The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced the cancellation of Class XII Board examinations in the Middle East region, as noted in ‘Circular-6’ dated March 15, 2026. The directive, effective March 15, 2026, affects thousands of students in the Middle East, like the UAE. The cancellation follows a period of heightened regional tension and requests from school authorities in the affected countries.
Originally scheduled to conclude by mid-April, the CBSE Class XII Board examinations, including those previously postponed since early March, will no longer take place in a physical format. The Board concluded and reached a decision with further reviews and assessments of the inputs obtained and requests received by the schools in these affected countries. The decision marks a critical departure from traditional summative assessment models. “The mode of declaration of results for Class XII candidates in these countries will be notified separately in due course”, the Board added.
CBSE Class 12th 2026 Examination Cancelled: Regions Affected
Candidates can check out the countries in the Middle East Region where the directive mentioned above is effective.
- Bahrain
- Iran
- Kuwait
- Oman
- Qatar
- Saudi Arabia
- The UAE
It must be noted that the universities in India and abroad have been notified of the situation. The CBSE has assured students that their final certificates will hold the same value as those of students who completed their exams in other regions.
CBSE Class 12th 2026 Examination: What about Results?
With the cancellation of physical examinations in the Middle East, the CBSE has moved to reassure students that their academic futures remain secure. According to Circular – 6, the Board has departed from traditional summative models and will announce a specific “mode of declaration of results” for the affected regions in the coming weeks. Students are advised to wait for the official notification regarding the exact weightage of internal marks, as this will be released “in due course.” Students are advised to keep all records of their internal school assessments, pre-board results, and practical records safe, as these will likely form the backbone of their final 2026 CBSE results.
