Private schools in the UAE

Read about education in private schools in the UAE; their regulating authorities and how quality of education is ensured.
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Private schools in the UAE

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The UAE hosts more than 200 nationalities and has several private schools that align with the educational needs of residents of diverse nationalities. Private schools also include a large number of Emirati students.

Private schools in Abu Dhabi

The Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) supervises the licensing and accreditation of private schools in the emirate. Its objective is to improve the quality of the private education system, which is a fundamental pillar contributing to the achievement of Abu Dhabi’s Economic Vision 2030.

Since September 2008, all private schools in Abu Dhabi are required to register with ADEK. Annual evaluation visits have since been carried out under the Irtiqa’a programme to measure the quality of education.

The evaluation visits aim to ensure that all private schools provide high-quality education for their students, thereby strengthening their role as a fundamental pillar in enabling Abu Dhabi to keep pace with global standards of excellence in education.

Under the programme, every school must conduct a self-evaluation to identify the actions and procedures needed to enhance its performance. Evaluation teams, consisting of independent and highly experienced assessors, periodically review each school’s performance to measure the effectiveness of the self-evaluation.

Assessors work professionally with schools and make decisions after taking into account the views of students and their parents, as well as performance standards included in the evaluation framework, such as student achievement and progress, curricula, and the quality of school buildings and facilities.

The results are shared and discussed with each school, with recommendations provided to support them in developing effective improvement plans.

Furthermore, the evaluation process ensures that parents are informed about the level of each school, enabling them to make the right decisions regarding their children’s education.

Private schools in Dubai

Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) in Dubai is responsible for enhancing and overseeing the quality of private education in the emirate. It provides support to private schools and all partners and stakeholders to build a high-quality education sector.

Private schools in Dubai offer British, American, Indian and other curricula to meet the educational needs of different nationalities residing in the emirate.

Ensuring quality in Dubai’s private schools

KHDA began annual school inspections in the academic year 2008–2009 through the Dubai School Inspection Bureau. The bureau provides comprehensive and reliable information on educational standards and on the performance of each private school in Dubai. This helps support school development and the formulation of appropriate education policies.

The authority issues annual inspection reports that provide a comprehensive review of Dubai’s private school performance in general, and of each school in particular. Based on these evaluations, schools are permitted to raise fees according to the specified percentages.

Ratings include: Outstanding, Very Good, Good, Acceptable, Weak and Very Weak. These ratings determine the percentage of fee increase permitted for each school.

To ensure transparency, KHDA introduced the Parent–School Contract, which outlines the responsibilities and duties of both parties, and serves the interests of both schools and families.

Private schools in Sharjah

Sharjah Private Education Authority regulates private education in the emirate. Its main role is to:

  1. propose legislation necessary for the regulation and development of private education
  2. supervise and monitor schools, and
  3. propose penalties for violations of regulations and requirements related to private education.

In addition, it:

  1. grants licences to operate private education institutions in coordination with the relevant authorities
  2. evaluates their performance and issues reports on the results
  3. approves tuition fees, curricula, programmes, courses, activities and assessment methods in private education, and
  4. approves and attests private education certificates in accordance with applicable legislation.

Private schools in Ras Al Khaimah

Department of Knowledge in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah regulates private education in the emirate. In addition it:

  1. proposes legislation for its regulation and development
  2. supervises schools
  3. proposes penalties for violations of regulations and requirements
  4. grants licences to operate private education institutions in coordination with the relevant authorities
  5. approves tuition fees, curricula, programmes, courses, activities and assessments, and
  6. approves and attests private education certificates in accordance with applicable legislation.

Private schools in Ajman, Umm Al Quwain and Fujairah

Ministry of Education (MOE) in the UAE plays a pivotal role in supervising private schools in the emirates of Ajman, Umm Al Quwain and Fujairah, ensuring that they comply with national policies and approved educational standards. This role is a fundamental pillar in building a high-quality education system that reflects the aspirations of the state and serves the interests of students and society.

The responsibilities of MoE are:

1. Oversight (Compliance)

MOE is responsible for overseeing private schools in Ajman, Umm Al Quwain and Fujairah through an integrated system focused on compliance with ministerial regulations and decisions. This includes carrying out periodic field visits to monitor compliance with the laws governing their operations. Violations are addressed through warnings or fines in accordance with the regulatory framework. In addition, MOE carries out joint oversight visits in cooperation with local education authorities, ensuring unified efforts and comprehensive supervision of private schools licensed by these entities.

2. Evaluation

Evaluation focuses on measuring the quality of educational outcomes and the efficiency of academic and administrative performance. Specialised teams from MOE carry out field visits to private schools and prepare objective, evidence-based reports that highlight students’ achievement levels, the effectiveness of school leadership, the quality of curricula, and the effectiveness of teaching and assessment methods. Evaluation results are a fundamental developmental tool that help guide schools towards improving performance and raising the quality of their educational services.

3. Licensing and institutional supervision

MOE issues and renews licences for private schools and monitors their continued compliance with licensing requirements. It also reviews applications for expansion or modification of school buildings to ensure compliance with safety and security requirements. Supervision also includes approving appointment notifications for teaching and administrative staff, thereby enhancing transparency and ensuring the quality of educational and administrative staff.

4. Professional licensing of staff

MOE administers a professional licensing system for teachers and school leaders to ensure their competence, by verifying academic qualifications and practical experience and requiring them to complete necessary examinations or professional development programmes. This system contributes to raising the quality of the education workforce and unifying professional standards across all private schools.

5. Equivalency and attestation of certificates

MOE undertakes equivalency of academic certificates issued by private schools in accordance with approved laws and regulations, ensuring their official recognition nationally and internationally. It also supervises the attestation of certificates and school documents to verify their authenticity and facilitate their acceptance by universities and other institutions.

6. Approval of fees and activities

MOE reviews applications from private schools to amend tuition fees, according to precise regulations that take into account the quality of educational services and the financial capacity of parents. The ministry also approves policies and programmes for extracurricular activities and school trips, in addition to reviewing official school advertisements to ensure they comply with education policies.

Updated On :

26 Sep 2025

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