In a major policy update, Dubai's Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) has announced that full inspections will be suspended for most private schools in Dubai during the 2025–26 academic year. The change is part of a broader effort to support quality education through more collaborative and reflective approaches.
According to KHDA, only private schools in their third year of operation will undergo a full inspection next year. All others will instead be monitored through targeted visits, focusing on key areas of educational quality and development, guided by community feedback and aligned with the goals of Dubai’s Education 33 strategy.
Schools will still be required to administer external benchmark assessments to track and report student progress as well as submit regular updates via their self-evaluation forms.
Fatma Ibrahim Belrehif, CEO of the Education Quality Assurance and Compliance Agency at KHDA said, "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”.