KHDA Inspections Are Back: How Your School's Rating Will Shape Future Fees
No Dubai private school raised fees this year, but KHDA says future increases will hinge on each school's latest inspection rating. Here is what parents should check now.
By Vadim Kouznetsov, published
KHDA has restarted inspections at Dubai's private schools, and the result will matter for your budget: any future Dubai school fee increase will be tied to the school's latest KHDA inspection rating. For now, families get a breather, as no school was allowed to raise tuition this academic year.
KHDA Director General Aisha Miran told Khaleej Times the freeze was "well received". The bigger question for parents is what happens once fees are allowed to move again.
Dubai school fee increase and KHDA inspection: the link
According to Khaleej Times, fee increases will follow each school's most recent inspection result. That result could come from this academic year or from up to 2 years earlier.
How much a school may add depends on the Education Cost Index (ECI), which KHDA usually sets in April. For 2025-26 the index was 2.35%, according to WhichSchoolAdvisor. Until the next ECI is announced, nobody knows the size of any increase.
The 2026-27 freeze was confirmed in May as part of Dubai's AED 1.5 billion second economic incentives package. Note that it covers tuition. Transport, uniforms, trips and activities can still be priced separately.
What changes in KHDA inspections this year
This marks the end of a 17-year habit of inspecting every school, every year. Full inspections were paused after 2024. Now KHDA picks schools based on data such as past results, student achievement and self-evaluation.
There are 2 kinds of visit:
- QA1 (full inspection): covers the whole UAE School Inspection Framework and can give the school a new overall rating.
- QA2 (monitoring visit): looks at specific areas only and does not change the overall rating.
Schools will not know in advance which type they will get. Those finishing their third year of operation automatically receive a QA1.
Notice has also shrunk. Schools used to get 5 working days. They now get no more than 24 hours, so inspectors see an ordinary school day rather than a rehearsed one.
Who is affected
Dubai has more than 220 private schools teaching about 387,000 students from 185 nationalities, according to Khaleej Times. That covers most expat families in the emirate.
If your school was rated in 2024 and gets a QA2 this year, its published rating stays the same. If it gets a QA1, the rating can move up or down, and so can its future room to raise fees.
What Dubai parents should do now
- Check your school's current rating on the KHDA website or app. Our guide to Dubai's 23 outstanding schools and their fees is a useful starting point.
- Budget for April. Set aside a small buffer in case the next ECI allows increases from 2027-28. Even a 2-3% rise adds up across several children.
- Ask the school about extras. Tuition is frozen, but bus, uniform and trip costs are not.
- Watch for new ratings. A downgrade could limit future increases; an upgrade could allow larger ones.
- Compare options early if you are thinking of moving. Our look at how parents reacted to KHDA's affordable schools plan covers the cheaper end of the market.
If school costs are pushing you to rethink your income, you can browse live UAE jobs updated daily.
Key takeaway
Dubai tuition fees are frozen for 2026-27, but the freeze is temporary. When increases return, the size will depend on April's Education Cost Index and your school's latest KHDA rating. Check that rating now and keep some room in next year's budget.
FAQ
Will Dubai school fees increase in 2026-27?
No. KHDA did not allow any private school to raise tuition fees this academic year. The freeze was part of Dubai's AED 1.5 billion economic incentives package.
How does a KHDA inspection affect school fees?
Future fee increases will be linked to the school's latest inspection result. KHDA then applies the Education Cost Index to decide how much each school may add.
When is the Education Cost Index announced?
KHDA usually sets the ECI in April, before the next academic year begins. For 2025-26 it was 2.35%, according to WhichSchoolAdvisor.
What is the difference between QA1 and QA2 inspections?
A QA1 is a full inspection that can change a school's overall rating. A QA2 is a focused monitoring visit that produces a report but leaves the rating unchanged.
How much notice do Dubai schools get before an inspection?
No more than 24 hours. Previously schools were told 5 working days in advance.
Further reading
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