Dubai schools: how to read KHDA ratings

This article is for parents looking at private schools in Dubai. School brochures often mention a "KHDA rating". Here is what it is and how far it can take you.

KHDA ratings have six levels

Dubai private schools are inspected by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) and rated on this scale, according to official material:

1. Outstanding
2. Very Good
3. Good
4. Acceptable
5. Weak
6. Very Weak

"Acceptable" sounds fine, but it is only the fourth level from the top. Check where a school sits on the full scale.

How to read the overall statistics

KHDA's figures for 2023-24 say 209 private schools were inspected. 81% of Dubai students attended schools rated Good or better, up from 77% the year before.

These numbers describe Dubai as a whole. They do not tell you whether a particular school suits your child. They also refer to the 2023-24 school year. Check a school's latest rating and inspection year directly with KHDA. As an example from elsewhere, the Texas Education Agency also tells parents to note the year of a rating. The habit is useful in Dubai too.

Ratings are linked to fees

Under KHDA's School Fees Framework, Dubai private schools need approval to raise fees. Permitted increases are linked to inspection ratings and the Education Cost Index. Fees are paid in instalments by term.

This matters in two ways. A fee increase is not simply the school's own decision. And it is reasonable to ask about likely future increases, not only this year's fee. The permitted range may change from year to year, so read KHDA's School Fees Framework together with the school's own information.

UK BSO accreditation is a separate scheme

Schools that offer a British curriculum sometimes mention "BSO accreditation". British Schools Overseas (BSO) is the UK Department for Education's voluntary accreditation for schools abroad. Schools must meet BSO standards comparable to England's independent school standards and be inspected every three years by an approved inspectorate (Education Development Trust or ISI). Dubai schools request these inspections through KHDA.

The latest reports are on the GOV.UK guidance page and on the inspectorates' sites. The DfE has no jurisdiction over overseas schools, so complaints go to the school directly. A KHDA rating and a BSO report come from different schemes, so read each on its own terms.

Look beyond tuition

A rating and a tuition figure do not give you the total cost. Hong Kong's Education Bureau publishes international school profiles that list annual tuition and separate "other charges"; one school lists a capital levy and optional debentures. International school costs can include admission-related fees, facility levies and debentures, and whether they are refundable varies by school. Ask any Dubai school the same questions.

Be careful with currency conversion too. The European Central Bank says its reference rates are published for information purposes only and strongly discourages using them for transactions. Use such a rate only as a starting point for comparison. An actual transfer uses your bank's or provider's rate plus fees. No one can say for certain how exchange rates will move.

Checklist

• I have checked where each shortlisted school sits on the six-level KHDA scale.
• I have noted the year each rating was given.
• I am keeping the overall statistic (81%) separate from a school's own rating.
• For British-curriculum schools, I have checked whether a recent BSO report exists.
• I know that fee increases depend on approval and on ratings.
• I have listed any admission-related fees, facility levies or debentures beyond tuition.
• I treat currency conversions as a rough guide and will check the transfer rate and fees separately.

Ask the school

• What is your latest KHDA rating, and in which year was the inspection?
• How much are the fees per term, how are they paid, and what do you say about future increases?
• Are there charges beyond tuition, such as admission-related fees, facility levies or debentures? If so, are they refundable and on what terms?
• Can you give me the full fee schedule and refund terms in writing?
• If you hold BSO accreditation, where can I read your latest inspection report?

Rating systems and fee rules can change and differ by school. Confirm the final details with KHDA and the school directly.