1 October 2026
Dubai’s private schools started the 2026-27 academic year with 406,563 students, up 4.6% from approximately 388,731 in June 2026, according to figures that the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) shared at its Media Majlis, reported on 1 October 2026. Twenty-six new private education institutions opened this academic year: 17 early childhood centres, seven schools and two international universities. The seven new schools added nearly 17,000 seats, the new early childhood centres more than 1,700, and KHDA expects around 18,000 additional affordable seats over the next two academic years.
What KHDA reported for the 2026-27 academic year
The enrolment figure compares the start of the new academic year with the end of the previous one. Between June 2026 and the start of 2026-27, the number of students in Dubai private schools grew by roughly 17,800, from about 388,731 to 406,563. Over the past two academic years, 51 new private educational institutions have opened in the emirate, 26 of them this year.
KHDA also gave a longer view. Over the past three academic years, Dubai’s private education sector, covering early childhood education, schools and higher education, has grown by 4.6% a year. Eleven new higher education institutions opened over the same three years, and university enrolment rose by 29%.
| Indicator | Figure |
|---|---|
| Students in Dubai private schools, start of 2026-27 | 406,563 |
| Students in Dubai private schools, June 2026 | about 388,731 |
| Change since June 2026 | +4.6% |
| New private education institutions in 2026-27 | 26: 17 early childhood centres, 7 schools, 2 universities |
| Seats added by the new schools | nearly 17,000 |
| Seats added by the new early childhood centres | more than 1,700 |
| New private institutions over the past two academic years | 51 |
| Additional affordable seats expected | about 18,000 over the next two academic years |
| Annual sector growth, past three academic years | 4.6% |
| New higher education institutions, past three years | 11, with enrolment up 29% |
18,000 affordable seats over two academic years
Expanding access to affordable education is one of the priorities KHDA set for 2026-27, and the 18,000 seats are the figure attached to it: they are expected to be added over the next two academic years. The announcement does not name the schools that will provide these seats, the fee level KHDA treats as affordable, or how the seats are split between the two years. Families and employers who plan around this capacity should therefore wait for the school by school details rather than count on a specific opening.
The seats come in a year when fees are fixed. In May 2026 KHDA announced that, under the directives of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, private school fees in Dubai are frozen for the 2026-27 academic year, so the growth in enrolment is happening without a fee increase in the current year.
Where the new capacity comes from
The 26 institutions that opened this academic year fall into three groups. Seventeen are private early childhood centres, which together add more than 1,700 places. Seven are schools, adding nearly 17,000 seats. Two are international higher education institutions: the Dubai campus of the American University of Beirut opened in September 2026, and Peking University HSBC Business School will launch its MBA and EMBA programmes, ranked 47th globally in the QS rankings, in January 2027.
When KHDA first announced the 26 openings in August, we covered the list of new schools and their curricula in a separate article: Dubai to open 26 new private education institutions in 2026-27. The new data shows how many students actually arrived at the start of the year.
KHDA priorities for 2026-27
KHDA outlined its plans at the Media Majlis, which brought together the authority’s leadership and media representatives to discuss the implementation of the Education 33 (E33) Strategy. The priorities for the year are:
- raising the performance of schools with high concentrations of Emirati students;
- strengthening cultural identity and the Arabic language;
- enhancing student wellbeing and protection;
- empowering parents;
- expanding affordable education options;
- developing Emirati talent across the education sector.
KHDA will also continue to attract international universities and international students, support research and innovation, strengthen AI literacy, financial literacy and future skills, and expand career readiness programmes. The City of Students initiative will keep developing programmes for higher education students in Dubai.
Two changes affect schools directly. Quality assurance visits to private schools resume during the current academic year. The second cohort of the Dubai Students Council will be formed, and the first Dubai Parents Council and the first Dubai Educators Council will be launched, giving students, parents and teachers a platform to contribute to the development of the sector.
In the two years since E33 was adopted, KHDA has introduced more than 20 game changer initiatives and developed 28 policies, guidelines and regulatory frameworks. It has also held more than 20 parent awareness sessions that reached over 5,000 parents. “Dubai’s Education 33 Strategy is the compass that guides our work and sets out where we want Dubai’s education ecosystem to be by 2033,” said Aisha Miran, Director General of KHDA. “Two years since its adoption, we have made important progress, but our ambition extends further.”
Miran also noted that Dubai’s private schools ranked among the world’s top 10 education systems in all PISA 2025 assessment domains, and that Emirati students improved by 31 points in mathematics, 30 points in science and 18 points in reading. The detailed results are in our article on Dubai private schools in the PISA 2025 top 10.
What it means for companies and families moving to Dubai
For a family relocating to Dubai, the school place is often the step that sets the moving date. The enrolment data shows that demand keeps growing: about 17,800 more students in private schools between June and the start of the new year. Dubai’s population reached 4.58 million in 2025, and 80% of residents are aged 20 to 59, as we described in our article on Dubai’s population by age.
A practical checklist for founders, employers and relocating families:
- Check seat availability for the right year group with the shortlisted schools before fixing the move date and the start date of the job.
- Budget school fees at the current level: fees in Dubai private schools are frozen for 2026-27.
- Plan the children’s residence visas alongside the school application: a dependent visa is sponsored by a parent who holds UAE residence, so the parent’s own visa comes first.
- For employers hiring from abroad, include schooling in the relocation plan and in the package discussion, not after the offer.
- For education businesses, check the activity and the approvals needed before registration: private schools and early childhood centres in Dubai are regulated by KHDA.
How Atlant Capital can help
We work with founders and families who move their business and life to the UAE. Our company setup service covers the choice of jurisdiction and activity, including businesses that work in or around education, and the step by step procedure is described in our UAE company formation guide. Through our work visa and residency service we arrange investor and employee visas and dependent visas for spouses and children, so that the family’s documents are ready when the school place is confirmed. The visa options and documents are explained in the UAE residency visa guide.
Conclusion
Dubai’s private schools began 2026-27 with 406,563 students, 4.6% more than in June 2026, after 26 new institutions opened this year and 51 over two years. The next step is affordable capacity: about 18,000 seats over the next two academic years, with the list of schools still to be published. For families and employers, the practical takeaway is to plan the school place together with the visa and the moving date.
Source: Gulf News, Emirates 24/7.
FAQ
How many students are enrolled in Dubai private schools in 2026-27?
According to KHDA, 406,563 students were enrolled in Dubai private schools at the start of the 2026-27 academic year. In June 2026 the figure was approximately 388,731, so enrolment grew by 4.6%, or roughly 17,800 students, over the summer.
How many new schools opened in Dubai for 2026-27?
Twenty-six new private education institutions opened in Dubai for 2026-27: 17 early childhood centres, seven schools and two international universities. The seven schools added nearly 17,000 seats and the early childhood centres more than 1,700. Over the past two academic years, 51 new private institutions have opened.
How many affordable school seats will Dubai add?
KHDA expects about 18,000 additional affordable seats in Dubai private education over the next two academic years. Expanding affordable options is one of its priorities for 2026-27. The announcement does not name the schools or the fee level that counts as affordable.
Are private school fees in Dubai increasing in 2026-27?
No. In May 2026 KHDA announced that private school fees in Dubai are frozen for the 2026-27 academic year under the directives of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The freeze applies to the current academic year.
