Abu Dhabi private schools can raise tuition fees for first time in three years

Education regulator Adek confirms optional increases up to 3.94 per cent

Abu Dhabi private schools will be allowed to raise tuition fees in the new academic year. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Private schools in Abu Dhabi will be allowed to increase tuition fees in the 2023-2024 academic year, the emirate's private education regulator announced on Tuesday.

The Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge said top-performing schools would be permitted to raise fees by 3.94 per cent.

The lowest-achieving schools can also increase fees by up to 2.25 per cent under the plan.

Private school tuition costs in the capital had been frozen for the previous three years to support parents during the Covid-19 pandemic, Adek stated.

Schools that wish to impose the increases — which were determined by the emirate's Educational Cost Index and school inspection results from the 2021/22 academic year — must have been in operation for three full years.

Abu Dhabi tuition fee increases

• Schools ranked 'outstanding' in inspections have the option to raise fees by up to 3.94 per cent
• Schools ranked 'very good' can increase fees by 3.38 per cent
• Schools rated 'good' can increase fees by up to 2.81 per cent
• School rated 'acceptable', 'weak' and 'very weak' can implement a maximum 2.25 per cent increase

According to the latest inspection results, 11 schools were rated outstanding, 37 ‘very good’ and 85 were rated good.

Another 63 schools were rated acceptable and one school was rated weak.

School rankings

The annual inspections - known as 'Irtiqaa' - assess schools based on pupil achievement and personal and social development, as well as standards of teaching and curricula, leadership, management and support structures in place for pupils.

Inspectors spend about four days at each school to evaluate their overall performance.

Schools receiving the highest rating of 'outstanding' are said to have substantially exceeded expectations, under the assessment criteria.

Those earning a 'good' rating have met expectations, with 'weak' falling below expectations and 'very weak' substantially below them.

The fee increases are aimed at rewarding schools for their performance and encouraging continuous improvement in the quality of education provided to pupils in the emirate, Adek said.

Adek said the decision to implement the increases is optional, allowing schools to consider the needs of their communities and pupils before making the final decision.

Dubai and Sharjah announced plans to raise tuition fees last month.

Some Dubai private schools will be allowed to increase tuition fees by up to six per cent in the 2023-2024 academic year, the emirate's education regulator confirmed.

Schools that improve their rating from “weak” to “acceptable” and from “acceptable” to “good” can increase fees by up to six per cent, while schools that move from “good” to “very good” can increase fees by 5.25 per cent.

Schools that improve from “very good” to “outstanding” can apply a 4.5 per cent rise.

Dino Varkey, group chief executive for leading school operator Gems Education, said staff would benefit from the new tuition fee structure in Dubai.

He said the decision would allow the group to "invest further in our teachers and facilities, the foundations of a quality education for every Gems Education student”.

He said Gems would implement teacher salary increases in April for its Indian curriculum schools and in September for its international schools.

In Sharjah, private schools were allowed an increase that doesn’t exceed five per cent.

Sharjah Private Education Authority said schools with a rating below 'acceptable' are not eligible to increase tuition fees.

School fees at leading schools

Annual tuition fees can vary greatly across the emirate's private schools.

Brighton College Abu Dhabi was named one of the world’s top 100 schools in Spear's Schools Index 2021.

It charges between Dh48,900 per year for its nursery up to Dh77,720 in Year 13.

Pupils at the school have gone on to study at Oxford University, Imperial College London, St Andrews, and Warwick University .

Raha International School, which offers the International Baccalaureate curriculum, has tuition fees ranging from Dh39,330 for early years learners to Dh61,900 in grade 12.

The school has more than 2,800 pupils from more than 80 nationalities and is operated by Taaleem, one of UAE’s largest school developers.

Al Ain American Private School has set out its 2023-24 tuition fees on its website.

They range from Dh14,600 for kindergarten to Dh24,980 for grade nine.

The school was established in 2006 and places a strong focus on digital learning.

Top Abu Dhabi schools - in pictures

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  Merryland International School, Mohamed Bin Zayed City in Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

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  Yasmina British Academy, Khalifa City in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

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  Pearl Primary School in Abu Dhabi city. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

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  Al Muna Primary School in Abu Dhabi city. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

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  Pupils start the new term at The British School Al Khubairat in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

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  In 2018, the UAE Cycling Team Emirates visited Al Yasmina school to give a brief cycling workshop. Victor Besa / The National

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  Pupils heading to school for the first day after the summer break at the Pearl Academy. Victor Besa / The National

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  Pupils at Merryland International School's roof-deck weather station. Victor Besa / The National

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  Brighton College Al Ain. Photo: Brighton College Al Ain

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  Pupils return to in-person learning at Brighton College in Abu Dhabi. Chris Whiteoak / The National

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  Cranleigh Abu Dhabi campus on Saadiyat Island.

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  Children arrive at Raha International School. Christopher Pike / The National