The next SAT you can still book in the UAE is on Saturday 5 December 2026. Register by Saturday 21 November 2026 at 8:59 am UAE time, or pay a late fee and register by Wednesday 25 November at 8:59 am. After that, the dates are 6 March, 1 May and 5 June 2027.
College Board deadlines end at night in New York. In Dubai, that is the next morning.
5 Dec next SAT · 4 dates left
Why the SAT deadline in the UAE is a morning, not a night
College Board says every SAT weekend deadline ends at 11:59 pm Eastern Time (ET), the time in New York. The UAE is 8 or 9 hours ahead of New York. So the deadline passes in the UAE on the morning of the next day.
November to mid-March
New York is on winter time (UTC−5). The UAE is 9 hours ahead. A deadline of 11:59 pm ET ends at 8:59 am UAE time the next day.
Mid-March to October
New York is on summer time (UTC−4). The UAE is 8 hours ahead. A deadline of 11:59 pm ET ends at 7:59 am UAE time the next day.
Worked example
20 Nov, 11:59 pm in New York + 9 hours = 21 Nov, 8:59 am in Dubai.
This helps you a little: you get one extra evening. But do not wait for it. Seats at UAE test centres can fill before the deadline, and you cannot fix a form at 8:58 am.
SAT test dates 2026-27, with deadlines in UAE time
College Board says these dates and deadlines are the same for students in the US and outside it, so they apply in the UAE. Each test is on a Saturday. Seats depend on each test centre. The late deadline is also the last day to change or cancel at the lower fee.
| Test date | Register by (UAE time) | Late deadline and changes (UAE time) | Scores out | Status on 6 Nov |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat 22 Aug 2026 | Sat 8 Aug, 7:59 am | Wed 12 Aug, 7:59 am | Fri 4 Sep 2026 | Done |
| Sat 12 Sep 2026 | Sat 29 Aug, 7:59 am | Wed 2 Sep, 7:59 am | Fri 25 Sep 2026 | Done |
| Sat 3 Oct 2026 | Sat 19 Sep, 7:59 am | Wed 23 Sep, 7:59 am | Fri 16 Oct 2026 | Done |
| Sat 7 Nov 2026 | Sat 24 Oct, 7:59 am | Wed 28 Oct, 7:59 am | Fri 20 Nov 2026 | Closed |
| Sat 5 Dec 2026 | Sat 21 Nov, 8:59 am | Wed 25 Nov, 8:59 am | Fri 18 Dec 2026 | Open |
| Sat 6 Mar 2027 | Sat 20 Feb, 8:59 am | Wed 24 Feb, 8:59 am | Fri 19 Mar 2027 | Open |
| Sat 1 May 2027 | Sat 17 Apr, 7:59 am | Wed 21 Apr, 7:59 am | Fri 14 May 2027 | Open |
| Sat 5 Jun 2027 | Sat 22 May, 7:59 am | Wed 26 May, 7:59 am | Mon 21 Jun 2027 | Open |
Source: College Board dates and deadlines, the 2026-27 international dates flyer and the score release dates page, checked on 6 November 2026. College Board gives each deadline as a date at 11:59 pm ET. We changed each one to UAE time. “Scores out” is the date College Board gives for students. It does not give a time of day.
Watch out: the late deadline costs more
If you register after the first deadline, College Board adds a late fee of $38. To change your test centre after you register costs $34. To change the date, you must cancel and register again. Do these before the late deadline. After it, cancelling costs more.
What time does the SAT start in Dubai?
College Board’s test day guide says: plan to arrive by 7:45 am. If you borrow a device from College Board, arrive by 7:15 am to collect it. In the UAE, use UAE time. Your admission ticket shows the details for your centre.
Some UAE students see “+04” next to the time on their ticket. This is the time zone, not 4 extra hours. UTC+4 is UAE time. So “7:45 a.m. +04” means 7:45 am in Dubai.
The test takes about 2 hours 14 minutes. Bluebook tells you when to take your break. College Board also asks you to check its test centre closings page on Friday night and again on Saturday morning before you leave.
Which SAT date fits you?
Use these rules. Each one starts from a fact you already know: your university deadline, or how ready you are now.
Your deadline is in early January
5 December is the last date with scores out before then (18 December). There is no SAT in January or February. Book now: the first deadline is 21 November, 8:59 am.
You want two tries before you apply
Scores come out 13 days after most tests. Take one test, see your score, then book the next. May and June 2027 are 5 weeks apart, so you can see the May score before the June late deadline (26 May).
This is your first SAT
Pick a date that leaves time for at least 2 full practice tests in Bluebook, with time to fix your mistakes between them. For most students, that is March or May 2027, not December.
You need a College Board device
Register and ask for the device at least 30 days before test day. For 5 December, that means by 5 November, which has passed. Choose March or later.
For UAE families
Ramadan 2027 is expected to start around 8 February, with Eid Al Fitr on 9 or 10 March, based on forecasts from the UAE’s Astronomy Centre. The real dates depend on the moon sighting. If the forecast is right, the 6 March SAT falls in the last days of Ramadan. If you fast, plan your sleep, suhoor and the 7:45 am arrival before you book. May and June are after Ramadan.
One more point: there is no waitlist outside the US. College Board’s waitlist is only for students who live in the US and US territories. If every UAE centre is full for your date, choose another centre or another date.
Free BMI Maths Test
How many weeks does your child need?
It depends on the starting level. The Free BMI Maths Test finds your child’s real maths level and the reason for each mistake, so you can plan the weeks before the test.
How many weeks of prep are left before each date?
We counted the days from 6 November 2026 to each open test date. Use the “first deadline” column too: you must commit to a date about 2 weeks before it.
| Test date | Time left from 6 Nov 2026 | First deadline (UAE time) | What this time suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Dec 2026 | 29 days (4 weeks) | 21 Nov, 8:59 am | A retake, or a student who is almost ready and needs timed practice. |
| 6 Mar 2027 | 120 days (17 weeks) | 20 Feb, 8:59 am | A first SAT with time to fix weak maths topics. |
| 1 May 2027 | 176 days (25 weeks) | 17 Apr, 7:59 am | A first SAT for a student who needs to build basics first. |
| 5 Jun 2027 | 211 days (30 weeks) | 22 May, 7:59 am | A second try after May, or a slow, steady start. |
Weeks on a calendar are not the same as weeks of real prep. A student who starts from the wrong level can use 6 weeks on topics they already know. Our 8-week SAT maths practice plan shows how to use the time, and what a good SAT maths score is helps you set the target.
Not sure you have enough time before your date? The Free BMI Maths Test shows your real maths level, so the plan starts from the right place.
Free score reports close before your scores come out
College Board sends your scores to 4 universities free if you choose them by 9 days after the test. After that, each report costs $15. But scores come out 13 to 16 days after the test. So you choose your free universities before you see your score.
5 December test
Free reports: choose by 14 December. Scores out: 18 December.
6 March test
Free reports: choose by 15 March. Scores out: 19 March.
1 May test
Free reports: choose by 10 May. Scores out: 14 May.
5 June test
Free reports: choose by 14 June. Scores out: 21 June.
If you want to cancel your scores, College Board’s deadline is 11:59 pm ET one week after the test. In the UAE that is the next morning.
SAT dates for 2027-28 (expected)
College Board has listed these as expected dates. It has not given their deadlines yet. Check again before you plan around them.
- Autumn 2027: 28 August, 18 September, 9 October, 6 November and 4 December 2027.
- Spring 2028: 4 March, 6 May and 3 June 2028.
From 14 March 2027, New York is on summer time again. So the deadlines for the August to November 2027 dates will most likely end at 7:59 am UAE time, and the December 2027 deadlines at 8:59 am.
What to do after you pick a date
- Register on College Board before the first deadline in UAE time. Our step-by-step registration guide for UAE students is coming soon.
- Upload your photo. College Board says at least 5 days before the test.
- In the 5 days before the test, open Bluebook and do the test setup. This gives you your admission ticket.
- Get your ID ready. In the UAE, College Board accepts a valid Emirates ID or a valid passport from any country.
- Start maths prep from your real level. Read how the digital SAT maths section works.
Questions people ask about SAT dates in the UAE
When is the next SAT in the UAE?
The next SAT you can still book is on Saturday 5 December 2026. Register by Saturday 21 November 2026 at 8:59 am UAE time. The late deadline is Wednesday 25 November at 8:59 am UAE time.
What time does the SAT start in Dubai?
College Board says to arrive by 7:45 am, or by 7:15 am if you borrow a College Board device. In the UAE this is UAE time. If your ticket shows +04, that is the UAE time zone.
When is the deadline for the December SAT in UAE time?
The first deadline is 20 November at 11:59 pm US Eastern time, which is Saturday 21 November at 8:59 am in the UAE. The late deadline is Wednesday 25 November at 8:59 am in the UAE, with a $38 late fee.
How many times a year can I take the SAT in the UAE?
College Board lists 8 SAT weekend dates for 2026-27, and they are the same for students in the US and outside it: August, September, October, November and December 2026, then March, May and June 2027. Four of them are still open: December, March, May and June.
When do I get my SAT scores?
For most 2026-27 dates, scores come out 13 days after the test. For the 5 December test, scores come out on 18 December 2026. College Board says most weekend scores come out 2 to 4 weeks after test day.
Picked your SAT date?
The Free BMI Maths Test shows your real maths level and the reason for each mistake, so your prep starts from the right place.
Sources
Facts checked on 6 November 2026. Dates can change, so check College Board before you register.
- College Board: SAT dates and deadlines (dates, deadlines, 11:59 pm ET rule, device loan, 2027-28 expected dates)
- College Board: 2026-27 international important dates (all 8 dates, $38 late fee)
- College Board: SAT score release dates
- College Board: fees for testing outside the US (late, change and cancel fees, score reports)
- College Board: SAT registration and test day guide (7:45 am arrival)
- College Board: 2026-27 SAT weekend student guide (test length, waitlist, photo, score cancel)
- College Board: ID requirements (UAE rule)
- Ramadan 2027 forecast: UAE astronomers, as reported by The National and Khaleej Times.
