Under the directives of Hamdan bin Mohammed…the Knowledge Authority announces that there will be no increase in school fees for the next academic year 2026-2027

DUBAI, 22nd May / WAM / Under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, Chairman of the Executive Council of the Emirate of Dubai, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority in Dubai announced that there will be no increase in school fees for private schools in the emirate during the next academic year 2026-2027, as part of the wise leadership’s keenness to support parents and meet their needs in a balanced and thoughtful manner.

This decision comes in line with His Highness’ approval of the second group of economic facilities in Dubai, worth 1.5 billion dirhams, which includes 33 initiatives implemented over a period of time ranging between 3 and 12 months, bringing the total economic facilities granted in the emirate during the past weeks to 2.5 billion dirhams.

Under these facilities, educational institutions benefit from postponing license renewal fees with the Knowledge and Human Development Authority, in addition to postponing fines and violations due from all licensed private educational institutions, with the possibility of paying the fees in installments later after the end of the postponement period.

The new facilities granted to early childhood centers also include exemption from license renewal fees, postponement of fines and violations for centers registered with the Knowledge and Human Development Authority in Dubai, in addition to complete exemption from fees for markets affiliated with Dubai Municipality.

The facilities provided by the Knowledge Fund Foundation to its affiliated facilities include partial exemption from the rental value of early childhood centers, partial or total exemption from the value of security insurance for canceled contracts for educational facilities, temporary suspension of the provisions of contractual fines for educational facilities, extension of the rental exemption period for early childhood centers under construction, freezing of the increases decided upon reviewing the rental value upon renewing the contract for educational facilities, and postponing scheduled rental payments for educational facilities.

This step reflects Dubai’s keenness to ensure the stability and sustainability of growth in the private education system, which continues to perform efficiently and flexibly, in a way that achieves a balance between the interests of all partners on the one hand, and meeting the needs of parents on the other hand.

More than 95% of students are currently receiving their education in-person in private schools, an indicator that reflects the sector’s educational and operational readiness, and its high ability to maintain the continuity of the educational process and quickly adapt to various changes, supported by proactive plans and a flexible and sustainable operational structure.

This indicator enhances the levels of confidence in the flexibility of the educational system in Dubai, as the results of recent questionnaires, conducted on the sidelines of listening sessions organized by the Authority for various components of the educational community in Dubai recently, showed the confidence of school leaders in the ability of the education community in Dubai to continue developing and improving scientific and educational content, so that Dubai will always be a model in providing the best integrated educational system capable of graduating generations with the highest degrees of academic qualification.

The teachers participating in these sessions confirmed that “flexibility” will be the most prominent characteristic that students will remember about this stage in the coming years, reflecting an institutional culture based on adaptation and positive, effective dealing with all circumstances.

The private education system in Dubai provides diverse educational options that include about 17 educational curricula, with a variety of tuition fees and geographical locations, which enhances the ability of parents to choose the most appropriate educational environment for their children.

The Authority provides the “Qarnas” service, the educational advisor to parents, through smart chat or individual sessions dedicated to parents of Emirati students, to help them choose the most appropriate school for their children.

Shamma Al Mansouri, Director of the Licensing and Educational Services Department at the Knowledge and Human Development Authority in Dubai, said: “The private school system in Dubai is distinguished by its flexibility and ability to adapt to various developments, ensuring the continuity of education within a flexible and sustainable regulatory framework that enhances the stability and competitiveness of the sector, and consolidates Dubai’s position as a leading global center for quality education, in line with the objectives of the Education Strategy 2033.”

Al Mansouri pointed out Dubai’s keenness to ensure the stability and sustainability of growth in the private education system, which continues to perform efficiently and flexibly, achieving a balance between the interests of all partners on the one hand, and meeting the needs of parents on the other hand, pointing out that approximately 9,000 new academic seats have been provided in private schools with acceptable fees in the current academic year, which currently hosts approximately 230,000 male and female students from this category, while the system is preparing to provide approximately 7,500 additional seats during the next two academic years as part of incentive packages. To educational service providers, in a step that reflects a proactive response to meet the needs of parents with diverse educational options.

The Authority is studying more than 30 applications to open new private schools during the coming period, after opening 6 new schools during the current academic year, at a time when the rate of student enrollment in private schools has increased by 6% during the year 2025, which reflects the growing confidence in the quality of private education in Dubai and its ability to keep pace with the population and economic growth in the emirate.

• For more: Follow Khaleejion 24 Arabic, Khaleejion 24 English, Khaleejion 24 Live, and for social media follow us on Facebook and Related