The UAE Ministry of Education has officially announced the UAE Public School Tuition Fees for Expatriates 2025. It is mandatory for parents of expat students enrolled in public school in the academic year of 2025-2026.
The decision is focused on empowering the financial stability and accountability in the UAE’s education sector. Furthermore, the move ensures consistent funding and maintains high academic standards.
UAE Public School Tuition Fees Set at Dh6,000 for Expatriates 2025
As per the latest regulation, foreign families are now required to pay Dh6000 per student annually if they want to continue the study of their children in the public school in the UAE. Moreover, the Ministry has clearly mentioned that these fees are not refundable. In addition, you must pay the fees in full or through an approved installment plan.
Payment Options for 2025–2026
As we told you before, there are two payment options for UAE Public School Tuition Fees for Expatriates 2025. Notably, there is an option for full payment of Dh6000 in a single installment before the academic year starts. However, you could also choose to pay in three installments of Dh2000 if you couldn’t afford the full payment. Here are the details related to the three-installment plan:
- 1st installment: Before the start of the academic year
- 2nd installment: Before the end of the first semester
- 3rd installment: Before the end of the second semester
It is important to note that you must pay a non-refundable fee of Dh2000 in advance as a mandatory seat reservation fee.
Consequences of Non-Payment
As we told you before, it has now become mandatory to pay the tuition fees for public schools. Surprisingly, the ministry has now reserved the right to take administrative or legal action against the defaulter for enforcing the fee compliance. Here is the list of the consequences you might face in case of non-payment:
- Withholding academic transcripts and year-end results
- Preventing students from progressing to the next grade
- Denying transfer or withdrawal requests until full payment is received
If tuition fees remain unsettled, no administrative services, like the transfer or withdrawal process, will be processed until the dues are cleared.
Academic Standards for Expat Students
The commitment form highlights the importance of keeping academic performance, especially in three core subjects: Arabic, English, and Mathematics. Students have to achieve a minimum score of 85% in these subjects to meet the Ministry’s excellence standards.
Furthermore, the number of expatriate students accepted in a public school or individual class must not exceed 20% of the total enrollment, supporting the government’s focus on local citizen education. Moreover, it also promotes merit-based inclusion of non-citizen students.
Eligibility Criteria for Enrollment
Suppose you want to educate your children in a public school in the UAE. In that case, you must fulfill some requirements. Here is the list of the top criteria that you must fulfil.
- Valid UAE Residency Visa
- Minimum marks in the core subjects as mentioned above.
- Enrollment cap: 20% maximum expat intake per class/school
As an expat, you must understand that Arabic is the primary language of instruction in the public schools. However, English is the secondary language in these schools. Moreover, the overall syllabus is under the Ministry of Education in the UAE.
Required Documents for Enrollment
Parents or guardians are required to submit some documents to complete the enrollment of their students. So, see the list of documents that you must provide below:
- Student’s Emirates ID
- Birth certificate
- Vaccination record
- Valid passport (student and parent)
- Parent’s Emirates ID
- Proof of residence (utility bill, tenancy contract, or title deed)
- Passport-sized photos of the student
- Legal documentation for guardianship, if applicable
- Family book (for Emirati citizens)
- UAE Presidential Decree (for decree holders)
Moreover, the commitment form must also include the basic details of the guardians or parents, like full name, phone number, Emirates ID, etc.
Conditions for the admission of foreign children in public schools
The Ministry in the UAE in 2020 mentioned that registration of Emirati students in public schools across Abu Dhabi and other emirates could be done either online or by visiting the public school in the residential area. However, non-citizen students can only get admission through the official portal of the UAE’s Ministry of Education.
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