Private schools in Dubai get green light to hike fees: Private schools in Dubai will be able to raise their tuition fees by up to 5.2% for the 2024-25 academic year, after the emirate’s education regulator, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) set the Education Cost Index (ECI) at 2.6%, according to a statement. KHDA has greenlit the tuition fee increases for the second consecutive year after they were frozen for the three preceding academic years due to the covid-19 pandemic.

How the rules work: Each school will be allowed to raise their fees at different increments depending on their last inspection rating. While the ECI was set at 2.6%, some schools will be eligible for price hikes equivalent to double the ECI. Private schools that received downgraded ratings will not be eligible for the fee increases. Schools will be required to secure approval for tuition fee increases from KHDA.

The increases are as follows:

  • Schools whose rating was upgraded to “acceptable” or “good” from “weak” are eligible for a 5.2% tuition fee hike (equivalent to double the ECI);
  • Schools whose rating moved to “very good” from “good” will be eligible to raise fees by 1.75x the ECI, allowing them a fee increase of up to 4.55%; and
  • Schools moving up to “outstanding” ratings from “very good” will be eligible to increase their fees by 3.9% (equivalent to 1.5x the ECI);
  • Schools maintaining their ratings from last year will be eligible for a 2.6% fee increase.

DATA POINT- During the past academic year, private school enrollment climbed 12% y-o-y with more than 365k students attending 220 private schools in Dubai. Over 77% of students in the emirate were enrolled in schools rated “good” or above.

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