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Education is compulsory in the UAE, for resident children until the end of primary and for Emirati children until they finish school. The authorities recognise home learning only through specific routes.
This guide covers what Federal Decree-Law No. 39 of 2022 requires, the Ministry of Education's home-schooling stream, Dubai's Rahhal programme, exams at British Council centres, costs and certificate equivalency for university. Check which route fits your child before you leave a school.
UAE law makes education compulsory and does not set out a general homeschooling route. Your options depend on your child's nationality and age, and on the routes the authorities recognise.
| Authority | What it covers | Home learning |
|---|---|---|
| Ministry of Education | Federal education law and policy, public schools and certificate equivalency | Runs a home-schooling stream for Grades 7 to 12 for students above the public school age limit, and the Minister can exempt a child from enrolment in specific cases |
| KHDA, Dubai | Private schools and other education providers in Dubai | Offers Rahhal to pupils of participating Dubai private schools, and told parents in 2020 that it does not recognise homeschooling programmes |
| ADEK, Abu Dhabi | Public and private schools in Abu Dhabi | Has not published a homeschooling registration route, and Abu Dhabi schools ask for attested records when a child joins |
| SPEA, Sharjah | Private schools in Sharjah | Has not published a homeschooling registration route |
Federal Decree-Law No. 39 of 2022 on Compulsory Education came into force on 2 January 2023. It makes education compulsory for Emirati children from the primary stage until the end of school, and for resident children until the end of the primary stage. Parents must enrol their child when they reach school age and keep their attendance regular.
The Minister can exempt a child in specific cases, such as an illness or disability confirmed by a medical report. If a child isn't enrolled, the Ministry or the emirate's regulator sends a written warning. Non-enrolment that continues after the warning goes to the Public Prosecution, and the court can impose imprisonment, a fine of AED 2,000 to AED 50,000, or both.
Many older guides say compulsory schooling applies only to Emirati children. That described the 1972 law, which the 2022 Decree-Law repealed.
Each route has its own rules on who can use it. The Ministry's stream and Dubai's Rahhal programme are the two the authorities run.
The home-schooling stream on u.aeOpen to Emirati and expatriate students in Grades 7 to 12 whose age is above the limit for admission to public schools. Students study at home with books from the Ministry, sit the Ministry's exams at the end of each semester or year, and finish with a qualification equal to graduating from a public school.
A KHDA programme for pupils enrolled at participating Dubai private schools. The school agrees a personalised plan, such as time away for training, competitions or courses elsewhere, and the child stays on the school roll. It is not a registration route for families who teach at home.
The 2022 Decree-Law lets the Minister exempt a child from enrolment, for example when an illness or disability confirmed by a medical report prevents them from studying. The exemption lasts only as long as the reason for it.
UAE regulators license schools that operate in their emirate, and they don't license online schools based abroad, CambriLearn included. Many expatriate families use them. For a child of primary age the 2022 enrolment duty applies, so ask the Ministry or your emirate's regulator before you choose this route.
A few checks now avoid problems with re-enrolment, exams and university later.
Read the Decree-LawNationality, age and grade decide the rules. Emirati children are in compulsory education until they finish school, resident children until the end of primary, and the Ministry's home-schooling stream only takes students above the public school age limit.
The Ministry of Education handles the home-schooling stream, exemptions and equivalency. Questions about leaving or rejoining a private school go to KHDA in Dubai, ADEK in Abu Dhabi or SPEA in Sharjah.
Ask the current school for a transfer certificate and the latest attested reports. UAE schools ask for attested records when a child joins, and missing paperwork can mean repeating a year.
Private candidates register with the British Council about four months before a series. Choose subjects and boards early, especially for sciences and languages with practical or speaking components.
UAE universities need a Ministry of Education equivalency certificate for school qualifications earned outside the UAE system. Check the subject rules before your child starts International GCSEs.
