KHDA’s pause on inspections for private schools aims to enhance collaboration and support quality education in Dubai.
Dubai’s Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) has announced a significant change in its school inspection process for the 2025-26 academic year. In a move designed to enhance the quality of education and foster collaboration, KHDA will pause full inspections for most private schools in the emirate.
KHDA’s New Approach to School Inspections
The decision, which was shared on Friday, May 16, applies to all private schools in Dubai except those that are in their third year of operation. These schools will still undergo a full inspection to assess their performance. KHDA, however, will continue monitoring school performance through targeted visits that focus on specific areas of educational quality and development. 
How KHDA Plans to Monitor School Performance
The targeted visits will be aligned with the Education 33 strategy, focusing on key priorities such as innovation, resilience, and mental well-being. These visits will be informed by feedback from school communities to ensure a comprehensive understanding of each school’s needs and progress. The new inspection model reflects KHDA’s commitment to ensuring that every child in Dubai receives the highest quality of education.
Enhancing Collaboration for Better Quality Education
KHDA’s move to pause full inspections aims to promote a more collaborative environment for both schools and regulatory bodies. The authority believes that this pause will provide schools with the time and space they need to reflect on their educational practices and continue innovating for student success.
Fatma Ibrahim Belrehif, CEO of the Education Quality Assurance and Compliance Agency at KHDA, stated that this new approach will allow for greater reflection on how to define and support quality in education.
“Dubai’s private schools have shown consistent resilience and commitment to student learning,” said Belrehif. “This decision will allow schools to focus on ongoing development while ensuring that the educational system continues to meet high standards.”
What Does This Mean for Dubai’s Private Schools?
For private schools in Dubai, this announcement brings both a challenge and an opportunity. While they will not be subject to full inspections, the targeted visits and continuous monitoring will ensure that they maintain high educational standards. Schools will also have the chance to focus on long-term strategies for student success without the pressure of a comprehensive inspection.
This pause also opens up opportunities for more engagement and collaboration between schools, the KHDA, and the school community to focus on innovation and educational quality.
