How do regulations for school fee requests work?

Who grants school fee increases across the seven emirates?

Across the UAE

Private schools are governed by a 2008 Ministry of Education decree on tuition increases, which caps the increase of fees at 30 per cent over a three-year period.

In Abu Dhabi

Every school in the emirate hoping to increase fees must submit a formal proposal to the Abu Dhabi Education Council, along with its financial plans and reasons for the request.

The application is reviewed, taking into consideration potential improvements to facilities, education quality and previous increases granted.

All additional fees for services offered by the school - including textbooks, IT and transport - must be approved by the authority.

In Dubai

The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) is responsible for fee restructuring.

In 2009, fee increases were linked to the results of inspections that had been carried out for the first time. Based on their ranking, schools were granted an increase of between 7 and 15 per cent.

In 2010, the authority announced a freeze on fee increases. However, two education groups - Gems and Taaleem - went over KHDA's head to the Ministry of Education and received approval to increase their tuition by 10 and 15 per cent.

In 2011, a fee freeze in Dubai schools for the 2011-2012 academic year was ordered by the Executive Council, which has the final say on fees.

Gems schools were exempted from the freeze because of an agreement signed with the ministry in 2009 to raise the fees in some institutions for three years.

Fees for textbooks and transport offered by the school have to be approved by the KHDA.

All other services related to the curriculum of the school also need to be approved.

In the Northern Emirates

Schools fall under their respective education zones but are governed by the 2008 ministry decree.

Any requests for fee increases by schools are reviewed and fee increases are allotted case by case.