Dubai’s Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) has announced that private school tuition fees in the emirate will not increase for the 2026-2027 academic year. This decision is expected to alleviate financial pressure on families, including the Iranian community residing in Dubai, ahead of the new academic term.

The move follows the approval of Dubai’s second economic incentive package by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council. This package is valued at AED 1.5 billion, bringing the total value of recent economic support measures to AED 2.5 billion when combined with the previous AED 1 billion package.

According to reports by Khaleej Times, the KHDA confirmed that private schools in Dubai are prohibited from raising tuition fees for the upcoming academic year. This decision is part of a broader range of support measures targeting the education sector and early childhood centers across the emirate.

Under the new stimulus package, private educational institutions licensed by the KHDA can defer or pay license renewal fees in installments and benefit from the deferral of fines. Additionally, early childhood centers licensed by the KHDA have been exempted from license renewal fees, fines, and certain Dubai Municipality charges.

The Dubai Government Media Office stated that the package comprises 33 support initiatives to be implemented over a period of three to 12 months. These incentives span various sectors, including education, tourism, trade, logistics, real estate, construction, and cultural and artistic activities.

For families with children enrolled in private schools, the tuition freeze is particularly significant as education costs represent a major fixed expense for households in Dubai. The decision will also aid the financial planning of Iranian expatriates in the UAE, many of whom have children attending private schools in the emirate.