Dubai Schools Release 2026-27 Enrollment Numbers and Policy Timeline Changes

Private school fees across Dubai will stay frozen for the 2026-27 academic year under directives from Hamdan bin Mohammed. Student numbers at Dubai International Academic City and Dubai Knowledge Park exceeded 38,500 in 2025 after a 15% increase that year, providing one concrete measure of the sector's scale ahead of the new policies.

Enrollment totals at Dubai International Academic City and Dubai Knowledge Park

The 38,500 figure recorded for those two sites in 2025 reflects the volume of students already operating within established Dubai education clusters. This count supplies a baseline number against which any future shifts in attendance or capacity can be compared once the 2026-27 rules take effect.

Key dates and cut-off changes for the 2026-27 year

Starting in January 2026, Dubai schools will close earlier on Fridays to match the 12:45 pm prayer time. The student age cut-off date for Kindergarten and Grade 1 moves to December 31 of the admission year beginning with the 2026-2027 academic year. The UAE introduced AI as a compulsory subject from kindergarten through Grade 12 in 2025, adding another fixed element to curriculum planning.

These dated adjustments give families and institutions specific reference points for scheduling and compliance without requiring new calculations beyond the stated timelines. The fee freeze removes one variable from budgeting for the same period.

Next steps for families and schools

Schools and parents can review current enrollment data from Dubai International Academic City and Dubai Knowledge Park alongside the listed dates to prepare calendars and age-eligibility checks for the coming cycle. No further quantitative projections appear in available records, so planning rests on the verified 38,500 total, the 15% growth recorded for 2025, and the explicit policy dates already announced.