Event
August 29-30 Graduate Student Orientation (final dates to be determined)

Fall Semester I

Date Event
August 26 No Classes: Observance of the Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday
August 31 First day of classes
September 4 Add/drop deadline for 7-week courses
September 11 Add/drop deadline for 14-week courses
September 25 Withdrawal deadline for 7-week course
October 2 Grading basis change (pass/fail) deadline for first 7-week courses
October 16 Last day of classes for 7-week course
October 17 Reading Day
October 18-19* No classes: Fall break
October 12-16* No classes: Final exams for 7-week courses

Fall Semester II 

Date Event
October 26 Classes resume
October 30 Add/drop deadline for 7-week courses
November 7* Withdrawal deadline for 14-week courses
November 21 Withdrawal deadline for 7-week courses
November 21 Grading basis change (pass/fail) deadline for 14-week courses
November 27 Grading basis change (pass/fail) deadline for second 7-week courses
December 2-3 No classes: Commemoration Day and National Day Holiday
December 15 Last day of classes
December 16 Reading day
December 17-22 Final exams
December 1923 Departure day: Winter break begins
December 24 Final grades due
February 1 Conferral for Fall and January degree completers

Winter Break

Date Event
December 23 - January 3 No classes: Winter break

January Term in Abu Dhabi

Date Event
January 4 Students Arrive at their study site
January 5 Classes begin
January 9 Legislative day / J-Term classes meet - see syllabus for class schedule
January 15 Last day of January Term courses
January 16 Students depart (if needed)

Spring Semester 1 

Date Event
January 15-19 Visiting student Marhaba
January 17-18 Returning student arrivals
January 19 Classes begin
January 25 Add/drop deadline for 7-week courses
February 1 Add/drop deadline for 14-week courses
February 7-March 8 Ramadan*
February 22 Withdrawal deadline for first 7-week courses
March 1 Grading basis change (pass/fail) deadline for first 7-week courses
March 6 Legislative Day (classes meet on a Monday schedule)
March 6 Last day of classes for first 7-week courses
March 7 Reading Day (No classes)
March 8-12 No classes: Spring Break / Eid Al-Fitr Holiday
March 13-17 Final Exams for first 7-week courses (no 14-week courses meet)
March 19 Grades due for first 7-week courses

Spring Break

Date Event
March 8-12 No classes: Spring Break / Eid Al-Fitr Holiday

Spring Semester 2

Date Event
March 18 Classes begin for second 7-week courses
March 24 Add/drop deadline for second 7-week courses
April 3* Withdrawal deadline for 14-week courses
April 24 Withdrawal deadline for second 7-week courses
April 24 Grading basis change (pass/fail) deadline for 14-week courses
May 1 Grading basis change (pass/fail) deadline for second 7-week courses
May 5 Last day of classes
May 6 Reading Day (No classes or exams)
May 7-14 Final exams
May 15 Visiting students depart
May 15 Returning students depart
May 16 Final grades due (4:00pm)
May 17-19 Eid Al-Adha (Holiday)*
May 20 NYUAD Commencement
May 21 NYUAD Graduating students depart
June 1 Conferral date for spring degree completers

Four-Week Summer Session in Abu Dhabi

Date Event
May 24 First day of Summer 4-week classes
May 25 End of course swap for enrolled students who did not complete prerequisites successfully/Last day to withdraw without a letter grade - "W" grade will appear on the transcript (4pm deadline). Classes are letter graded after this deadline. End of course Swap/Withdraw begins (Course enrollment ends in March)
June 18 Last day of classes for classes that do not have final exams
June 19 Final Exams
June 22 Final grades due
*

Islamic holidays are determined according to moon sighting and are subject to change. Last-minute changes to the holiday calendar may result in Legislative Days needing to be scheduled after the semester begins.

All registration deadlines are 4pm UAE time on the day listed so they can be reviewed in a timely manner.