Dubai has announced a freeze on private school fees for the upcoming 2026-27 academic year, with the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) confirming no increases will be permitted across the emirate's private schools.
The decision comes under the directives of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, as part of a broader effort to ease financial pressure on families.
The move is part of Dubai's second economic incentives package, approved by Sheikh Hamdan and valued at AED 1.5 billion. This brings the total value of recently introduced economic incentives in the emirate to AED 2.5 billion, spanning 33 initiatives to be rolled out over three to twelve months.
Private schools and early childhood centres licenced by KHDA stand to benefit from a range of financial relief measures, including deferred or instalment-based licence renewal fees and the suspension of fines. Early childhood centres will also receive exemptions from Dubai Municipality market fees, partial rent relief, and extended rent-free periods for facilities currently under construction.
Broader support measures for educational institutions include temporary suspensions of contractual penalty clauses, freezes on scheduled rent increases, and flexibility around guarantee insurance requirements.
Dubai's private school sector currently serves students across 17 curricula, with enrolment rising 6% in 2025. Around 9,000 affordable school places were added this academic year, with approximately 7,500 more expected over the next two years.
Shamma Al Mansouri, Director of Licencing and Educational Services at KHDA, said the sector continues to demonstrate flexibility and resilience, reinforcing Dubai's position as a leading global destination for quality education in line with the goals of the Dubai Education 33 Strategy.
KHDA is currently reviewing over 30 applications to open new private schools following the launch of six new institutions this year.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
