KHDA




The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) is the educational quality assurance and regulatory authority of the Government of Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It oversees the private education sector in Dubai, including early childhood education centres, schools, higher education providers, and training institutes.

KHDA was established by decree in 2006, under the directive of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and the Ruler of Dubai), with the aim of developing the education and human resource sectors in the Dubai emirate to the level of international standards and best practice.

Rather than checking stand-alone accreditation for higher education institutions like the UAE Commission for Academic Accreditation, the KHDA checks for equivalence with the same course at another institution (normally abroad). It covers the academic free zones in Dubai, such as Dubai International Academic City and Dubai Knowledge Village.

The Dubai Schools Inspection Bureau (DSIB), a part of the KHDA, is a group of inspectors who every year assess the schools in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Inspectors use a four-point scale to express their judgements. The four levels on the scale are defined as follows:

Outstanding - Exceptionally high quality of performance or practice.
Very Good -  Quality of performance exceeds the expectation of the UAE
Good
- The expected level for every school in Dubai.
Acceptable - The minimum level of acceptability required for Dubai. All key aspects of performance and practice in every school should meet or exceed this level.
Unsatisfactory - Quality not yet at the level acceptable for schools in Dubai. Schools will be expected to take urgent measures to improve the quality of any aspect of their performance or practice that is judged at this level.

KHDA supports schools, universities, parents, students, educators, investors and Government practices.