KHDA has clarified how much Dubai schools can charge, when deposits must be refunded, and the deadlines parents need to follow.
Dubai schools will reopen on August 31 for the 2026-27 academic year, making school fees and registration payments a key concern for parents. The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) has clarified how much private schools in Dubai can charge, when deposits must be refunded and the deadlines parents must follow.
The rules cover application fees, registration and re-registration deposits, tuition refunds, mandatory services and school closures.
Application Fees Can Be Up to Dh500
Dubai schools can charge a maximum application fee of Dh500.
The fee must be refunded if a child is not offered a place after the assessment. Parents are also entitled to a refund if the school failed to disclose that no place was available or that the child would be placed on a waiting list before the payment was made.
However, the application fee is not refundable if a school offers a place and the parent chooses not to accept it. Any non-refundable application fee cannot later be deducted from tuition fees.
Registration Deposit Capped at 10%
Schools can collect a registration deposit of up to 10% of the annual tuition fee, but it cannot be treated as an additional charge. The amount must be deducted from the child’s tuition fees after enrolment.
Parents can be asked to pay this deposit only after receiving and accepting a formal offer. The deposit can also be refunded when the parent provides the required 60 days’ notice.
Re-Registration Deposit Limited to 5%
For existing students, schools can charge a re-registration deposit of up to 5% of annual tuition fees or Dh500, whichever is lower.
This is the only payment that can be used to secure a child’s place for the following academic year. It must subsequently be deducted from the next year’s tuition fees.
For September-start schools, the payment cannot be collected before May 1. For April-start schools, it cannot be collected before February 1.
If a school fails to request the deposit within the permitted period, it cannot demand the payment later.
Two Deadlines Parents Should Remember
The KHDA rules include two important deadlines.
60 days: Parents must provide written notice at least 60 calendar days before the child’s start date to receive the registration deposit in full. The same notice period applies to re-registration deposits for the following academic year.
10 days: If a KHDA-approved fee increase is announced after parents have paid, they have 10 calendar days to withdraw their child and receive a full refund of any applicable deposits or fees.
How Dubai School Fee Refunds Work
Refunds are calculated from the date the school receives the parent’s formal written withdrawal request. The child’s final day of attendance does not determine the refund, and requests cannot be backdated.
Simply stopping attendance does not end the parent’s fee liability while the child remains enrolled.
If the academic year has already started, the amount the school can retain depends on the child’s attendance:
- Two weeks or less: Up to one month’s fees may be charged.
- More than two weeks but up to one month: Up to two months’ fees may be charged.
- More than one month: No refund is due, and the full term’s fees are charged.
If a child withdraws before the academic year begins, fees are generally refundable. However, the registration deposit may be retained if the required 60 days’ notice was not provided.
What Happens if a Dubai School Closes?
If a school cannot provide education due to a suspension or government-mandated closure, parents must be compensated for the period during which education is unavailable.
The school can provide this through a credit note valid for six months, a transferable credit for a sibling at the same school, or a full refund.
However, fees remain payable if education continues through KHDA-approved distance learning or another approved arrangement. Parents cannot claim a fee reduction simply because they choose not to use the available service.
Books, Transport and Other Charges
Mandatory service fees paid before the academic year begins are refundable.
Optional services, including school transport, activities and trips, are subject to the terms agreed in writing when the service was purchased.
Book fees are refundable only when a child leaves before the academic year begins.
What Parents Should Check Before Paying
The KHDA rules give parents clearer boundaries around Dubai school fees, deposits and refunds. Before making a payment, parents should check the school’s written fee policy, the type of payment being requested, applicable refund conditions and the relevant withdrawal deadline.
The key figures to remember are Dh500 for application fees, 10% for registration deposits, 5% or Dh500 for re-registration deposits, 60 days for withdrawal notice and 10 days for responding to an approved fee increase.
Source: Gulf News
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The KHDA policy sets limits on application fees, registration deposits and re-registration payments, as well as rules on refunds.
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