Dubai to Add About 18,000 Affordable School Seats as Enrolment Hits 406,563
KHDA says Dubai will add around 18,000 affordable private school seats over two academic years, as enrolment rose 4.6% to 406,563 students.
By Vadim Kouznetsov, published
Dubai will add around 18,000 affordable seats to its private schools over the next two academic years, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) said on October 1, 2026. The news comes as private school enrolment climbed 4.6% to 406,563 students at the start of the 2026-27 academic year, from about 388,731 in June 2026.
For families watching school fees, more places in the affordable bracket means more choice. KHDA set out the plan at its Media Majlis that day, as reported by Gulf News and Khaleej Times.
How many new school seats is Dubai adding?
The 18,000 affordable seats are still to come. They sit on top of capacity that opened this academic year:
- 26 new private educational institutions opened, including 7 schools, 17 early childhood centres (ECCs) and 2 international higher education institutions.
- Nearly 17,000 seats were added by the 7 new schools.
- More than 1,700 places are expected from the new ECCs.
- 51 new private institutions have opened over the past two academic years.
Across early childhood, schools and higher education, the sector has grown 4.6% a year over the past three academic years. KHDA described the expansion as a response to sustained demand from families choosing Dubai as a place to live and educate their children.
What the affordable seats mean for parents and fees
Expanding access to affordable education is one of KHDA's stated priorities for 2026-27. The authority did not publish fee levels, locations or opening dates for the new affordable seats in the reports, so parents should treat 18,000 as a target spread over two years, not a list of schools to apply to now.
If you are comparing schools now, our guide KHDA Inspections Are Back: How Your School's Rating Will Shape Future Fees explains how ratings feed into what schools may charge. Quality assurance visits to private schools resume this academic year.
Parents will also get a formal voice. The 2026-27 year will see the first Dubai Parents Council and the first Dubai Educators Council, alongside the second cohort of the Dubai Students Council. The councils are meant to let parents, teachers and students help shape the sector.
Since the Education 33 (E33) Strategy was adopted, KHDA has run more than 20 parent awareness sessions reaching over 5,000 parents, on topics including positive parenting, family resilience, digital safety and supporting children through stress.
Results, priorities and new universities
KHDA director general Aisha Miran said Dubai's private schools ranked among the world's top 10 education systems in all PISA 2025 assessment domains. Emirati students' scores rose by 31 points in mathematics, 30 in science and 18 in reading.
Other priorities for 2026-27 include:
- raising performance at schools with high numbers of Emirati students
- strengthening Arabic language and cultural identity
- student wellbeing and protection
- AI literacy, financial literacy and career readiness
In higher education, 11 new institutions have opened over the past three years, with enrolment up 29%. The American University of Beirut's Dubai campus opened in September 2026, and Peking University HSBC Business School will launch its MBA and EMBA programmes in January 2027.
Since E33 launched two years ago, KHDA has introduced more than 20 major initiatives and 28 policies, guidelines and regulatory frameworks. Miran called the strategy "the compass" for where Dubai wants its education system to be by 2033.
More schools also mean more classrooms to staff: if you work in education, you can browse teaching and school jobs.
Key takeaway
Dubai plans around 18,000 more affordable private school seats over two academic years, after enrolment rose 4.6% to 406,563. Fees and locations for those seats have not been published, so parents should keep an eye on KHDA announcements and school ratings when planning admissions.
FAQ
How many students are in Dubai private schools?
There were 406,563 students at the start of the 2026-27 academic year, up from about 388,731 in June 2026, a rise of 4.6%.
How many affordable school seats will Dubai add?
Around 18,000 affordable seats over the next two academic years, according to KHDA.
How many new schools opened in Dubai this year?
Seven new private schools opened this academic year, adding nearly 17,000 seats, alongside 17 early childhood centres and 2 international higher education institutions.
What is the Dubai Parents Council?
It is a new council launching in the 2026-27 academic year that gives parents a platform to contribute to the development of Dubai's education sector.
What is Dubai's Education 33 Strategy?
E33 is Dubai's education strategy setting out where the emirate wants its education system to be by 2033. KHDA says it puts learners at the centre.
Further reading
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