Teaching in Dubai? Here are 10 New KHDA Rules to Qualify
KHDA rolls out stricter teacher hiring and conduct rules in Dubai private schools.
If you’re teaching or planning to teach in Dubai, big changes are here. The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) just dropped two new guides, setting tougher standards for hiring, qualifications, behaviour, and even how teachers move between schools.
Appointment Notice = Your Golden Ticket
Every teacher now needs an official KHDA "Appointment Notice" to work in a private school. But here’s the catch — it’s only valid for that one school. If you switch jobs, the old notice gets cancelled, and you’ll need a fresh one before starting again.
Schools Can’t Just Hire Anyone
Before bringing you onboard, schools must dig deep. They’re now required to:
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Check at least two references
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Run criminal and background checks (yes, everywhere you’ve lived)
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Look into your online footprint for red flags
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Verify your CV and degrees
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Put you through a formal panel interview
Qualification Checkpoint
Only degrees recognized by KHDA count. That includes UAE-accredited universities, KHDA-recognized Dubai free zone campuses, or internationally accredited institutions.
Existing Teachers Get Grace Period
Already teaching? Don’t panic. You’ve got until September 2028 (or April 2029 for April-start schools) to meet the new qualification rules — as long as you stay in the same school.
The 90-Day Cool-Off Rule
Thinking of switching schools? Follow all KHDA rules — notice period, term-end exit, and exit survey. Skip any of these and you’ll face a 90-day wait before you can teach again.
Exit Survey Isn’t Just Paperwork
Before leaving, every teacher must fill out KHDA’s exit survey. It’s how they track why teachers are leaving and fix the system for the future.
Deregistration = Career Stop
If KHDA deregisters you, that’s game over in Dubai’s private education sector. You can’t teach in schools, early childhood centres, unis, or training institutes.
What Gets You Deregistered?
Big stuff like criminal convictions, child protection breaches, and gross misconduct. But even repeated dishonesty, cultural insensitivity, or messy social media behaviour could put you on the blacklist.
Dismissal vs Deregistration
Getting fired = dismissal. Getting banned by KHDA = deregistration. Sometimes one leads to the other, but not always.
Why Parents Should Care
For parents, this means safer schools and more stable teaching staff. With stricter checks and accountability, classrooms should see less disruption and more trust in Dubai’s private education scene.