Students in the UAE and Dubai sitting the IGCSE May/June 2026 exams need to use the correct timetable for their exam board. Both Cambridge IGCSE and Pearson Edexcel IGCSE are widely offered in the UAE—check with your school which board you use.

Cambridge IGCSE

Schools in the Gulf region, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and across the UAE, are typically allocated to Cambridge Zone 3.

IGCSE May June 2026: UAE Key Dates

Event	Date
Exam period starts	23 April 2026
Exam period ends	9 June 2026
Late entries deadline	17 April 2026
Results release	18 August 2026

Timezone: Gulf Standard Time (GST)

UAE operates on Gulf Standard Time (GST), UTC+4. Exam start times on the Cambridge timetable are set in local time for your centre. Confirm exact session times (AM/PM) with your school or exam centre.

Where to Find Your Timetable

1. Check with your school – Your exams officer will confirm your administrative zone and provide the correct June 2026 timetable.
2. Cambridge International – Download the Zone 3 timetable from Cambridge Timetables.
3. British Council UAE – If you’re a private candidate, the British Council provides exam administration in the UAE.

Pearson Edexcel IGCSE

Pearson Edexcel IGCSE uses different timetables from Cambridge. If your school follows Edexcel, you must use the Edexcel timetable—do not use the Cambridge timetable above.

• Where to find your timetable: Pearson Edexcel International GCSE timetables
• Exam period: Edexcel June 2026 exams typically run May–June 2026; confirm exact dates with your school.
• Check with your school to confirm which exam board you use—Cambridge and Edexcel have different timetables and key dates.

Important for UAE Students

• Verify your zone – UAE schools may fall under Zone 3; always confirm with your centre.
• Ramadan 2026 – Ramadan runs from 17/18 February to 19/20 March 2026 (approximately 30 days). The exams (23 April onwards) do not overlap with Ramadan—they begin over a month after Eid al-Fitr. However, revision does fall during Ramadan. If you’re fasting, consider planning study around suhoor and iftar (e.g. lighter revision in the afternoon, focused sessions before dawn or after sunset). Discuss any concerns with your school.
• Hajj and Eid ul Adha 2026 – The Hajj pilgrimage runs 21–31 May 2026, with Eid ul Adha on 26 May 2026. This does overlap with the exam period (exams run 23 April – 9 June). Check your exact exam dates during this period—you may have papers scheduled around Eid ul Adha. Plan family celebrations around your exam timetable and inform your school if you have any concerns.
• Arrive early – Dubai traffic can be unpredictable; plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before your exam.

Exam Period Overview

The June 2026 series runs across these windows:

• 23–24 April 2026
• 27 April–1 May 2026
• 4–8 May 2026
• 11–15 May 2026
• 18–22 May 2026
• 25–29 May 2026
• 1–5 June 2026
• 8–9 June 2026

Subject-specific dates vary. Use the official Zone 3 timetable for exact dates and times for each paper.

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