UAE School Fees: How Increases Actually Work (and Why They’re Frozen for 2026–27)

Good news first: KHDA has confirmed there will be no school fee increases in Dubai for the 2026–27 academic year, announced May 22, 2026 as part of a wider AED 1.5 billion economic support package for families. If your school tries to raise fees for 2026–27 anyway, that increase is not authorised.

How fee increases normally work

In a typical year, Dubai private schools don’t set fees freely. Under the KHDA School Fees Framework:

• KHDA sets an annual Education Cost Index (ECI) based on schools’ audited operating costs (2.35% for 2025–26, 2.6% the year before).
• A school can only raise fees by that ECI if it kept the same inspection rating as the previous year.
• Schools that improve their rating can increase by a multiple of the ECI (e.g. up to double for a Weak → Acceptable jump).
• Schools that drop in rating get no increase at all.
• Schools operating for fewer than 3 years in Dubai aren’t eligible for any increase.
• Every increase must be individually approved by KHDA — it isn’t automatic.

How to check if your school’s increase is authorised

1. Every KHDA-registered school must publish a School Fees Fact Sheet — a one-page document listing all mandatory and optional fees. Check the KHDA website or ask your school directly for this.
2. Confirm your school’s most recent inspection rating (available on the KHDA website).
3. Compare the increase you’ve been charged against the approved ECI for that year and your school’s rating band.
4. For 2026–27 specifically: any increase at all is unauthorised given the confirmed freeze.

If your school raises fees without approval

File a complaint through the KHDA portal. Increases without KHDA sign-off aren’t authorised regardless of what your school states in its own communications.

Budgeting for the years ahead

The freeze is confirmed for 2026–27 only — historically, ECI increases have ranged from roughly 2–5% depending on the year, with higher-rated schools compounding faster over time. A few practical points:

• Ask prospective employers about education allowances before accepting an offer — many UAE employers offer a fixed annual amount per child.
• Ask schools about sibling discounts — commonly offered for a second or third child.
• Budget for the fee at your child’s highest year group, not the entry-level year, since fees typically rise through primary into secondary.

Last verified July 2026, based on KHDA’s May 22, 2026 fee freeze announcement and the KHDA School Fees Framework. Rules can change year to year — check khda.gov.ae for the current academic year’s specific ECI and your school’s individual fact sheet.