School inspections in Dubai’s private schools were suspended for two consecutive academic years, with no inspections conducted in 2024–25 and 2025–26.
With Dubai’s education regulator set to resume school quality assurance visits in the 2026–27 academic year, school leaders and educators are welcoming what they describe as a more developmental approach to assessing teaching and learning across the emirate.
Rather than focusing only on ratings, schools say the updated framework reflects what already takes place in classrooms on a daily basis — ongoing improvement, professional dialogue, and sustained attention to student outcomes.
School inspections in Dubai’s private schools were suspended for two consecutive academic years, with no inspections conducted in 2024–25 or 2025–26. The only exception during this period applied to newly established schools in their third year of operation, which continued to be inspected to ensure compliance with required standards and to provide support where necessary.
A key change in the updated system is the introduction of short-notice visits, typically with no more than 24 hours’ warning. The aim is to provide regulators with a more accurate view of day-to-day teaching and learning, rather than a pre-prepared snapshot of school life.
‘Preparing every single day’
School leaders across the sector said the approach aligns with established practice in high-performing schools, where preparation focuses on students rather than inspection timelines.
Dino Varkey said the philosophy of continuous improvement is already embedded in school culture.
“The best schools do not prepare for inspections; they prepare for students every single day,” he said. “We welcome KHDA’s renewed focus on quality assurance visits that reflect the authentic everyday experience of teaching and learning, because sustained excellence is built through continuous improvement, not periodic preparation. At GEMS Education, quality assurance is a year-round commitment.”
He added that internal systems already play a central role in maintaining standards across schools, reinforcing the idea that improvement is an ongoing process rather than one tied to inspection cycles.
Importance of feedback
Under the revised framework, eligible private schools will either undergo a full inspection or a shorter monitoring visit. The intention is to select the approach that best reflects everyday learning conditions in each school, rather than applying a uniform format.
Educators also highlighted the importance of feedback-driven development, saying the return of visits will strengthen collaboration between schools and regulators.
Tara Lambert said the sector is ready to engage constructively with the process.
“We welcome the resumption of KHDA quality assurance visits and look forward to continuing our close partnership with the regulator,” she said. “We see quality assurance visits as a valuable opportunity for professional dialogue and continuous improvement. We welcome initiatives that support transparency, continuous improvement, and high-quality education across Dubai’s school sector.”
