Students across the UAE collected their A-level results on 17 August 2026, ending an examination cycle unlike any before it: British exam boards cancelled written papers for the May/June 2026 series after regional conflict made sittings impossible.
Cambridge International, Pearson Edexcel and OxfordAQA all suspended in-person IGCSE and A-level exams across the region, citing safety concerns linked to the ongoing US-Israel-Iran war. The cancellations extended beyond the UAE: Pearson Edexcel and OxfordAQA also pulled exams in Bahrain, Kuwait and Lebanon, according to School Management Plus.
In place of formal papers, students were assessed through a Portfolio of Evidence process. Pearson Edexcel’s arrangements allowed centres to submit predicted grades as supporting context alongside coursework, internal assessments and other work gathered over the course of study, with examiners grading on the submitted portfolio.
UAE A-level results 2026: scenes at GEMS Wellington Academy
At GEMS Wellington Academy in Silicon Oasis, families waited outside before results were handed over in envelopes. The school, which describes itself as the first British curriculum school in the UAE to offer IB, A-levels and BTEC, recorded a 97% A-level pass rate for 2026, with 48% of entries earning A*–B grades, up seven percentage points, and 21% at A*–A, up six percentage points.
Jhaanvi Padmanabhan received three A* grades, securing a confirmed place to study medicine at the University of Glasgow. Her mother Praveena described the wait as difficult. ‘It was so stressful as we didn’t know what to expect because of the situation,’ she said. ‘But she got the results and with this, her admission to study medicine at the University of Glasgow has been confirmed. We got the confirmation just now.’
Fellow student Pierre Faried, who also achieved three A*, said the unusual assessment process had weighed on him. ‘I was nervous during the exams because everything felt out of my control,’ he said. ‘But in the last few days I was really calm. And I am grateful to the school as well for handling everything really well.’
School-by-school results across the UAE
Brighton College Al Ain recorded a 100% pass rate, with 58.4% of grades at A* or A and 90.9% at A*–B. Deputy Head Melanie Black said: ‘We are incredibly proud of our Sixth Form pupils and all they have achieved. Their results reflect years of hard work, curiosity and drive.’
Dubai British School Emirates Hills reported 55% of A-level entries at A*–A and 22% at A. The school also recorded strong BTEC outcomes, with 76% of entries achieving Distinction. Principal Brett Girven said: ‘More than half of A Level entries awarded A*–A, while three quarters of Level 3 BTEC entries achieved the highest grade possible. These results are a powerful reflection of our students’ ambition, resilience and hard work.’
Jebel Ali School reported 54% of A-level grades at A*–A and 22% at A, alongside a 100% BTEC pass rate. Principal Simon Jodrell described the year group’s outcomes as ‘an exceptional set of A Level and BTEC results, reflecting their dedication, perseverance and academic ambition.’
Graduates from UAE schools are heading to universities including Imperial College London, Columbia University, Brown University, the London School of Economics, Northwestern University and the University of Toronto, according to Which School Advisor UAE. The IG Club noted the cancellations also affected students in Qatar, widening the scope of a contingency process that British exam boards had not previously deployed at this scale in the region.
The GEMS Education group has not yet published a consolidated results summary across its UAE network; individual school figures are expected to be released over the coming days.
