KHDA Ratings Explained: What Outstanding to Weak Means for Your Child's School in Dubai
Dubai private schools get an overall inspection rating from KHDA's inspectors, plus separate wellbeing and inclusion ratings. Here is what each rating means, what it does not tell you, and how to use it.
You are shortlisting schools in Dubai and every one has a rating next to its name: Outstanding, Very Good, Good, Acceptable. Is a Good school a fine choice or a warning sign? Does a rating from a few years ago still count? And what are the other two ratings some schools also show?
Who gives the rating
Every private school in Dubai is regulated by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA). Inspections are carried out by the Dubai Schools Inspection Bureau (DSIB), which sits within KHDA. In KHDA's own words, inspectors observe a sample of lessons, analyse data, scrutinise students' work, run learning walks and interview school leaders, teachers, governors, parents and students (KHDA Inspection Key Findings 2023-24).
Full inspection reports are published for every private school in Dubai that has completed its second year of operation. A school in its first two years will not have one yet.
The overall rating scale
KHDA's published results for Dubai schools use these bands: Outstanding, Very Good, Good, Acceptable and Weak. The fee rules also refer to a Very Weak band at the bottom (KHDA School Fees Framework). In the 2023-24 Key Findings, KHDA reports that 75% of inspected schools were judged Good or better, up from 72% the year before and 35% in 2008-09, when inspections began. 34% were Outstanding or Very Good.
| Rating | What a parent can read into it |
|---|---|
| Outstanding / Very Good | Inspectors judged the school's teaching, students' progress and leadership to be strong. Fee increases are linked to improvement (see below). |
| Good | A sound school that meets expectations in most areas. This is where most Dubai schools sit. |
| Acceptable | Meets minimum expectations. KHDA's fee rules require a KHDA-approved improvement plan before such a school can raise fees. |
| Weak / Very Weak | Below expectations in important areas. Ask what the school is doing about it and read the latest report closely. |
The one-line meanings above are our plain-language reading, not KHDA's wording. The inspection reports themselves define each judgement in detail.
The two other ratings: wellbeing and inclusion
Since the 2022-23 inspection year, KHDA also rates the wellbeing provision a school offers (KHDA, Parent summary and wellbeing reports). KHDA's published ratings list for 2023-24 shows three columns per school: overall inspection rating, inclusion rating and wellbeing rating. They are separate. A school can be Outstanding overall and Very Good on wellbeing, for example, and several schools on that list are.
If your child has a learning difference, or you care most about how children are supported, read the inclusion and wellbeing ratings before the overall one.
What a rating does not tell you
- It is a judgement on the date of the inspection. Check the year. KHDA says 26 schools improved their overall rating in 2023-24 and three declined, so ratings do move.
- It describes the school as a whole, not your child's year group or class.
- It is not a fee signal. Dubai fees are set by the school and regulated by KHDA; a rating does not set the price.
- It does not say whether the school suits your child's curriculum path, language needs or commute.
How to use ratings when you shortlist
- 1Start with the overall rating, then open the school's KHDA directory listing and read the parent summary report.
- 2Check the inclusion and wellbeing ratings if they matter to your family.
- 3Note the inspection year, and look at whether the trend is up or down.
- 4Visit, and ask the school what changed since the last inspection.
See the ratings next to each school
On EduTribe every Dubai school page links to the KHDA rating and its source. You can filter Dubai schools by minimum KHDA rating and curriculum.
Sources
- KHDA, Inspection Key Findings 2023-24 (web.khda.gov.ae)
- KHDA 2023-24 inspection ratings list
- KHDA, Parent summary and wellbeing reports for all private schools in Dubai
- KHDA School Fees Framework. We checked these in October 2026
- KHDA may have published newer inspection results since