KHDA to use AI to decide how Dubai private schools are inspected

Dubai's Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) is bringing in a new way of carrying out quality assurance visits to private schools, using AI to help decide which type of visit each school gets.

CEO of KHDA's Quality Assurance and Compliance Agency, Fatma Belrehif, said the new methodology uses AI tools to determine the most appropriate type of visit for each school.

The visits begin in the first term of the 2026-27 academic year.

KHDA says the approach is flexible and data-driven, and takes into account each school's stage of development and individual needs.

Under the new system, every eligible private school will receive one of two types of visits, based on the data it submits and its stage of development.

The first is a comprehensive visit by a specialist team, assessing school performance, teaching and learning, and students' experience. It ends with a detailed report and an overall school rating.

The second is a shorter, more focused follow-up visit that looks at specific areas flagged by the school's data and performance indicators. It ends with feedback on strengths and areas for development, but no new overall rating is issued.

For the first time, schools will get no more than 24 hours' notice of either type of visit. KHDA says this will give a more authentic picture of everyday school life, including teaching, learning, student wellbeing and daily operations.

"This year's visits are designed to be more flexible and responsive to each school's needs, with a focus on students' experience in the classroom and throughout their daily school life," Belrehif said.

According to the most recent inspection cycle, 81 per cent of students in Dubai's private schools receive a Good or better quality of education.