In a development that will affect thousands of families, Dubai’s Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) has set for-profit private schools’ Education Cost Index (ECI) for the 2025-2026 academic year at 2.35%.
The decision follows private schools’ financial statement audits conducted alongside the Digital Dubai Authority due to the yearly Digital Dubai Partnership. This increase allows schools to adjust tuition required to cover expenditures like staffing, schooling resources, and operations.
The 2.35% figure is the maximum increase in fee cap for nominated schools; and is aligned with the school’s rating by KHDA. Such rated schools include those which manage to award “Outstanding” or “Very Good” ratings.
In as much as this increase gives schools the leeway needed ensuring continued provision of quality education, which is welcoming, it also helps parents have manageable expenses.
KHDA’s approach eliminates overshadowing of one goal by the other intending to control exorbitant education fees by allowing expansion of private schools while ensuring demand and quality of education are checked.