No Increase in School Fees for Dubai Private Schools in 2026-2027, Confirms Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed
Dubai’s Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) has announced that private school fees will remain unchanged for the 2026-2027 academic year. This decision, made under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council, underscores the government’s commitment to supporting families in the emirate.
Economic Incentives Package
The announcement follows Sheikh Hamdan’s approval of a second economic incentives package valued at AED 1.5 billion. This brings the total economic incentives introduced in Dubai recently to AED 2.5 billion. The new package includes 33 initiatives aimed at providing immediate relief and support to various sectors over the next three to twelve months.
Private educational institutions approved by KHDA will benefit from deferred or installment payments of license renewal fees, as well as the postponement of fines. Early childhood centers will also be exempt from license renewal fees and market fees imposed by Dubai Municipality.
Support Measures for Educational Institutions
The Knowledge Fund Establishment has rolled out additional support measures for affiliated institutions. Early childhood centers will receive partial rent exemptions and extended rent-free periods for facilities currently under construction. Educational institutions will also enjoy broader support, including exemptions from guarantee insurance requirements for canceled contracts, temporary suspension of contractual penalties, and deferred rental payments.
These measures reflect Dubai’s commitment to ensuring the stability and sustainable growth of the private education sector. The aim is to maintain operational efficiency while balancing the interests of all stakeholders, particularly families.
Resilience and Operational Readiness
Currently, over 95% of students are attending on-site learning in private schools, demonstrating the sector’s strong educational and operational readiness. This high attendance rate indicates the ability of educational institutions to adapt quickly to changing circumstances through proactive planning and sustainable operating models.
Recent surveys conducted by KHDA during listening sessions with education community members revealed strong confidence among school leaders in the sector’s capacity to evolve and enhance educational standards. This confidence positions Dubai as a model for delivering a fully integrated education system that prepares future generations with robust academic foundations.
Teachers participating in these sessions noted that resilience is a key quality students are likely to remember from this period. This reflects a culture of adaptability and positive responses to challenges within Dubai’s educational community.
Diverse Educational Choices
Dubai’s private education sector continues to offer families a wide array of educational options across 17 different curricula. This diversity in fee structures and locations allows parents to select the learning environment that best suits their children’s needs.
KHDA also provides the Girnas – Educational Advisor service, which offers personalized support for Emirati families in selecting suitable schools for their children.
Shamma Al Mansouri, Director of Licensing and Educational Services at KHDA, emphasized that the private school sector is demonstrating flexibility and resilience in adapting to evolving circumstances. This adaptability ensures continuity of learning through a sustainable regulatory framework, enhancing the sector’s stability and competitiveness.
Commitment to Affordable Education
Al Mansouri highlighted that Dubai remains dedicated 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, reflecting a proactive approach to meeting the evolving needs of families through 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, indicating growing confidence in the quality of private education in the emirate and its capacity to support population and economic growth.
As reported by www.emirates247.com.
Explore the latest digital editions of FAME Delivered in the Magazine section.
Published on 2026-05-22 16:24:00 • By FAME Delivered News Desk