DubaiSchools.ai data desk

Published 18 August 2026 · Analysis of the DubaiSchools.ai school dataset

Dubai School Inclusion Ratings: 34 Schools Beat Their Overall KHDA Grade

A school’s overall KHDA rating and its inclusion judgement are not the same thing. Among 216 rated Dubai schools with both fields, 34 schools score higher for inclusion than overall, while 16 score lower. That second rating can materially change a family’s shortlist.

Most schools align, but the exceptions are useful

Three quarters of the sample receive the same band for inclusion and overall performance. The remaining quarter is where the separate measure earns its keep: it identifies schools whose support for students of determination is stronger or weaker than the headline rating suggests.

Inclusion rating and price move together, but price is not proof

Median fees rise across the inclusion bands, from AED 17,412 for Acceptable inclusion to AED 68,761 for Outstanding inclusion. This is an association, not evidence that higher tuition buys better support. Curriculum, campus age, staffing model and the school’s wider KHDA grade all sit inside the same comparison.

Fifteen lower-fee schools whose inclusion rating beats the headline

To make the difference actionable, this table takes schools whose inclusion judgement is at least one band above their overall rating, then orders the lowest published average fees first. It is a screening list, not a recommendation: parents should still read the latest inspection report and discuss their child’s specific support plan.

How to use the second rating

• Start with the child, not the band. A broad inclusion judgement cannot tell you whether a school has expertise in a specific need.
• Read the written findings. The rating summarises the evidence; the report explains identification, classroom adaptation, staffing and outcomes.
• Ask what is included in tuition. Additional learning support may carry separate charges, so a lower base fee is not the full support budget.
• Treat a lower inclusion band as a question. Ask what KHDA found, what changed afterwards and how the school will evidence progress for your child.

Sources and method

Overall and inclusion judgements come from KHDA inspection fields in the open DubaiSchools.ai dataset. We included only schools with a recognised band in both fields; eight rated schools do not have a usable inclusion field and are excluded. Fee medians use schools with a numeric average annual fee. The named table is a deterministic filter, not an editorial ranking. Read more in our special educational needs guide and methodology.