The Dubai School Fees Index 2026
What Dubai families actually pay: published tuition across 162 private schools, by curriculum and KHDA rating. Built from public fee sheets and KHDA inspection data.
Key findings
- Median starting fee: AED 34,055
- Average starting fee: AED 33,665
- 59% of schools start under AED 40,000
- Full range: AED 4,000 to AED 97,415
Average starting fee by curriculum
| IB (18) | AED 50,224 |
|---|---|
| British (76) | AED 39,733 |
| French (5) | AED 39,200 |
| American (28) | AED 30,014 |
| Other (7) | AED 20,093 |
| Indian (CBSE) (28) | AED 12,607 |
Average starting fee by KHDA rating
| Outstanding (22) | AED 54,273 |
|---|---|
| Very Good (48) | AED 39,551 |
| Good (81) | AED 25,415 |
| Acceptable (11) | AED 27,523 |
Schools by fee band
| Under AED 40,000 | 95 schools (59%) |
|---|---|
| AED 40,000-80,000 | 64 schools (40%) |
| Over AED 80,000 | 3 schools (2%) |
Most affordable
- Indian High School, Al Garhoud — Al Garhoud, KHDA Good, fees AED 4,000–7,000
- The Central School — Al Nahda, KHDA Acceptable, fees AED 4,081–7,183
- New Indian Model School, Dubai — Al Garhoud, KHDA Good, fees AED 4,500–8,000
- Gulf Indian High School (GIHS) — Al Garhoud, KHDA Good, fees AED 4,989–9,434
- The Indian High School, Dubai — Oud Metha, KHDA Very Good, fees AED 6,000–11,000
Most expensive
- Dubai College — Al Sufouh, KHDA Outstanding, fees AED 97,415–110,305
- North London Collegiate School Dubai — Nad Al Sheba, KHDA Very Good, fees AED 95,000–140,000
- Dubai English Speaking College — Dubai Academic City, KHDA Outstanding, fees AED 84,325–90,633
- Jumeirah College — Al Safa, KHDA Outstanding, fees AED 78,946–98,681
- Royal Grammar School Guildford L.L.C — Tilal Al Ghaf, KHDA Very Good, fees AED 78,758–119,713
Cite: Dubai School Fees Index 2026, DXB Schools — https://www.dxbschools.com/dubai-school-fees-index-2026
Frequently asked questions
What is the average school fee in Dubai?
The average published starting fee across 162 Dubai private schools is AED 33,665 a year; the median is AED 34,055. Senior year groups cost more.
Do higher-rated Dubai schools cost more?
Yes. KHDA Outstanding schools average AED 54,273 — about 2 times the average for Acceptable schools (AED 27,523).
Which curriculum is most expensive in Dubai?
On average, IB schools have the highest starting fees (AED 50,224); Indian (CBSE) schools are the most affordable.
Method: starting (lowest year-group) published fees; KHDA ratings from official inspection reports. Always confirm current fees with the school. Methodology.