Dubai School Fees Frozen for 2026/27: What Parents Should Know
26 June 2026 · Dubai Media Office / KHDA · 2 min read
In short: Under the directives of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, KHDA has confirmed there will be no increase in private school fees in Dubai for the 2026/27 academic year. It is welcome news for family budgets, but there are still a few things every parent should review before the year begins.
What was announced
In May 2026, KHDA confirmed that Dubai's private schools will not raise tuition fees for the 2026/27 academic year. The freeze applies across the board and forms part of a wider effort to ease cost pressures on families.
How fees normally work in Dubai
In a typical year, fee increases are governed by KHDA's School Fees Framework. The maximum a school may raise fees is tied to the Education Cost Index (ECI) and, historically, to the school's inspection rating. For 2025/26, for example, the ECI cap was set at 2.35%, applied uniformly to eligible schools. The 2026/27 freeze is a deliberate exception to that framework.
What the freeze does and does not mean
The freeze holds tuition steady, but it is worth being clear-eyed:
- It applies to tuition fees. Optional costs such as transport, uniforms, trips, exam entry and meals are set separately.
- It does not lower fees, it holds them. A school that is expensive today will still be expensive next year.
- Fees still vary enormously by curriculum and school.
As a rough guide, average Dubai tuition sits around AED 42,000 a year, but the range is wide: Indian CBSE schools tend to be the most affordable, while IB schools sit at the higher end.
What to review anyway
A fee freeze is a good moment to sanity-check value, not just price:
- Re-read your school's latest KHDA inspection rating.
- Add up the total cost, including transport and extras, not just headline tuition.
- If you are paying a premium, ask what you are getting for it.
- If the value is not there, the freeze is a calm window to explore alternatives without a price rise looming.
Compare with confidence
Use the freeze to make a considered decision. Compare schools side by side on fees and ratings, browse the full directory, and weigh curriculum fit before you commit.
Source: Government of Dubai Media Office, 22 May 2026 (KHDA).
