UAE School Education, KHDA Ratings & Curricula Guide
A current guide to Dubai KHDA inspections, Abu Dhabi Irtiqaa, the 2026–27 Dubai fee freeze and the main British, IB, American and CBSE curriculum pathways.
School rating, curriculum, fees and admission conditions are school- and authority-specific. Do not treat generic ranges or historical fee formulas as universal 2026 rules.
UAE Private-School Quality Framework
Private-school education is regulated at Emirate level. Dubai uses the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA)and its Dubai Schools Inspection Bureau (DSIB). Abu Dhabi uses theDepartment of Education and Knowledge (ADEK). Sharjah has the Sharjah Private Education Authority (SPEA).
The UAE federal private-education framework also regulates curriculum approval and requires schools following non-Ministry curricula to incorporate specified national subjects within the approved programme.
A KHDA or ADEK inspection rating is a quality-assurance judgement. It is not an accreditation label, university ranking or guarantee that a particular school is the best fit for every student.
Current KHDA Dubai School Ratings
| Rating | Meaning | Current-directory status |
|---|---|---|
| Outstanding | Highest inspection judgement. | Current KHDA directory rating option. |
| Very Good | Performance substantially above the UAE expectation in the relevant inspection framework. | Current KHDA directory rating option. |
| Good | Performance meeting the expected UAE quality level. | Current KHDA directory rating option. |
| Acceptable | Meets the minimum required quality level but with areas for improvement. | Current KHDA directory rating option. |
| Weak | Below the expected quality level. | Current KHDA directory rating option. |
| Very Weak | Significantly below the expected quality level. | Current KHDA directory rating option. |
| Not Applicable | Displayed where an overall rating is not currently applicable. | Current KHDA directory filter. |
KHDA’s live school directory currently shows 232 schools and identifies individual schools by their latest published overall rating, including 2025–26 entries.
Abu Dhabi ADEK — Irtiqaa Inspection
| Irtiqaa component | What is assessed |
|---|---|
| Student achievement | Students’ academic outcomes and progress. |
| Personal & social development | Personal development, social responsibility and innovation skills. |
| Teaching & assessment | Quality of teaching, learning and assessment. |
| Curriculum | Curriculum implementation and suitability. |
| Protection, care, guidance & support | Student wellbeing, safeguarding, support and care. |
| Leadership & management | Leadership, governance and operational effectiveness. |
The previous “Band A/B/C” wording has been removed because the current ADEK material describes Irtiqaa as a five-level system.
Dubai School Fees — 2026–27
The older Dubai School Fees Framework remains important for understanding how fee increases have historically been regulated. It uses the Educational Cost Index and school-performance information, but the current 2026–27 fee freeze means parents should not calculate a new 2026–27 tuition increase from those historical multipliers.
| Question | Correct 2026–27 position |
|---|---|
| Can an Outstanding school increase fees for 2026–27? | No general increase under the 2026–27 Dubai private-school fee freeze. |
| Can a Very Good school increase fees for 2026–27? | No general increase under the same freeze. |
| Can a Good school increase fees for 2026–27? | No general increase under the same freeze. |
| Does the ECI disappear permanently? | No. The historical fee framework still exists and remains relevant for understanding the regulatory model outside the current freeze. |
| Where should parents check actual fees? | The current KHDA school directory and the individual school’s fee fact sheet. |
Curriculum Comparison
British Curriculum
| Structure | Foundation / Early Years → Key Stages → GCSE / IGCSE → post-16 qualifications such as A Levels, depending on the school. |
| Assessment | Common senior qualifications include GCSE/IGCSE and A Levels, but individual schools may use additional UK qualifications. |
| Strengths | Large and established presence in Dubai, clear progression structure, and strong familiarity for families targeting UK-style university pathways. |
| Important limitation | Do not assume every British school offers exactly the same subjects, examination boards or post-16 qualifications. |
National Subjects in Non-Ministry Curricula
Federal private-education legislation states that a private school following a curriculum other than the Ministry curriculum must include specified subjects approved by the Ministry or education authority.
| Subject / area | Federal framework position |
|---|---|
| Islamic education | Included among the specified national subjects for schools operating non-Ministry curricula, subject to the applicable student and curriculum rules. |
| Arabic language | Included among the specified subjects in the federal private-education framework. |
| Social studies | Included among the specified subjects in the federal framework. |
| National education | Included among the national subjects specified by federal private-education legislation. |
| Moral education | Included among the specified national subjects in the applicable approved curriculum framework. |
Exact implementation depends on the approved curriculum, grade, authority and applicable student-specific requirements.
Inclusion & Students of Determination
Dubai — KHDA / DSIB
Inclusion is considered within the inspection framework, including how schools identify student needs, provide appropriate support and enable meaningful participation.
- Learning support
- Accessibility and participation
- Leadership and inclusion systems
Abu Dhabi — ADEK
ADEK’s inspection framework includes protection, care, guidance and support alongside wider teaching, curriculum and leadership standards.
Parents should examine the school’s actual inclusion policy, staffing, support model and additional charges rather than relying only on the overall inspection rating.
Related UAE Tools & Guides
2026 VerifiedFrequently Asked Questions
Official Education Sources
This page is based on current KHDA, ADEK and UAE Ministry of Education materials checked for 2026. It is not government-verified, endorsed or certified by KHDA, ADEK or the Ministry.
School ratings, fees, curriculum offerings, admissions and inclusion arrangements can differ by school and academic year. Parents should confirm the current school fact sheet and the school’s admission documentation before making an enrolment or payment decision.
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