How to Start a Nursery or Playschool in Dubai: KHDA and Licensing Requirements

Opening a nursery in Dubai takes more planning than getting a standard business licence. You are dealing with young children, education, safeguarding, health and purpose-built premises. That puts the business under several layers of approval.

The main regulator is the Knowledge and Human Development Authority, or KHDA. If your centre provides care or education to children during their early years, you will normally need a KHDA Educational Services Permit as well as a commercial licence from the relevant Dubai licensing authority.

The market is still expanding. KHDA announced that 17 new private early childhood centres are set to open during the 2026-27 academic year, adding more than 1,700 seats.

If you are planning a nursery or playschool, here is how the nursery licence process in Dubai works in 2026.

What Is Considered a Nursery or Playschool in Dubai?

Dubai regulations use the term Early Childhood Centre, or ECC.

Under Executive Council Resolution No. 35 of 2020, early childhood covers children from birth to six years old. The regulated activity includes providing care, education and KHDA-approved services that develop children's skills and abilities.

So calling the business a "playschool", "early learning centre" or "preschool" does not automatically remove KHDA requirements. If you are providing regulated care and education within this age group, check the activity with KHDA before proceeding.

The same regulation applies across Dubai, including free zones and special development zones. A free-zone commercial licence by itself does not replace the KHDA permit.

You can read Dubai's current ECC legislation through the Dubai Legislation Portal.

Which Authorities Are Involved?

For a typical mainland nursery, the commercial side of the setup runs through Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism, while KHDA controls the educational permit.

Dubai's official business portal confirms that DET manages registration and licensing for mainland companies and that activities requiring sector approval must complete the relevant additional approvals.

Depending on the property and services you provide, your setup may also involve Dubai Municipality, Dubai Civil Defence and Dubai Health Authority.

Nursery License Dubai Requirements at a Glance

KHDA's current Early Childhood Centre permit service sets out the process in three main phases.

How to Get a Nursery License in Dubai

1. Choose your business activity and reserve the trade name. Confirm that the activity matches what you actually plan to offer. Secure the trade name and obtain commercial initial approval from DET or your relevant licensing authority.

2. Prepare your Education and Care Plan. KHDA requires a detailed plan explaining how the centre will operate. It should cover your educational approach, proposed curriculum, care model, staffing and premises.

3. Apply for KHDA initial approval. Submit the trade-name reservation, commercial initial approval and Education and Care Plan. KHDA currently states a 14-working-day timeline for this phase once it has the required documents.

4. Complete the commercial licensing process. Once KHDA grants initial approval, proceed with the commercial licence through the relevant licensing authority.

5. Appoint your Centre Manager. Submit the manager's qualifications, CV, good-conduct certificate, passport and UAE visa details for KHDA review.

6. Prepare the nursery premises. Complete the required design, fit-out, health, safety and building approvals. The property must be suitable for educational use.

7. Request the KHDA building-readiness inspection. KHDA reviews the government approvals and carries out an on-site compliance visit.

8. Pay the KHDA fee and receive the Educational Services Permit. Once the requirements are complete and the centre passes the readiness stage, KHDA issues the permit allowing the ECC to operate.

Do not start enrolling children or operating the centre simply because the commercial licence has been issued. Dubai legislation requires both the licence from the licensing authority and KHDA authorisation for the regulated activity. Operating without the KHDA permit carries a listed fine of AED 100,000.

What Should Your Education and Care Plan Cover?

Treat the Education and Care Plan as a core part of your application rather than paperwork to finish quickly.

KHDA uses it to understand your proposed curriculum, infrastructure, staffing, services and educational approach. Your plan should explain the age groups you intend to accept, daily learning programme, child wellbeing procedures, safeguarding, inclusion, staff structure and how the premises support the programme.

Dubai introduced an updated curriculum resolution in 2026. Curricula must meet the applicable national requirements or recognised educational standards, remain appropriate for children's age and abilities and address development, health, safety and social and emotional wellbeing.

The curriculum you submit should therefore match what you actually plan to deliver after opening.

Centre Manager Requirements

Your nursery manager needs KHDA approval.

According to KHDA's current permit requirements, the proposed manager should hold a bachelor's degree, preferably in Early Childhood Education. A higher qualification or professional early-childhood leadership certification is preferred. The manager must also have at least three years of experience working in an Early Childhood Centre.

KHDA asks for the candidate's CV, good conduct certificate, certified academic qualifications, passport and valid UAE visa page. An interview may also form part of the approval process.

Choosing the manager early can save time. Waiting until your fit-out is almost complete to start recruitment can hold up the final permit.

Nursery Premises and Building Approval

Property selection is one of the most important parts of a nursery setup.

A normal office or retail unit should not be assumed suitable simply because the landlord is willing to lease it to you. KHDA requires confirmation that the location and building are appropriate for an Early Childhood Centre.

For the building-readiness phase, KHDA may require an approved building plan, building completion documentation, Civil Defence environment, health and safety certification and a DHA clinic facility licence where applicable.

There is another important 2026 update. Dubai approved a new Premises Requirements Guide for Early Childhood Centres and Private Schools through Administrative Resolution No. 43 of 2026 on 29 July 2026.

This is a good reason to be careful with old online articles quoting fixed room sizes, outdoor-space ratios or building specifications. Confirm your proposed site against the current requirements before committing heavily to a lease and fit-out.

Arabic Language and Curriculum Requirements

Arabic provision now needs to be considered during programme planning.

KHDA's Arabic-language policy began its first phase in September 2025 for children aged four to six. It applies to both Arabic-speaking and non-Arabic-speaking children in KHDA-regulated early-childhood settings.

Administrative Resolution No. 31 of 2026 also requires ECC curricula to include Arabic in line with the applicable technical standards.

If your nursery will accept children in the four-to-six age range, build this requirement into your curriculum, timetable and staffing plan from the beginning.

How Much Does a Nursery License Cost in Dubai?

There is no reliable single figure for the complete nursery setup because the commercial licence, property, fit-out, staffing and external approvals vary considerably.

The official KHDA Educational Services Permit fee is currently AED 10,000. KHDA lists a service timeline of 34 working days across the permit stages once complete documentation and requirements are submitted.

The annual KHDA permit renewal fee is currently AED 5,000, and the renewal application should be filed at least 30 days before expiry. KHDA lists a two-working-day renewal timeline.

Your wider startup budget should also account for the commercial licence, property deposit and rent, Ejari where required, design and fit-out work, safety approvals, furniture, learning materials, insurance, recruitment, employee visas and any health-facility requirements.

Documents Commonly Required

KHDA may request additional information depending on the centre, curriculum, location and proposed services.

How Long Does It Take to Open a Nursery in Dubai?

KHDA's published service period for the permit itself is 34 working days when all required documents are complete. That does not mean you should expect the entire nursery project to open in 34 days.

Finding an appropriate building, negotiating the lease, completing plans, fitting out the premises, securing external approvals and recruiting staff can take considerably longer.

The sensible approach is to build the project schedule around the property and regulatory approvals rather than a standard company-formation timeline.

Can You Advertise the Nursery Before Opening?

Marketing is regulated too.

KHDA states that Early Childhood Centres must obtain approval for advertising and marketing materials before publication. The current advertisement-approval service has no fee, a stated two-working-day processing time and approval valid for three months.

Plan your launch campaign around this step instead of publishing ads first and trying to regularise them later.

How Nexture Can Help With Your Nursery Setup

A nursery combines business formation with sector approval, property compliance and education regulation. Missing one stage can create problems later, particularly if you sign a lease before confirming that the property works for the activity.

Nexture can assist with the commercial setup, activity selection, trade-name reservation, licensing coordination, documentation, tenancy-related processes, visas and ongoing government services. 

Conclusion

Getting a nursery license in Dubai is a structured process, but the sequence matters.

Start by confirming the activity and business structure. Prepare a solid Education and Care Plan, obtain KHDA initial approval, appoint an eligible manager and make sure the property meets the current requirements before spending heavily on fit-out.

The final goal is to hold both the relevant commercial licence and KHDA Educational Services Permit before operating.

Dubai's early-childhood sector is still adding new centres and capacity, but regulation has also become more detailed during 2025 and 2026. Using the latest KHDA rules at the planning stage can save you expensive changes later.

Frequently Asked Questions