Schools in the UAE for Expatriate Families

School is compulsory

Under Federal Decree Law No. 39 of 2022, education is compulsory for expatriate residents until they finish the primary stage. A parent who does not enrol a child receives a written warning, then a referral to the Public Prosecution after 10 working days, with possible imprisonment and/or a fine of AED 2,000 to AED 50,000.¹

Source: UAE Government Portal: Age of acceptance in KG and Grade 1²

The age rules come from Ministerial Resolution No. 24 of 2021. Private schools following a foreign curriculum may use their own year names, so check the equivalent grade with the school.²

Who regulates private schools

Private education is governed by Federal Decree Law No. 18 of 2020. Each emirate with its own education authority licenses and inspects its schools.³

Source: UAE Government Portal: Licensing private educational institutions; WAM: KHDA shares the latest educational developments for 2026-27; ADEK: Abu Dhabi education landscape expands (October 2025); Sharjah24: Sharjah private schools start the 2026-27 year^3,4,5,6

School fees

In Dubai, KHDA confirmed that private schools may not raise fees in 2026-27. In normal years the KHDA fee framework links any increase to the school's inspection rating and to the Education Cost Index, and it applies only to schools that have operated for at least three years.^7,8

Annual tuition at Dubai schools rated Outstanding ranges from about AED 29,500 to AED 111,800 in 2026-27.⁹

• In Abu Dhabi, schools must publish their approved fees on their website and collect tuition in at least three equal instalments.
• The opening instalment can be collected no earlier than one month before the school year starts.
• An Abu Dhabi school asking for an increase needs a valid licence, at least three years of operation and two years of audited accounts, and applies to ADEK in January with a link to its improvement plan.

Source: ADEK: School fees policy; UAE Government Portal: School fees^11,10

Inspection ratings

Dubai rates private schools on a six-point scale from Outstanding to Very weak. In the 2023-24 inspections, 23 schools were rated Outstanding, 48 Very good, 85 Good, 51 Acceptable and 2 Weak.¹²

KHDA paused full inspections for 2025-26, except for schools in their third year of operation, so the latest published ratings are older than this year. Ask each school for its most recent report.¹³

In Sharjah, SPEA inspects schools through its Itqan programme. In the 2023-24 cycle every private school was rated Acceptable or better.¹⁴

New school places

• Seven new Dubai schools opened for 2026-27, four with UK curricula and three with the International Baccalaureate, adding 16,846 places. They include Harrow, Queen Elizabeth's School Dubai Sports City and Rugby School Dubai.
• KHDA expects about 18,000 affordable seats over two years, and counts 51 new institutions in the past two years.
• Sharjah added six private schools for 2026-27.

Source: Government of Dubai Media Office: New private education institutions open across Dubai (25 August 2026); WAM: KHDA shares the latest educational developments for 2026-27; Sharjah24: Sharjah private schools start the 2026-27 year^15,4,6

Government schools

Expatriate children may attend UAE government schools for tuition of AED 6,000 a year, but places are limited.¹⁶

• Grades 2 to 12 only.
• A parent must work for a government, semi-government or local entity.
• The child needs at least 85% in Arabic, English and Maths.
• The family needs valid residence visas.
• Expatriates may make up no more than 20% of a school and of each class.

Source: UAE Government Portal: Admission to UAE government schools¹⁶

Dubai Schools, government schools run in partnership with the private sector since 2021-22, accept Emiratis and other nationalities. Abu Dhabi charter schools are for nationals and some other groups.¹⁷

Documents for registration

• The child's Emirates ID, passport and birth certificate
• Vaccination certificate
• The parent's Emirates ID
• A personal photo
• Proof of residence, such as a tenancy contract or an electricity bill

Source: UAE Government Portal: School registration documents¹⁸

If a school asks for attested records from a school abroad, the embassies guide explains the attestation steps.