KHDA Strengthens Support for Families: No Fee Increase for Dubai’s Private Schools in 2026-2027 Academic Year
Under the directives of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) has announced that there will be no increase in school fees for private schools in Dubai for the 2026-27 academic year. This decision underscores the leadership’s commitment to supporting families and addressing their educational needs.
Economic Incentives Package
The announcement follows H.H. Sheikh Hamdan’s approval of a second economic incentives package for Dubai, valued at AED 1.5 billion. This brings the total economic incentives introduced in the emirate recently to AED 2.5 billion. The second package comprises 33 initiatives set to be implemented over a period of three to 12 months.
As part of these measures, private educational institutions authorized by KHDA will benefit from deferrals or installment plans for license renewal fees, as well as the postponement of fines. Early childhood centers permitted by KHDA will also be exempt from license renewal fees, fines, and market fees imposed by Dubai Municipality.
Support for Early Childhood Centers
The Knowledge Fund Establishment has introduced various support measures for its affiliated institutions. Early childhood centers will receive partial rent exemptions and extended rent-free periods for facilities currently under construction.
In addition, educational institutions will benefit from broader support measures, including partial or full exemptions from guarantee insurance requirements for canceled contracts, temporary suspension of contractual penalty clauses, a freeze on scheduled rent increases at renewal, and deferred rental payments.
These initiatives reflect Dubai’s commitment to ensuring the stability and sustainable growth of the private education sector, which continues to operate efficiently while balancing the interests of all stakeholders.
On-Site Learning and Community Confidence
Currently, over 95% of students are attending on-site learning at private schools, demonstrating the sector’s strong educational and operational readiness. This high attendance rate indicates the ability of schools to maintain continuity of learning and adapt quickly to changing circumstances through proactive planning.
The return to on-site learning also signifies growing confidence in the resilience of Dubai’s education system. Recent surveys conducted during KHDA listening sessions revealed strong confidence among school leaders regarding the sector’s capacity to evolve and enhance educational standards. This positions Dubai as a model for delivering a fully integrated education system that equips future generations with world-class academic foundations.
Teachers participating in these sessions identified resilience as a key quality that students are likely to remember from this period, highlighting a culture of adaptability and positive responses to challenges within Dubai’s education community.
Diverse Educational Choices
Dubai’s private education sector continues to offer families a broad range of educational choices, featuring 17 different curricula and various fee options across the emirate. This diversity enables parents to select the learning environment best suited to their children’s needs.
KHDA also provides the Girnas – Educational Advisor service, which offers smart chat support and personalized one-on-one sessions for Emirati families, assisting them in selecting the most suitable school for their children.
Commitment to Stability and Growth
Shamma Al Mansouri, Director of Licensing and Educational Services at KHDA, emphasized that Dubai’s private school sector demonstrates flexibility and resilience in adapting to evolving developments. She noted that the regulatory framework ensures continuity of learning and strengthens the sector’s stability and competitiveness, reinforcing Dubai’s position as a leading global destination for quality education.
Al Mansouri further stated that Dubai remains committed to ensuring the stability and sustainable growth of the private education sector while balancing the interests of all stakeholders. Approximately 9,000 new affordable school places were introduced during the current academic year, serving around 230,000 students.
The sector is also preparing to add approximately 7,500 more affordable school places over the next two academic years through incentive packages for education providers. This proactive approach aims to meet the evolving needs of families by offering diverse educational options.
KHDA is currently reviewing over 30 applications to open new private schools, following the establishment of six new schools during the current academic year. Student enrollment in Dubai’s private schools increased by 6% in 2025, reflecting growing confidence in the quality of private education in Dubai and its capacity to support the emirate’s population and economic growth.
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Published on 2026-05-22 18:49:00 • By the Editorial Desk
