In 2026-27, KHDA resumes quality assurance visits to Dubai private schools after inspections were paused, and schools get no more than 24 hours’ notice. Each visit is either a full inspection with a published overall rating or a shorter monitoring visit with no new rating. The framework itself is unchanged: the 2015-16 UAE School Inspection Framework.
What changes in KHDA inspections for 2026-27?
The notice period and the visit model change; the standards do not. KHDA announced on 3 June 2026 that “for both types of visits, schools will receive no more than 24 hours’ notice”.
| Academic year | What happened |
|---|---|
| 2024-25 | Full inspections paused, except for new schools in their third year of operation (Khaleej Times) |
| 2025-26 | No inspections, except for schools in their third year; KHDA made “targeted visits” instead (KHDA) |
| 2026-27 | Quality assurance visits resume, with no more than 24 hours’ notice (KHDA) |
The two visit types work differently:
| Full quality assurance visit (inspection) | Monitoring visit | |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | The full UAE School Inspection Framework | ”Specific audit trails and key lines of enquiry identified through data analysis” |
| Team | Specialist experts | Shorter visit |
| Outcome | Published report with an overall school rating | No new overall rating |
| Notice | No more than 24 hours | No more than 24 hours |
Is there a new KHDA inspection framework for 2026?
No. KHDA states that visits “will continue to be guided by the 2015-2016 UAE School Inspection Framework”. That framework is the inspection handbook schools should work from. It sets six performance standards, “underpinned by 17 performance indicators”:
- Students’ achievement
- Students’ personal and social development, and their innovation skills
- Teaching and assessment
- Curriculum
- The protection, care, guidance and support of students
- Leadership and management
Ratings use a six-point scale: Outstanding, Very good, Good, Acceptable, Weak and Very weak. The framework calls Good “the expected level for every school in the UAE” and Acceptable “the minimum level”. Achievement judgements include Islamic Education for Muslim students, Arabic and UAE social studies alongside English, mathematics and science.
Which schools get a full inspection?
Schools completing their third year of operation get a full inspection automatically. For everyone else, KHDA chooses the visit type through “a moderated, data-driven methodology” that draws on KHDA data, school profiles, achievement data and each school’s self-evaluation form (SEF). In practice, a school’s own data can decide which visit it receives.
What will inspectors focus on?
KHDA says visits will evaluate “the impact of schools’ improvement efforts over the past two years” and give targeted support, “particularly in light of recent regional developments”. For British-curriculum schools that includes how they handled the cancelled May/June 2026 exams. Visits are also linked to Dubai’s E33 education strategy, “particularly Emirati learners”.
How should a Dubai school prepare with 24 hours’ notice?
Preparation has to be continuous, because there is no preparation window. Four things should be ready at any time:
- A current SEF that matches the school’s data, updated at least termly.
- Attainment and progress data by subject and phase, including external benchmark tests (still required during the 2025-26 pause).
- Evidence of two years of improvement: what the school changed after its last rating, and the results.
- Priority-subject evidence for Islamic Education, Arabic and UAE social studies, as well as the core subjects.
What were the latest KHDA ratings?
The last full round, for 2023-24, rated 209 schools. KHDA reported that 81% of Dubai students attended schools rated Good or better: 23 Outstanding, 48 Very good, 85 Good, 51 Acceptable and 2 Weak, with none rated Very weak. No new ratings were published during the pause. Separately, KHDA has frozen private school fees for 2026-27.
How schools do this with AI Buddy
AI Buddy keeps attainment and progress data live instead of assembled the night before a visit. Every mock and practice paper is marked instantly and recorded per student, subject and topic. Leaders can pull cohort attainment, progress between assessments and learning gaps by syllabus when KHDA calls. That supports the “achievement data” and “SEF” evidence KHDA’s selection method relies on. Judgements about teaching and leadership still rest on the school’s own evidence; AI Buddy covers the attainment record.
Frequently asked questions
How much notice do KHDA inspections give in 2026-27?
No more than 24 hours, for both full inspections and monitoring visits.
Is there a new KHDA inspection handbook for 2026-27?
No. KHDA says visits follow the 2015-16 UAE School Inspection Framework, with its six performance standards and 17 indicators.
Will schools get a KHDA rating in 2026?
Only after a full quality assurance visit, which ends with a published overall rating. A monitoring visit does not produce a new rating.
What are the KHDA rating levels?
Outstanding, Very good, Good, Acceptable, Weak and Very weak. Good is the expected level; Acceptable is the minimum.
For other regulators and accreditation routes, see Inspection & Accreditation Beyond Ofsted and our guide to KHDA and ADEK AI literacy requirements.
Discover how AI Buddy helps schools strengthen teaching, learning and evidence-informed school improvement. Or start a short consultation with our schools team using the form below — we will get back to you directly.
Sources
- KHDA, KHDA to resume quality assurance visits for Dubai private schools (3 June 2026)
- KHDA, UAE School Inspection Framework 2015-16
- KHDA, KHDA announces pause on school inspections for 2025-26 (16 May 2025)
- KHDA, 81% of Dubai students attend private schools rated Good or better (21 June 2024)
- KHDA, No increase in Dubai private school fees for 2026-27 (22 May 2026)
- Gulf News, KHDA to inspect Dubai schools with no more than 24 hours’ notice (3 June 2026)
- Khaleej Times, Dubai: KHDA halts school inspections for next academic year (June 2024)