In a significant development for Grade 12 students in the UAE, the International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO) has cancelled the May 2026 final examinations for both the Diploma Programme (DP) and Career-related Programme (CP). Following discussions with the Ministry of Education, the UAE government has opted to implement the Non-Exam Contingency Measure (NECM), a system previously used during the Covid-19 pandemic. Under NECM, student results will be determined by internally assessed coursework that is externally marked, alongside teacher-predicted grades and rigorous IB cross-checks. While acknowledging the potential for disappointment, IB officials and UAE schools are actively communicating with universities globally to ensure the acceptance of these NECM-awarded results, aiming to secure students' future academic pathways.