When Is a Dubai School Registration Fee Refundable?
Check when a Dubai private-school application or registration payment must be refunded under KHDA’s policy effective March 2026.
What the rule means
Under KHDA’s school-fee framework effective 23 March 2026, application and registration payments follow different rules. An application fee is capped and can be refundable when no place is offered after assessment or when it was collected without proper disclosure that only a waitlist place was available.
What to do next
1. Identify what the school charged
Check whether the receipt says application fee, assessment fee, registration deposit or tuition. The name and timing affect the refund rule.
2. Ask for the offer and disclosure record
Keep the formal offer, acceptance, waitlist notice, fee schedule and refund terms. A registration deposit should be collected only after a formal offer is made and accepted.
3. Check the notice date
For a pre-start withdrawal, calculate the notice against the official academic start date. The framework gives a refund where formal notice is provided at least 60 calendar days before that date.
4. Request the refund in writing
Quote the payment, pupil, offer status and notice date, attach the receipt and ask for a dated decision. Use the school complaint process and KHDA route if the response conflicts with policy.
Important: A parent who declines a formal offered place may not receive the application fee back. Rules after the student starts are different from pre-start registration.
Before you act
KHDA caps the application fee at AED500 and the registration deposit at 10% of annual tuition; the deposit is credited toward first-term fees. Check the current policy and school contract for the exact case.
Official source and review note
Dubai Daily Guide reviewed this article on 10 October 2026 against KHDA — School fees framework FAQs ↗. Check the live service before acting because eligibility, documents, fees and processing steps can change.