Dubai Announces Stricter Teacher Eligibility to Strengthen Staffing in Private Schools

Dubai’s private school teachers will now need to meet stricter qualification standards, follow clearer resignation procedures, and undergo more rigorous vetting before stepping into classrooms, under new rules issued by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA).

The regulator has released two detailed manuals — the Technical Guide for Appointing Teaching Staff in Private Schools in Dubai and the Staff Deregistration Technical Guide — that together redefine how schools recruit teachers and principals, and how the authority enforces accountability across the education sector. All new teachers must meet KHDA-approved qualifications, experience, and conduct standards, including those teaching Arabic and Islamic Studies. Existing teachers who remain at their current school have until September 2028 to meet the new requirements, while schools that begin the academic year in April have until April 2029.

Appointment Notice becomes mandatory

Central to the changes is the “Appointment Notice,” an official approval from KHDA that authorises a teacher to work at a single school. The notice is non-transferable: once a teacher moves to another institution, the existing notice is automatically cancelled and a new one must be secured before they can resume teaching.

Stricter recruitment checks

Schools are now required to adopt safer recruitment practices. These include securing at least two professional references, one of which must come from the candidate’s most recent employer; conducting background and criminal record checks in every country where the applicant has lived; verifying qualifications and CV details; reviewing online presence for reputational risks; and formal panel interviews.

Qualification deadlines for current staff

The KHDA has clarified which academic credentials are acceptable: degrees issued by UAE-accredited universities, by KHDA-recognised foreign university branches in Dubai’s free zones, or by international universities that are both accredited in their home country and recognised globally.

Teachers already employed in Dubai who do not currently meet these standards have been given a grace period. They must upgrade their qualifications by September 1, 2028, or by April 1, 2029, in the case of April-start schools.

Resignation and the 90-day rule

The new framework also tightens resignation processes. If a teacher resigns and doesn’t follow all KHDA requirements — such as serving full notice, leaving at the end of term, and submitting the exit survey — KHDA will impose a 90-day waiting period before they can get a new Appointment Notice.

The exit survey, now compulsory for all departing teachers, will provide the authority with sector-wide data to understand turnover trends and inform future policy.

Deregistration: barred from the sector

Perhaps the most severe consequence under the new rules is deregistration. Teachers or school staff found guilty of serious misconduct, child protection breaches, or criminal offences can be deregistered, which bars them from employment in any private school, early learning centre, university, or vocational institution in Dubai.

KHDA has also made clear that repeated dishonesty, cultural insensitivity, or inappropriate social media behaviour may, if severe or recurring, lead to deregistration. The distinction between dismissal and deregistration is significant: while dismissal is a school-level decision, deregistration is imposed by KHDA and applies sector-wide.

Dr Amna Almaazmi, CEO of Growth and Human Development at KHDA, commented on the new guidelines, stating, “These new guidelines represent a major step toward creating a stable and supportive environment for teachers and school communities, while ensuring all educators meet consistent, high-quality standards. By reinforcing clear expectations for recruitment, conduct, and accountability, the guides support school leaders, protect student well-being, and strengthen Dubai’s position as a global destination for exceptional education and talent.”