KHDA Mulling End to 500 AED Application Fees

The practice of schools charging an application fee of 500 AED a time, could be coming to an end according to business weekly, Arabian Business.

Dubai's schools authority is presently said to be considering "a single application process" for all schools.

The new process is unlikely to be entirely free however. The KHDA is assessing schools’ financial needs as part of the process - clearly there is a cost associated with the receiving and processing of potentially hundreds of applications.

The new system is part of a process that also aims to streamline school waiting lists. Some schools have plus 500 plus hopefuls, and there is a question amongst parents as to whether schools should take the fees if the chances of ever being accepted are low.

Private schools charge a non-refundable application fee of as much as AED 500 per child, with no guarantee an offer will be made.