When parents compare private schools in Dubai, the KHDA rating is usually the first thing they look up. It is a useful signal, but it says more about some things than others, and the inspection system itself has just changed. This guide explains what the ratings mean, what changed in 2025-26 and 2026-27, and how to use a rating when choosing a school.
What the KHDA is
The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) regulates private education in Dubai. Its school inspections, carried out against the UAE School Inspection Framework, give each private school an overall rating that is published for parents.
The six ratings
| Rating | What it signals |
|---|---|
| Outstanding | Consistently high quality across almost every area inspected |
| Very good | High quality, with a few areas still developing |
| Good | The expected standard for a Dubai private school |
| Acceptable | The minimum expected level; meets basic requirements |
| Weak | Significant improvement needed |
| Very weak | Serious concerns about quality |
Inspectors look at areas such as students' achievement, personal development, teaching and assessment, the curriculum, protection and support of students, and leadership.
What changed recently
| Year | What happened |
|---|---|
| 2025-26 | KHDA paused full inspections for most private schools; new schools in their third year were still inspected, and existing ratings stayed in place |
| 2026-27 | Inspections returned, with no more than 24 hours' notice. Each school receives either a comprehensive visit, which issues a new published rating, or a shorter monitoring visit, which produces a report but keeps the existing rating |
So a rating you see today may come from an inspection two or more years ago. Check the date of the report, not only the headline grade.
What a rating does and does not tell you
A rating is a summary of the whole school. It does not tell you how strong a particular department is, how a school supports a child like yours, or how it handles the curriculum route your child will follow at IGCSE, A Level or IB. Two schools with the same rating can feel very different. Read the full inspection report, which is free on the KHDA website, for the detail behind the grade, especially the sections on achievement in the subjects and phases that matter to you.
How to use ratings when choosing a school
- Shortlist on location, curriculum and fees first, then use ratings to compare the schools left.
- Read the full report, not just the rating, and note when the inspection took place.
- Look at the phase your child is joining: a school can be stronger in primary than secondary, or the other way round.
- Visit, ask how the school supports students at your child's level, and ask about exam results by subject.
- Weigh fit over a single grade: the right school for your child may not be the highest rated one nearby.
Common questions
What are the KHDA ratings?
Outstanding, Very good, Good, Acceptable, Weak and Very weak, from highest to lowest.
Were Dubai schools inspected in 2025-26?
Mostly not. KHDA paused full inspections for 2025-26, apart from new schools in their third year, so most schools kept their previous ratings.
How do KHDA inspections work now?
Since 2026-27, schools get no more than 24 hours' notice. A comprehensive visit issues a new rating; a monitoring visit produces a report without changing the rating.
Where can I find a school's KHDA rating?
On the KHDA website and app, which publish each private school's rating and full inspection report.
Do KHDA ratings affect school fees?
Historically, the fee increase a school could apply for was linked to its rating. When inspections were paused for 2025-26, all schools could apply for the same Education Cost Index increase. Check KHDA's current fee guidance for the year you are applying.
Choosing a school for IGCSE, A Level or the IB? Our guides to choosing the right school for IGCSE and A Levels vs IBDP go further, and our counsellors can help you weigh the options.
Official source: KHDA. Ratings, inspection arrangements and fee rules can change each year; check KHDA for current details.