Dubai announces pause on some private school inspections

No inspections will be carried out in some private schools in Dubai during the 2025-26 academic year, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) announced.

The decision is part of an evolving approach to supporting quality education in the emirate.

In a statement, the KHDA said the move will apply to all private schools, except those in their third year of operation, who will be subject to a full inspection.

KHDA will continue to monitor school performance through targeted visits focused on specific areas related to educational quality and ongoing development. These visits will be informed by feedback from the school community and aligned with the Education 33 strategy’s priorities.

All schools are expected to continue administering external benchmark assessments to ensure students’ academic progress is consistently measured and reported. Schools will also be required to provide regular updates through their self-evaluation forms (SEF).

“The suspension of inspections next year will allow for greater collaboration and reflection on how we define and support quality in education," explained Fatma Ibrahim Belrehif, CEO of the Education Quality Assurance and Compliance Agency at KHDA.

"Through targeted visits and ongoing engagement with schools, we will ensure that every child in Dubai continues to receive a high quality education that aligns with the goals of our leadership and the Education 33 strategy."

This is the second year that private school inspections have been stopped in Dubai.