EducationCBSE Class 12 Board Exams 2026 Cancelled In UAE, Saudi Arabia, 5 More Nations

CBSE has cancelled Class 12 board exams in seven Middle East countries, including UAE, Saudi Arabia, and five others, amid the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict. The decision applies to CBSE-affiliated schools in Bahrain, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

The board said the move came after reviewing whether it would be practical to hold the exams in the region under the prevailing circumstances. The examinations had been scheduled to take place between March 16 and April 10.

The board has not yet announced how marks will be awarded to the impacted Class 12 students. The process for preparing and declaring their results will be shared later through a separate notification.

The cancellation has wider implications because of the large number of CBSE-affiliated schools operating across the Middle East. Data shared by the Ministry of External Affairs in 2023 showed that around 217 schools in the region are affiliated with the board.

The decision is significant because the affected schools form a major part of CBSEs overseas footprint, particularly in the Gulf region, where the board has long had a strong academic presence.