Parents across Dubai are starting the new academic year with several changes to school policies, fees, admissions, and daily routines.
Some updates are already in effect, while others are being developed for the coming months. The latest changes cover photography on school grounds, flexible school timings, artificial intelligence, homework, tuition fees, registration refunds and admission age requirements.
Here are seven Dubai school changes parents should know about in October 2026.
1. Parents should not photograph or film other children without consent
Dubai schools are tightening guidance around photography and video recording on school premises to protect pupils’ privacy.
Parents have been reminded not to capture images or videos that include other children or school staff without appropriate consent. The guidance applies across areas including classrooms, corridors, playgrounds, assemblies and school drop-off and pick-up areas.
The same concern extends to sharing photographs or videos containing other pupils on WhatsApp groups, social media or other online platforms.
Parents can still take photographs at designated school events where photography is permitted, but schools may set their own specific arrangements for when and where cameras can be used.
2. Dubai schools can change start and finish times to reduce traffic
School timings in Dubai do not necessarily have to follow one identical schedule across the emirate.
Schools can request changes to their start and finish times if this could help reduce traffic congestion or improve the daily journey for pupils and staff. However, the change requires approval from the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA).
Schools also need to demonstrate that proposed timetable changes support student wellbeing and have parental backing. KHDA has said it does not want to impose one fixed timing because different curricula and schools have different requirements, including extracurricular activities.
What parents need to know: A school cannot simply change its timetable without the required approval and consideration of pupil wellbeing.
3. New Dubai guidance on AI use in schools is being developed
Artificial intelligence is already becoming part of education in the UAE, but Dubai is preparing additional guidance specifically covering how AI and other digital technologies should be used in schools.
KHDA is developing a policy and standards covering AI, mobile phones, tablets and other technology used within the education system. The framework is expected to provide clearer guidance on when technology can support learning and when its use may need greater controls.
The authority has indicated that the approach will consider a child’s age and stage of development. The detailed policy is expected next year, so parents should not treat the future guidance as a set of rules already in force.
The UAE is also expanding AI education more broadly, with a national AI literacy framework designed for learners from Kindergarten through Grade 12.
4. Traditional homework has been removed for KG to Grade 2 in public schools
Younger pupils in UAE public schools have a major change to their school routine this academic year.
Traditional homework has been cancelled for children from Kindergarten through Grade 2. The change is intended to give younger pupils more time for rest, play, family interaction, and reading, while keeping core learning within the classroom.
Parents should note that this announcement concerns public schools. It should not automatically be interpreted as a blanket homework ban covering every private school in Dubai.
5. Dubai private school tuition fees are frozen for 2026–27
Families with children at Dubai private schools have another important financial change to consider: tuition fee increases have been frozen for the 2026–27 academic year.
The freeze provides greater certainty over the published tuition charges for the current academic year. However, parents should still check their school’s fee fact sheet because tuition is only one part of the overall cost of attending school.
Schools can have separate charges for services and items such as transport, uniforms, activities and other approved costs. KHDA’s current system also requires schools seeking future tuition changes to submit applications for regulatory approval.
6. New rules clarify school registration deposits and refunds
Parents applying to or leaving a Dubai private school now have clearer rules covering registration payments and refunds.
Under KHDA’s registration and refund policy, a school can charge an application fee of up to AED 500 for a new student. If the child is not offered a place following the assessment process, the application fee is refundable.
A registration deposit can only be requested after a school has formally offered a place and the parent has accepted it. The deposit cannot exceed 10 per cent of the annual tuition fee and is deducted from the first term’s tuition.
There are also specific conditions for refunds when a parent changes their mind or withdraws a child. For example, notifying the school at least 60 calendar days before the child’s start date can make the registration deposit refundable under the policy.
The rules also clarify the formal withdrawal process and how the date recorded on a Withdrawal Certificate is used when calculating refunds.
7. New school admission age cut-offs now use December 31
One of the most important changes for families applying for younger children took effect from the 2026–27 academic year.
For schools and early childhood centres whose academic year begins in August or September, the admission age cut-off has moved from August 31 to December 31.
The change applies to new admissions and covers entry levels including Pre-Kindergarten, KG 1, KG 2, and Grade 1. Under the updated system, children must reach the required age by December 31 of the admission year.
For example, the minimum age requirements are:
- Pre-K: 3 years old by December 31
- KG 1: 4 years old by December 31
- KG 2: 5 years old by December 31
- Grade 1: 6 years old by December 31
Schools whose academic year starts in April continue to use a different cut-off date.
The revised rules are particularly relevant to families applying for their child’s first school place or moving to Dubai from another country, as age, previous schooling and individual circumstances can affect grade placement.
Dubai school holidays and days off in October 2026
October also brings a scheduled break for schools following the relevant Dubai school calendar.
For private schools following the government curriculum, the first-term mid-year break is scheduled for October 12 to 16, 2026. School calendars can differ according to curriculum, so parents should check their child’s individual school calendar before making travel or childcare arrangements.
For Dubai families, the 2026–27 academic year therefore brings changes that go beyond the classroom, from admission ages and school fees to privacy, technology, homework and the daily school timetable.