Under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense, and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) in Dubai announced that private schools in the emirate will not see any increase in tuition fees for the upcoming academic year 2026-2027. This decision reflects the leadership’s commitment to enhancing support for parents and efficiently meeting their needs.
New Economic Facilitation Measures
This decision aligns with the second package of economic facilitation measures approved by His Highness, amounting to 1.5 billion dirhams. This package includes 33 initiatives that will be implemented over a period of 3 to 12 months, raising the total economic facilitation measures granted in Dubai recently to 2.5 billion dirhams. This is part of a strategy aimed at effectively supporting economic growth and alleviating the burdens on families.
Private educational institutions will benefit from the postponement of license renewal fees at the KHDA, as well as the postponement of due fines and violations, facilitating financial processes and improving educational sustainability. Early childhood centers will receive exemptions from license renewal fees and similar postponements for violation fines, in addition to complete exemptions from fees for markets operated by the Dubai Municipality.
Enhancing Educational System Flexibility
Statistics show that over 95% of students receive their education in-person at private schools, demonstrating the educational sector’s ability to maintain the continuity of the educational process and quickly adapt to changes. This reflects the high confidence in Dubai’s educational system, as recent surveys indicated that school leaders believe in the capacity of the education community in the country to evolve and elevate the quality of academic and educational content.
Participants in the surveys confirmed that “flexibility” will be the most notable characteristic students will remember from this phase, reflecting an institutional culture based on adaptation and positive interaction with challenges.
Sustaining Growth and Competitiveness
Shamma Al Mansouri, Director of the Licensing and Educational Services Department at KHDA, stated that the educational system in Dubai is characterized by flexibility and adaptability to changes, supporting the continuity of education within a flexible regulatory framework. The goal is to ensure stable growth in the private education sector while achieving a balance between the interests of all stakeholders.
The authority is preparing to provide around 7,500 additional school seats in schools with acceptable fees over the next two academic years. This step responds to parents’ needs, while more than 30 applications for opening new private schools are currently under review. The 6% increase in student enrollment in private schools this year demonstrates growing confidence in the quality of private education in Dubai.
Under the guidance of Hamdan bin Mohammed, the decision to maintain no increase in private school fees in Dubai affirms the government’s commitment to supporting families and the educational community alike and fostering a balanced educational environment.