How Much Does School Cost in Dubai in 2026?

Dubai school fees can vary several-fold even for children of the same age. A citywide average therefore tells parents less than the actual fee for the child's grade, curriculum and complete School Fees Fact Sheet.

KHDA froze private-school tuition fee increases for the 2026/27 academic year. That does not mean tuition is the family's full education budget: transport, uniforms, books, registration and other services can be charged separately.

Dubai school fee examples

These examples show a market ranging from roughly AED 8,000–15,000 at the lower end to AED 80,000–90,000 and above in the premium segment.

Why tuition is not the full cost

Depending on the school, families may also pay for:

• application and assessment fees;
• registration or enrolment deposits;
• uniforms;
• books and stationery;
• laptops or tablets;
• school transport;
• meals;
• trips;
• extracurricular activities;
• additional educational support.

A real example

Russian International School lists Grade 1 tuition at AED 21,372. In its published KHDA School Fees Fact Sheet, mandatory books, uniform, activities and examination charges brought the total mandatory fee to AED 24,685.

Transport was listed separately at approximately AED 10,230–17,830 per year.

Premium-segment example

American School of Dubai lists the following for 2026/27:

• K1 tuition — AED 64,092;
• Grades 1–12 tuition — AED 89,319;
• annual facility fee of AED 12,984 for K2–Grade 12 non-corporate seat holders;
• a one-time AED 22,000 capital fee for certain new students without a corporate seat.

This is why a premium-school budget cannot be assessed from headline tuition alone.

How much does school transport cost?

Fees depend on the school and route. As examples:

• Russian International School's published fact sheet lists approximately AED 10,230–17,830 per year;
• Kings School Al Barsha lists AED 8,000–11,000 for transport in its 2026/27 Year 6 fee sheet.

Application and enrolment charges

Schools can charge an application fee and, after offering a place, an enrolment or registration deposit.

Dubai International Academy lists a AED 525 entrance test fee and an advance payment of 10% of annual fees for new students in 2026/27, credited towards tuition.

How to calculate the family school budget

For each child, use:

tuition + mandatory fees + transport + uniform/books/devices + optional activities.

For two children, do not automatically double one child's budget. Grade fees and transport can differ, and some schools offer sibling discounts.

Where to verify the exact cost

The KHDA School Fees Fact Sheet is the best starting point because it separates tuition, mandatory charges and many optional services for the specific grade.

KHDA School Directory

Price is only one criterion

A school at AED 25,000 close to home may be more practical than a school at AED 20,000 that creates a long daily commute. Conversely, paying more does not make sense if the curriculum does not match the family's plans.

Read: How to Choose a School in Dubai.

How MANAR can help

For relocating families, education costs affect housing, transport and the overall move budget. MANAR CAPITAL helps connect these decisions into one realistic family relocation plan.

Family Relocation to the UAE