A school fee structure in Dubai is more than an annual tuition figure. It is a sequence of charges, each with its own cap, payment date and refund rule set by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA): an application fee, a registration deposit, tuition paid in instalments, a re-enrolment deposit each year, and sometimes a capital levy or debenture.
This guide explains each component, summarises the KHDA refund and withdrawal rules, and walks through an annotated sample schedule so you can read any school’s fee documents with confidence. If you are still comparing overall tuition levels, our parent guide to school fees in Dubai covers fee ranges by stage.
How a School Fee Structure in Dubai Is Put Together
Most Dubai private schools collect charges in the same order. Knowing the sequence helps you see what is due, when, and what you can get back.
- Application fee when you submit an application.
- Assessment or onboarding fee, at schools that charge one.
- Registration deposit once you accept a formal offer of a place.
- Tuition fees, paid in instalments at the start of each term or monthly where the school allows it.
- Optional service fees for transport, meals and activities, under separate terms.
- Re-enrolment deposit each spring to secure your child’s place for the next year.
- Withdrawal and refund rules that apply if you leave before or during the year.
Fee Components Explained: A Parent’s Glossary
The table below summarises each component. The sections that follow explain how each one works in practice.
| Component | What it is | KHDA rule | Refundable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application fee | Charge for processing an application | Capped at AED 500 and not deducted from tuition | Only if no place is offered |
| Registration deposit | Secures a place after an offer | Up to 10% of annual tuition, deducted from first term fees | Yes, with at least 60 days’ notice before the start date |
| Tuition fees | The core annual fee for the year group | Collected in at least three termly instalments | Under the KHDA withdrawal schedule |
| Re-enrolment deposit | Holds a returning student’s place | Up to 5% of tuition or AED 500, whichever is higher | Yes, with at least 60 days’ notice |
| Capital levy | Charge that funds buildings and facilities | Set by the school; check the fee schedule | Usually not refundable |
| Debenture | One time capital contribution at enrolment | Set by the school; check the contract | Sometimes partly refundable on leaving |
| Optional services | Transport, meals, activities, trips | Governed by the school’s written terms | Per the terms you sign |
Application and Assessment Fees
The application fee is the first school registration fee in Dubai most parents pay. KHDA caps it at AED 500. It is refundable if the school does not offer your child a place, but not if you decline a place that has been offered, and it is not deducted from tuition.
Some schools add an assessment or onboarding fee for entry assessments. At Dubai Scholars, the published charges are AED 500 for application and standard assessment, and AED 750 for onboarding and diagnostic assessment.
Registration Deposit
Once you accept a formal offer, the school can request a registration deposit of up to 10% of annual tuition. It is not an extra cost: the deposit is deducted from your first term’s fees when your child starts.
Under the current KHDA policy, the deposit is refundable if you give written notice at least 60 days before the start date. With less notice, the school can keep it.
Re-enrolment Deposit
Each year, returning families pay a re-enrolment deposit to confirm their child’s place. KHDA allows up to 5% of tuition or AED 500, whichever is higher, and the deposit is deducted from the following year’s fees.
For schools that start in September, this deposit cannot fall due before 1 May. If you do not pay it, the school is not obliged to hold your child’s place, so mark the deadline as soon as it is announced. The same 60 day notice rule applies if you later decide to leave.
Tuition Fees and Payment Instalments
Tuition is approved by KHDA for each school and year group. Schools must offer payment in at least three instalments due at the start of each term, with no more than 40% in the first term and up to 30% in each of the second and third terms. Some schools also offer ten monthly payments.
Fee changes follow the KHDA fee framework, and fees for 2026/27 are frozen. If a KHDA approved increase is announced after you have paid, you have 10 days to withdraw with a full refund.
Capital Levies and Debentures
Some international schools charge capital contributions on top of tuition. A capital levy is usually an annual charge that funds buildings, facilities and technology, and it is normally not refundable. A debenture is typically a one time payment at enrolment, sometimes partly refundable when your child leaves.
Corporate debentures bought by employers can move an application up a waiting list, but they do not guarantee a place. If a school lists either charge, ask whether it is annual or one time, whether any part is refundable, and whether it appears in the fee schedule you sign. Dubai Scholars does not list a capital levy or debenture on its published fee schedule.
Optional Service Fees
Transport, meal plans, paid activities and trips sit outside tuition and are governed by the terms you agree when you sign up for each service. These charges can add up quickly, so we cover them in detail, with sample budgets by stage, in our guide to the cost of education in Dubai beyond tuition.
KHDA Refund and Withdrawal Rules
Refunds depend on the date of your formal written withdrawal request, not your child’s last day in class. The KHDA schedule is:
| When you withdraw | What the school can charge |
|---|---|
| Before the year starts, with at least 60 days’ notice | Nothing; deposit refunded |
| Before the year starts, with less than 60 days’ notice | School may keep the deposit |
| Two weeks or less into the year | One month’s fees |
| Between two and four weeks | Two months’ fees |
| More than one month | Full term’s fees |
A few other rules are worth knowing:
- Book fees are refundable only before the academic year begins.
- Mandatory service fees paid before the year starts are refundable if you withdraw.
- Optional services such as transport and activities follow the written terms you agreed with the school.
- Transfer certificates are required for students in Year 3 and above, and schools hold them until all fees are cleared.
If you are moving your child to another school, our step by step guide covers notice periods, transfer certificates and fee refunds when transferring.
Annotated Sample Fee Schedule
To show how the components fit together, here is a sample schedule for a Year 5 student at Dubai Scholars, based on the school’s published 2026/27 annual tuition of AED 19,087. Deposit figures show the KHDA maximum; check the school’s own offer letter for the exact amount.
| Component | Amount (AED) | When it is paid | What to note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application and standard assessment | 500 | With the application | Refundable only if no place is offered |
| Onboarding and diagnostic assessment | 750 | During admission | Confirm the terms with admissions |
| Registration deposit | Up to 1,909 (10% cap) | After accepting the offer | Deducted from first term fees; refundable with 60 days’ notice |
| Annual tuition | 19,087 | Three termly instalments | KHDA allows up to 40% (7,635) in Term 1 |
| Re-enrolment deposit for the next year | Up to 954 (5% cap) | From 1 May | Deducted from the next year’s fees |
| School transport (optional) | 6,300 to 7,900 | Across three terms | Priced by zone |
| Meal plan (optional) | 13 per meal | Monthly or termly | Monday to Thursday |
| Capital levy or debenture | None listed | Not applicable | Not on the published schedule |
Dubai Scholars bills FS1 to Year 10 over three terms and Years 11 to 13 over two terms. Families can also pay in eight monthly instalments through the Zenda app or use 0% instalment plans with partner banks. Full figures for every year group are on the Dubai Scholars’ private school fees page.
What to Check in a Fee Schedule Before You Sign
- Is every charge on the schedule approved by KHDA, and is the schedule dated for the correct academic year?
- What is the application fee, and is there a separate assessment or onboarding fee?
- How much is the registration deposit, and is it deducted from first term fees?
- When is the re-enrolment deposit due each year?
- How are tuition instalments split, and is a monthly plan available?
- Does the school charge a capital levy or debenture, and is any part refundable?
- Which services are optional, and what are their cancellation terms?
- What notice period applies for withdrawal, and how are refunds calculated?
FAQs
What is included in a school fee structure in Dubai?
A typical structure includes an application fee, a registration deposit, annual tuition paid in instalments, a yearly re-enrolment deposit and, at some schools, a capital levy or debenture. Transport, meals and activities are usually separate optional services.
How much is the school registration fee in Dubai?
KHDA caps the application fee at AED 500 and the registration deposit at 10% of annual tuition. The deposit is deducted from your first term’s fees.
Is the re-enrolment deposit refundable?
Yes, if you give the school at least 60 days’ written notice before the start of the year. Otherwise the school can keep it. When your child stays, it is deducted from the next year’s fees.
What is the difference between a capital levy and a debenture?
A capital levy is usually an annual charge that funds facilities and is not refundable. A debenture is typically a one time payment at enrolment that may be partly refundable when your child leaves.
What is the school fee refund policy in Dubai if we withdraw mid year?
Under KHDA rules, withdrawing within the first two weeks costs one month’s fees, two to four weeks costs two months’ fees, and after one month the full term’s fees are due. Refunds are based on the date of your written withdrawal request.
