Starting in the 2026-27 academic year, Dubai’s Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) is reintroducing surprise quality assurance visits for private schools throughout the emirate. These inspections will now be conducted with a maximum of 24 hours' notice, a shift designed to ensure that officials see an authentic representation of daily school life. By removing the long lead times previously associated with these visits, the KHDA aims to gain a more accurate look at student wellbeing, classroom instruction, and overall operational efficiency.

The new oversight system will consist of two distinct visit types depending on the school's needs. Full inspections, which include a comprehensive report and a formal rating, are mandatory for institutions entering their third year of operation. Alternatively, some schools will undergo shorter, targeted monitoring visits. These focused sessions concentrate on specific data points and audit trails, providing school leaders with actionable feedback and recommendations for growth without necessarily changing their formal inspection rating.