The Central Board of Secondary Education on Tuesday issued an official order postponing the Class X and Class XII board examinations that had been scheduled for March 5 and March 6, 2026, at CBSE centres across the Middle East. The board said new dates will be notified after a fresh review of the situation.
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Official circular
The CBSE circular, circulated to principals of affiliated schools and regional offices, states that the papers for the two dates are deferred and that the board will announce revised schedules in due course. The document stresses that the postponement is temporary and not a cancellation.
Affected countries
Schools in several Gulf and neighbouring countries are covered by the order: United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain and Iran. Media reports and the board’s notices list these as the regions where examinations scheduled for the two dates will not be held as planned.
Reason for deferral
The board cited the prevailing security and safety concerns in the wider West Asia/Middle East region as the basis for the decision, pointing to disruptions that affect student safety, invigilation logistics and examination conduct at overseas centres. National and regional news outlets have linked the move to recent escalations and associated travel and airspace disturbances.
Review and next steps
CBSE has said it will assess the situation again and publish revised dates after consultations with regional offices. Schools were instructed to keep students and parents informed through official school channels and to await the board’s formal update on rescheduling.
School communications
Several CBSE schools in the UAE and other Gulf states have issued internal notices echoing the board’s circular and advising candidates to remain in contact with exam coordinators. Some schools are also relaying guidance on attendance and exam logistics once fresh dates are announced.
CBSE and media outlets have warned about fabricated circulars circulating on social media that claim wider cancellations. The board urged students and parents to rely only on official CBSE communications and school announcements for accurate information.
