Dubai schools' new KHDA ratings: What parents need to know

In Dubai, any fee increase a school seeks to implement is linked to its latest KHDA rating, with higher-rated schools generally allowed to request larger hikes

- Nandini Sircar

Citizens School

Dubai's education regulator has announced the first round of inspection ratings for four of the city's newest private schools offering parents a rare glimpse of how the newest education facilities are performing, even as full school inspections in Dubai remain suspended for most institutions until 2026.

The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) confirmed that only schools that opened in 2022 were eligible for full reviews this academic year. In June 2024, the KHDA paused full inspections to give schools more room to reflect, innovate and strengthen internal practices. That halt has now been extended for another year.

As per the policy, these inspection ratings are directly related to how much a Dubai school can increase its fees. For example, schools with better ratings may be allowed higher percentage increases compared with those rated weaker. Here's a look at the four schools and how they fared in their first KHDA inspections:

• Bloom World Academy—'Good' rating

Among the four newly reviewed schools, Bloom World Academy (BWA) stood out with a 'Good' overall rating a notable debut in KHDA standards, where it is not so common for a school to enter the system above this level.

Inspectors highlighted several "Very Good" features across the school, particularly its personalised learning model, noting that its curriculum adaptation is also "Very Good". Additionally, teaching quality was rated "Good" throughout the school, while student progress in English, especially in the middle and senior years, reached "Very Good".

Parents at BWA have long spoken about the school's pastoral culture, and KHDA's report affirmed this, giving high marks for health, safety and student support. Inspectors also praised leadership and community engagement. Students demonstrated "a strong sense of environmental responsibility, both locally and globally."