Dubai unveils bold plan to cut school fees and make education more affordable for families

In response to growing public concern over the rising cost of private education in Dubai , the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) has unveiled a new strategy aimed at reducing tuition fees and making quality education more accessible. Announced at a high-level leadership forum, the strategy proposes targeted incentives for socially-driven investors, government-backed support, and reforms in cost structures — all designed to balance affordability with excellence across the emirate’s expanding education sector.

A response to growing public pressure
The initiative was formally announced by Aisha Abdulla Miran, Director General of KHDA, during the Mohammed bin Rashid Leadership Forum 2025 at the Dubai World Trade Centre. Addressing an audience of decision-makers and stakeholders, Miran acknowledged the persistent and growing concerns voiced by families, particularly on social media, over the escalating cost of education.

“Education is not mentioned without mentioning the high cost of schools,” she said, adding that she had personally received messages, including one from a foreign parent who said she had spent Dh1 million on her children’s schooling in Dubai.

This sentiment, Miran explained, directly shaped KHDA’s new educational strategy, which focuses on delivering good education at reasonable prices, and aims to restructure the economics of school development and operations.

Socially-driven investment and government incentives
Central to KHDA’s plan is a proposed policy, currently being prepared for presentation to the Dubai Executive Council — that will encourage investment from entities whose primary motives are social impact rather than profitability.

“We are working on a policy that will be presented to the Executive Council, the essence of which is to create incentives for a certain type of investors whose main goal is not profitability but other social objectives,” Miran explained.

To support such investors, the strategy proposes several key government incentives:

• Subsidised land rents
  
• Reduced land prices
  
• Operational cost reductions through better urban planning
  
• Support for teacher housing and staff welfare
  
  

This shift in focus is expected to attract a new class of educational operators to Dubai — those willing to offer high-quality education without charging premium fees, enabled by reduced overheads and access to state-backed infrastructure support.

Building a sustainable, affordable education ecosystem
KHDA’s new approach goes beyond individual school fees. It calls for a holistic ecosystem that addresses multiple cost-driving factors in the education sector, from land and infrastructure to teacher housing and operational sustainability.

Miran noted that urban planning would play a significant role in this transformation:

“Linking urban planning with land distribution and with it the requirements in terms of school components, as well as investment costs in the sector and operational costs and educational staff by providing housing at reasonable prices — this is an aspect we are working on.”

The KHDA will also review cost structures across private schools to determine where operational or managerial changes can be made to bring down expenses without compromising quality. Subsidised teacher housing is also being explored as a way to retain high-calibre staff without inflating school budgets.

“We aim through these initiatives to continue to reduce the cost of education and maintain high quality at the same time — to make Dubai a destination in the education sector on both regional and global levels,” said Miran.

Ambitious goals for growth and global appeal

The affordability initiative is one part of Dubai’s broader Education 33 Strategy, under which the emirate aims to open at least 100 new private schools by 2033. Fifteen have already launched in the past two years, and over 20 more applications are currently under review by KHDA.

The emirate now has:

• 227 private schools
  
• 387,441 enrolled students
  
• Students from 185 nationalities
  
• 12% increase in enrolment for 2023–202
  
• Projected 6% increase in the following year
  
  

The overarching aim, according to Miran, is for Dubai to become a global education hub. This includes not just expanding the number of schools, but attracting international students and world-class educational programs.

“We work with some entities in terms of providing housing at reasonable prices and health insurance because it affects competitiveness in attracting international students,” she explained. “Our ambition is to attract 50 per cent of international students in the region.”

While the goal is lofty, Miran emphasized that success would depend on cross-sector collaboration:

“There are plans that need solidarity and integration from different entities.”

Current fees and regulation
According to The National, private school tuition in Dubai remains among the highest in the region. Fees can exceed Dh100,000 per year for high school students at top-tier institutions. For example:

• Kings’ School Al Barsha: Dh57,999 (FS1), Dh105,873 (Year 13)
  
• Brighton College Abu Dhabi: Dh50,830 (Nursery), Dh80,780 (Year 13)
  
  

In May 2025, KHDA approved a tuition fee increase of up to 2.35% for the 2025–2026 academic year, based on its education cost index, which factors in staff wages, support services, and rental expenses. However, only schools operating for more than three years are eligible for this adjustment, and all applications undergo KHDA review.