UAE School Fees 2026-27: What Changed From Last Year
Dubai's private schools are charging the same fees in 2026-27 as in 2025-26: 203 of the 209 schools whose 2026-27 fee sheet we checked charge exactly what they charged last year, on every grade. KHDA announced on 22 May 2026 that fees would not increase this year. Outside Dubai, 9 schools have published higher fees: 5 in Abu Dhabi and 4 in Ajman, with the largest average rise at City American School (19.1%).
At a glance
| Emirate | Schools compared | Every grade unchanged | Higher fees on at least one grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai | 209 | 203 | 6 |
| Abu Dhabi | 122 | not confirmed | 5 |
| Al Ain | 56 | not confirmed | 0 |
| Ajman | 19 | not confirmed | 4 |
| Ras Al Khaimah | 10 | not confirmed | 0 |
| Fujairah | 7 | not confirmed | 0 |
Outside Dubai, fee lists do not always print their academic year, so a fee that looks unchanged may simply not have been republished yet. A higher figure, on the other hand, is a new fee.
Dubai: the fee freeze shows in the data
2,846 of the 2,877 grade fees we compared in Dubai are identical to 2025-26. 203 schools kept every fee unchanged, from FS1 to the last year of secondary. 6 schools list a different figure on at least one grade; we have not confirmed which year their previous figures belong to, so they are not listed here.
Every Dubai school and its grade fees: Dubai school fee changes, 2025-26 to 2026-27.
Abu Dhabi: 5 schools raised their fees
- Horizon Private School - Branch, Khalifa City in Khalifa & Masdar: higher fees on every one of the 15 grades we compared. Average change 13.2%, up to 15.9% on one grade; the average annual fee goes from AED 34,293 to AED 38,953.
- Aspen Heights British School (AHBS) in Outer Suburbs (North): higher fees on every one of the 15 grades we compared. Average change 2.6%; the average annual fee goes from AED 49,131 to AED 50,415.
- Diyafah International School in MBZ & Shakhbout: higher fees on 12 of the 15 grades we compared. Average change 2.5%, up to 8.8% on one grade; the average annual fee goes from AED 34,889 to AED 35,788.
- GEMS World Academy in Reem & Saadiyat: higher fees on 11 of the 15 grades we compared, while 4 grades went slightly down. Average change 1.8%, up to 2.6% on one grade; the average annual fee goes from AED 64,667 to AED 65,818.
- Yas American Academy, Aldar Academies in Yas & Raha: higher fees on 3 of the 15 grades we compared. Average change 1.2%, up to 5.8% on one grade; the average annual fee goes from AED 58,884 to AED 59,514.
All Abu Dhabi schools compared: Abu Dhabi school fee changes.
Ajman: 4 schools raised their fees
- City American School in Al Jurf: higher fees on every one of the 7 grades we compared. Average change 19.1%, up to 27.9% on one grade; the average annual fee goes from AED 15,856 to AED 18,914.
- Bright Future Private School in Al Jurf: higher fees on 5 of the 11 grades we compared. Average change 7.5%, up to 30.9% on one grade; the average annual fee goes from AED 20,900 to AED 22,555.
- Frontline International School in Al Jurf: higher fees on every one of the 15 grades we compared. Average change 7.2%, up to 11.8% on one grade; the average annual fee goes from AED 17,327 to AED 18,537.
- City Private School in Al Jurf: higher fees on every one of the 14 grades we compared. Average change 5%; the average annual fee goes from AED 7,231 to AED 7,593.
All Ajman schools compared: Ajman school fee changes.
The other emirates
The fee lists we hold show no increase in Al Ain (56 schools compared), Ras Al Khaimah (10 schools compared) or Fujairah (7 schools compared).
Sharjah is not covered yet: we hold both years of fees for too few of its schools.
Frequently asked questions
Did school fees go up in Dubai for 2026-27?
No. KHDA announced on 22 May 2026 that private school fees in Dubai would not increase for 2026-27. In our comparison, 203 of the 209 schools whose 2026-27 fee sheet we checked charge the same fee on every grade as in 2025-26.
Which Abu Dhabi schools raised their fees for 2026-27?
Horizon Private School - Branch, Khalifa City (average 13.2%), Aspen Heights British School (AHBS) (average 2.6%), Diyafah International School (average 2.5%), GEMS World Academy (average 1.8%) and Yas American Academy, Aldar Academies (average 1.2%).
Which Ajman schools raised their fees for 2026-27?
City American School (average 19.1%), Bright Future Private School (average 7.5%), Frontline International School (average 7.2%) and City Private School (average 5%).
Where can I see a school's 2026-27 fees for every grade?
Each school page on BestSchool.ae lists its annual fee per grade for 2026-27, with the previous year alongside where we hold it.
