Understanding School Fees and KHDA-Regulated Charges in Dubai
Dubai’s private school fees can be overwhelming for parents, but the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) has made strides in simplifying the process. Introduced in June 2022, the School Fees Fact Sheet helps parents get a detailed breakdown of all mandatory, optional, and additional costs, providing greater transparency in managing school-related expenses.
What is the School Fees Fact Sheet?
The School Fees Fact Sheet is a mandatory document that every private school in Dubai must provide to parents at the start of each academic year. It outlines both mandatory and optional fees, giving parents a complete overview of their financial commitments. This document is also incorporated into the School/Parent Contract and can be accessed via the KHDA directory or the school’s official website. Each fact sheet is valid for one academic year and includes a QR code for verification.
What Fees Are Included?
The fact sheet covers a range of fees parents should be aware of throughout the academic year. These include: 
- Mandatory Fees: These include tuition, application, registration, and re-enrollment fees, which are regulated by KHDA.
- Additional Fees: Other school-related expenses like transportation, extracurricular activities, field trips, and books.
- Optional Fees: These fees are for services outside the curriculum, often provided by the school or third-party providers. Parents must approve these charges before opting in.
Regulating Tuition Fee Increases
To ensure financial predictability, the School Fees Framework governs all tuition fee increases in Dubai’s private schools. This regulation ensures that any fee hikes are aligned with KHDA’s guidelines, giving parents more stability in managing their budgets.
Books and Uniforms: Mandatory or Optional?
Another common concern for parents is whether book and uniform fees are mandatory:
- Book Fees:
- Mandatory: Some schools require parents to purchase books directly from the school.
- Optional: Parents may have the option to purchase books from third-party vendors if available.
- Included in Tuition: Some schools bundle the cost of books into the tuition fees, removing the need for separate charges.
- Uniforms: Uniforms are generally mandatory, but some schools allow parents to purchase them from third-party vendors.
How to Access the School Fees Fact Sheet
Parents can easily find the School Fees Fact Sheet for their child’s school by:
- Visiting the KHDA Directory: web.khda.gov.ae/en/Education-Directory/Schools
- Clicking on the school name to access its listing.
- Locating the ‘Fees Sheet’ button on the right side of the page to view the full fact sheet.
Additional Details on Schools
In addition to the School Fees Fact Sheet, the KHDA Directory provides comprehensive information about each school, such as:
- Contact details
- Location
- Student-teacher ratio
- Principal’s name
- Curriculum offered
- KHDA inspection ratings
- Gender and nationality demographics
- Teacher turnover rates
This information helps parents make informed decisions when choosing the right school for their children.
