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Finding a private school in your emirate

Guide2 min read · Published 12 November 2026 · Updated 12 November 2026 · Version 1 · Nuzan editorial team

Each emirate's regulator licenses and evaluates its private schools. In Dubai, KHDA's Education Directory lists the private schools with their inspection reports.

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Who regulates private schools

EmirateRegulator
Abu DhabiDepartment of Education and Knowledge (ADEK): licensing and accreditation
DubaiKnowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA): the quality of private education
SharjahSharjah Private Education Authority (SPEA): approves tuition fees and curricula
Ras Al KhaimahDepartment of Knowledge: approves tuition fees and curricula
Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, FujairahMinistry of Education: supervises private schools and reviews fee changes

[1]

Dubai: ratings and fees

KHDA has inspected Dubai's private schools every year since 2008–2009, through the Dubai School Inspection Bureau. The ratings are Outstanding, Very Good, Good, Acceptable, Weak and Very Weak, and they decide how much a school may raise its fees. KHDA's annual inspection reports review each school's performance, and its Education Directory lists the schools. [1] [2]

In Abu Dhabi, ADEK evaluates schools in annual visits under the Irtiqa'a programme. [1]

Finding a school near you

KHDA's Education Directory is where Dubai's private schools are listed. [2] Searching it by area is to be confirmed: the directory did not answer when read, so its filters are not described here.

Sources

  1. UAE Government portal, "Private schools in the UAE" (updated 21 October 2026): https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/education/school-education-k-12/private-schools-in-the-uae
  2. KHDA, Education Directory, Schools (linked from source 1; the page itself answered 503 on 2026-10-26): https://web.khda.gov.ae/en/Education-Directory/Schools