If you’re raising school-aged kids in Dubai, here’s your cue to clutch your coffee a little tighter – school fees are climbing once again. The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) has approved a 2.35% increase for for-profit private schools in the 2025–26 academic year. Yep, the struggle is getting a bit more real.
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What’s the Deal with the 2.35% School Fee Hike?
That figure comes from the Education Cost Index (ECI) – a fancy financial formula that reflects what it actually costs to run a school. We’re talking salaries, services, rent, and all the behind-the-scenes essentials that keep your kid’s school running smoothly and (hopefully) happily.
KHDA teamed up with the Digital Dubai Authority to comb through audited financials, and the result? Schools across all curriculums (British, American, Indian, and more) that qualify can now apply for a fee hike – but only if they tick all the right boxes.
Not Every School Can Hike Fees
Before you panic-text your parent group chat, hear us out! Only for-profit schools that have been operating in Dubai for more than three years can apply for a fee adjustment. KHDA will go through each request with a fine-tooth comb to make sure it’s justified – because no one wants unnecessary fee drama, especially not parents already juggling five WhatsApp class groups.
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KHDA’s Promise: More School Fees, Higher Quality
Shamma Al Mansouri, Director of Licensing and Education Services at KHDA, assures parents that the process is all part of a “robust and transparent” system to help schools manage their resources without slacking on the quality of education. Translation? More money might be spent, but your child’s learning should still be top-tier.
It’s All Part of a Bigger Vision
This fee framework aligns with Dubai’s Education Strategy 33, which aims to turn the city into a global superstar in the education world. With 227 private schools currently teaching 387,441 students from 185 different nationalities, there’s clearly no slowing down.
In fact, student enrolment jumped 12% last year, followed by another 6% this year – and with 100 new schools expected by 2033, it’s clear that Dubai’s education scene is only getting bigger (and, well, pricier).
Meanwhile, in Public Schools…Timings Are Changing
While private schools are crunching numbers, public schools across the UAE are switching up their daily schedules in response to rising temperatures and parent concerns. From Monday, April 28, public schools have been running from 7:15am to 1:35pm, Monday to Thursday, and from 7:15 am to 11:00 am on Fridays. Early home time = slightly happier kids and maybe even a guilt-free Friday breakfast for you.
The Ministry of Education says it’s all about student comfort and flexible learning, especially during peak summer heat. While early years students and lesson lengths will stay consistent, the new schedule aims to make things smoother for both kids and teachers, because no one thrives when it’s 45°C by lunchtime.
So whether you’re budgeting for a new school year or just adjusting to new school hours, one thing’s for sure – parenting in the UAE never has a dull moment.
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