Dubai School Principals Advocate Shorter Fridays Over a 4-Day Week

As Dubai schools adapt to revised Friday timings to accommodate the 12:45 pm congregational prayers, a key question has emerged among parents and educators: should schools remain open on Fridays, or move to a four-day school week?

Feedback collected by Gulf News from school leaders across the emirate indicates a strong consensus: shorter, focused Fridays are preferred over eliminating the day altogether.

Why Fridays Still Matter?
Even with reduced hours, Fridays remain academically meaningful. Educators argue that a three-hour session, when spread across an entire academic year, contributes substantial learning time.

Leigh Girven, Principal of Greenfield International School in Dubai Investment Park (DIP-1), explained that the school has redesigned the Friday schedule to balance faith, family life, and academic outcomes:

“We recognise the importance of Friday prayer and have therefore adjusted the length and structure of our Friday lessons to allow for an earlier 30-minute end of day. Even a shortened Friday is necessary to effectively deliver the curriculum, maintain learning continuity, prepare students for external examinations, and meet international standards.”

John Bell, Founding Principal of Bloom World Academy in Al Barsha South, echoed this perspective. His school’s Friday schedule now runs from 8:30 am to 11:30 am, compared to the usual 9 am to 4 pm timetable:

“While three hours may sound short, when you multiply that time across the school year it becomes a very significant amount of learning. Essentially, we are running the same timetable, just condensed by starting earlier and finishing earlier.”For Dubai schools, the consensus is clear: Fridays remain an essential academic day, even in a shortened format, preserving learning continuity while respecting religious practices.