Dubai Arabic teachers need KHDA approval to teach Islamic Education to under-sixes

An Arabic teacher in a Dubai private school, kindergarten or early childhood centre may not teach Islamic Education to Muslim children aged four to six unless the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) has approved them for that subject, under KHDA's guide to Islamic Education in early childhood reported on 1 November 2026.

The approval comes through the teacher's appointment notice, the permit KHDA issues for each teaching post. It must name Islamic Education explicitly, whatever the teacher's specialism or earlier approvals. Where one teacher covers both subjects, the notice must approve both. The extra classes may not reduce the teacher's Arabic lessons and must fit the workload limits in KHDA's Arabic policy.

Who can teach

• Minimum qualification: Level 3 in early childhood centres, Level 6 in schools teaching the same age group.
• Accepted fields: Islamic Education, early childhood education, Arabic or a closely related subject.
• Teachers must be Muslim and know the subject to the standard of the Ministry of Education curriculum.
• Early years experience can come from training or supervised work under a qualified teacher.
• A school that cannot find a qualifying teacher needs KHDA approval for any other arrangement.

Language

Arab Muslim children holding passports from Arab countries are taught the subject in Arabic. Other Muslim children are taught in the school's approved language of instruction, though their parents can ask for Arabic and the school decides. A teacher taking both groups at once must be highly proficient in Arabic and competent in the other language.

The rules also cover children of determination, with adjustments to how they are taught.

Records

At the start of each year, schools must tell KHDA and parents how they deliver the subject and how children are grouped. They must keep teachers' qualifications and appointment notices, lesson plans, assessment records and evidence of each child's progress. KHDA will use these in inspections, on its own or with the Ministry of Education.

That matters more this year. KHDA inspectors are back in Dubai's private schools this term, visiting at 24 hours' notice. Prospectus profiles 16 of the city's international schools.