Moving your child to a different school mid-year is stressful, but it happens in Dubai often β a job change, a move to a new neighbourhood, a curriculum that is not the right fit, or a place opening at a preferred school. Private schools in Dubai are regulated by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), and there is a clear transfer process to follow. Done in the right order, you can avoid lost deposits, missing records and gaps in learning.
Check Timing, Places and Curriculum First
Before you give notice anywhere, confirm the new school actually has a place in the right year group and that your child meets its entry requirements. Dubai schools use different age cut-offs and year names depending on curriculum β British, IB, American, Indian and others do not always line up neatly β so ask the admissions team to confirm the equivalent grade in writing.
Ask about assessment too. Many schools carry out a short assessment or review recent reports before offering a place, even mid-year. Also check the KHDA’s rules on transfer timing, as movement between schools can be more restricted at certain points in the year and in the final years of secondary school. The rules can change, so confirm the current position with both schools and on the KHDA website before committing.
Documents You Will Usually Need
Having paperwork ready speeds everything up. Schools typically ask for:
- Your child’s passport and Emirates ID, plus copies for both parents
- Recent school reports, usually from the last one or two terms
- A transfer certificate from the current school, attested where required
- Immunisation and medical records
- A leaving or conduct reference, if the new school requests one
If you are arriving from another emirate or from overseas, the transfer certificate may need attestation by the relevant education authority and, for documents from abroad, sometimes the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). Ask the new school exactly what attestation it needs β requirements vary by where you are coming from, and chasing the wrong stamp wastes weeks.
The Transfer Steps, In Order
First, accept the new place formally and pay any registration deposit requested β these are typically a percentage of annual fees and are usually non-refundable, so read the terms carefully. Second, give written notice to the current school in line with its withdrawal policy. Notice periods and refund rules differ between schools and are set out in the KHDA-approved parent-school contract you signed on enrolment, so re-read that document before assuming what you will get back.
Third, request the transfer certificate. In Dubai this is usually processed through the KHDA system once the new school initiates the transfer, and the current school will need fees to be settled up to the leaving date before it is released. Finally, make sure records actually move: ask for copies of reports, any learning support plans and medical information for your own files, even if the schools transfer the official versions between themselves.
Fees, Refunds and What to Watch
Expect to pay fees at both ends for a short overlap. The current school will usually charge up to your child’s last day, or to the end of the notice period, while the new school will typically pro-rate its term fees from the start date, though policies vary. Application and assessment fees are commonly charged and are generally not refundable.
Watch for two common pitfalls. Do not withdraw your child before the new place and transfer are confirmed, as a child should remain registered somewhere throughout the process. And do not assume a sibling place or school transport will automatically be available mid-year β check bus routes and availability separately, as popular routes fill up quickly.
Helping Your Child Settle
Ask the new school about a buddy system, a settling-in meeting and how teachers will be briefed on what your child has covered. Share recent topics with the new teacher if you can; mid-year joiners often repeat some work and miss other work, and a quick handover helps close those gaps. Keep routines steady for the first few weeks, and stay in touch with the teacher early.
A mid-year move takes organisation, but families do it every term. Confirm the place, follow the KHDA process, keep copies of everything, and check fees and timelines with both schools before you pay or give notice.