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The General Directorate of Education in Makkah posted an official announcement directing all public and private schools in the region to implement the winter timetable from next Monday corresponding to 15 Jumada Al-Thani 1448 AH. Morning assembly for most schools will begin at 7:15 a.m. followed by the first class at 7:30 a.m. with parallel adjustments confirmed by the Madinah education authorities that set girls’ assembly at 7:15 a.m. and boys’ at 7:30 a.m. to reflect local operational needs. The directorate emphasized that these changes apply uniformly across all educational stages and urged immediate preparation by school administrations.
According to the Madinah General Directorate of Education similar seasonal adjustments have been rolled out in recent years with evening continuing education classes for girls commencing at 3:00 p.m. and for boys at 5:00 p.m. The coordinated timing shifts aim to optimize daylight hours during the cooler months while reducing exposure to early morning conditions that can affect attendance. Both directorates called on schools to ensure full adherence to the new schedules to support consistent student discipline and smooth daily transitions.
The Ministry of Education has granted additional flexibility to the education departments in Makkah Madinah Jeddah and Taif allowing them to tailor the academic calendar to regional climatic patterns and the intense pilgrimage activities that characterize these areas. This autonomy forms part of the broader return to a two-semester system implemented across public schools since the 2025-2026 academic year after a period of three-semester experimentation. A review published by Time Out Riyadh noted that such adaptations help education authorities balance instructional time with environmental and cultural factors unique to the western provinces.
Ministry of Education figures indicate that the annual winter timing adjustment typically remains in place for several months before schools revert to earlier summer hours around late February or March depending on the lunar calendar alignment. The current directive builds on established precedents that have been refined over multiple academic cycles to minimize disruption while prioritizing learner welfare. Officials in both regions have instructed schools to communicate the changes promptly to parents and staff to facilitate a seamless transition.
The Makkah directorate’s announcement aligns with the approved academic calendar for 1448 AH which incorporates designated breaks including the upcoming winter recess and maintains unified examination periods across most of the kingdom with limited exceptions for the holy cities. Previous implementations of these schedules have demonstrated improved attendance rates during colder periods according to regional education assessments. School leaders have been directed to update attendance systems and transportation arrangements to match the revised daily structure without delay.
Education authorities in both Makkah and Madinah will continue to monitor implementation of the winter hours with provisions for further organizational updates should conditions require modifications to the timetable. The policy reflects ongoing efforts by the Ministry of Education to create adaptive learning environments that respond to Saudi Arabia’s diverse geographical and seasonal realities. Parents and students are advised to consult individual school notices for any site-specific variations within the approved framework.
