The Knowledge and Human Development Authority in Dubai confirmed the freedom of new private schools in the emirate to determine the ranges of their tuition fees before starting operation, in line with their academic plan, explaining that these schools do not have the possibility of amending their fees until after two years of operation, provided that they pass the evaluation levels that it specified. Body.
An analytical reading by Emirates Today, based on data from private schools in Dubai, revealed a large disparity in tuition fees, whether for old, existing schools or new schools, based on three categories: low, medium and high, starting from about 10 thousand dirhams for low, and ranging The average price ranges between 20 thousand and 30 thousand dirhams, while the high price range reaches about 136 thousand dirhams.
An educational expert confirmed that the approval of fees in various schools is based on criteria, including the type of curriculum, the experience of teachers and educational staff, training programs, operational costs, evaluations, buildings, laboratories, arenas and playgrounds, the quality of extracurricular activities, and the services provided to students, whether educational or otherwise.
In detail, the Director of the Permitting Department at the Knowledge and Human Development Authority in Dubai, Shamma Al Mansouri, said in special statements to Emirates Today: “The new school does not have the right to request an amendment to its fees during the first two years from the start of operation, and those that have completed three years from the date of operation must adhere to the procedures.” “The framework applied to all private schools is based on the framework for controlling school fees in Dubai, approved by the Executive Council of the Emirate of Dubai, which requires the existing evaluation from the Authority.”
She added: “The framework determines the fees adjustment rates for each private school in Dubai, according to a scientific mechanism based on the cost and quality index of education, and every parent can view the school fees at his children’s school through the school and parent contract, or the approved school fees card for each school, or Smart communication channels provided by the Authority.
She stressed that Dubai is distinguished by offering diverse educational options within varying ranges of school fees, including three categories: low, medium and high, as all of them meet the needs and aspirations of all parents.
In an analytical review of Emirates Today, data on private schools in Dubai revealed the presence of 227 schools, offering 17 diverse educational curricula, accommodating more than 387 thousand students, both male and female, and targeting different segments of society, which reflects the wide diversity of educational options available to families in The emirate.
School fees in Dubai are a reflection of a group of factors that affect their quality and services. The economic category includes schools with low fees, less than 10 thousand dirhams annually, and providing basic services with a focus on academic education, such as Al Hilal English School and the National Charitable School.
While the middle category includes schools whose fees range between 10,000 and 30,000 dirhams annually, and combine good quality with appropriate facilities, such as “Delhi” and “Shorouk” private schools.
As for the category with high fees, which exceed 50 thousand dirhams annually, it offers comprehensive services and luxurious facilities that include modern laboratories, advanced sports facilities, and various extracurricular activities that meet the aspirations of families seeking distinguished education, such as the “American School” in Dubai and “North London Collegiate School.” .
The fees for this category of schools vary, with the average fees for schools that follow the British, American, and baccalaureate curricula being between 40,000 and 90,000 dirhams, while schools such as North London Collegiate School record the highest fees at 136,825 dirhams annually.
In contrast, schools that adopt Indian and Arabic curricula provide more economical options, with average fees ranging between 5,000 and 25,000 dirhams annually, such as “New Indian Schools” and “GEMS Modern Indian Schools.”
The geographical distribution of schools clearly reflects this diversity, as schools with high fees are concentrated in upscale areas such as Jumeirah and Al Barsha, while schools with medium and low fees are spread in more diverse areas in Dubai, providing educational options that suit different economic levels.
Educational expert, Dr. Wafi Al-Hajj, said: “The difference in fees between private schools in Dubai is due to various factors, including the quality of education, as the schools with the highest fees adopt advanced international curricula such as the International Baccalaureate, while schools with medium fees offer moderate curricula such as Hindi and Arabic, while the lowest fees adopt Fees for local curricula focusing on basic education.
He stated that facilities represent a crucial element, and pointed out that the schools with the highest fees have luxurious equipment, such as advanced laboratories and large playgrounds, while the average fees offer good and less expensive equipment, and the lowest fees rely on simple equipment.
He added: “Geographic location plays an important role, as the most expensive schools are concentrated in upscale areas, while other schools are located in areas that meet the needs of different social segments. The quality of teachers also varies, as the schools with the highest fees employ international expertise, while the middle schools and the lowest fees depend on cadres.” Qualified regionally or locally.
He said: “In terms of extracurricular activities, the highest-fee schools offer various programs, including arts, sports, and excursions, while activities in other schools are limited to the basics. As for class sizes, the highest-fee schools provide small classes with a low ratio of students per teacher, while the schools rely on Less expensive schools have larger classes.
He added: “Branding also has an impact, as the most expensive schools are linked to global educational networks, while other schools rely on local networks or operate independently. Funding is also an additional factor, as the schools with the highest fees depend entirely on tuition fees, while the lowest ones benefit.” Sometimes the cost comes from government or charitable support.”
Finally, supply and demand influence fees, with the most expensive schools focusing on areas with high demand for quality education, while other schools serve families in areas with less demand.
Regarding the standards for approving fees, Al-Hajj stated that private school fees in Dubai are based on about eight precise criteria, which include the type of curriculum, the experience of teachers and educational staff, training programs, operational costs, evaluations, buildings, laboratories, arenas and playgrounds, the quality of extracurricular activities, and the services provided to students whether Educational or other, in order to achieve a balance between the quality of education and the financial capacity of families, while ensuring the provision of diverse educational services that meet all needs.
He pointed out that schools that offer international curricula, such as the International Baccalaureate or the British, charge higher fees due to the costs of accrediting these curricula, stressing that fees are also affected by the experience and qualifications of teachers, as the schools with the highest fees rely on educational staff with international experience and ongoing training programmes, while Recruitment costs are lower in schools with medium or low fees.
He explained that schools that offer comprehensive extracurricular activities and international programmes, along with small classes and a low student-teacher ratio, tend to charge higher fees to ensure quality individual education.
Al-Hajj said: “Operational costs, such as maintaining facilities and using modern technology, play a role in determining fees, adding that the periodic evaluations conducted by the authority ensure the transparency of fees and link them to the quality of services provided.”
. Private school fees start at about 10,000 dirhams for “low” schools, and for “medium” schools from 20,000 to 30,000, and reach about 136 thousand dirhams for high schools.