No inspections in Dubai's private schools in 2025-26 academic year, says KHDA

Dubai: No inspections will be conducted for Dubai private schools during the 2025-26 academic year, Dubai’s Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) has announced.

The decision – part of an evolving approach to supporting quality education in the emirate – applies to all private schools, except for those in their third year of operation, who will be subject to a full inspection.

Targeted visits

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.

Fatma Ibrahim Belrehif, CEO of the Education Quality Assurance and Compliance Agency at KHDA, noted that Dubai’s private schools have consistently demonstrated resilience, innovation, and a deep commitment to students’ learning and wellbeing.
“The suspension of inspections next year will allow for greater collaboration and reflection on how we define and support quality in education."

“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,” Belrehif said.

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 KHDA noted.