Nursery Licence in Dubai: KHDA Approval, Manager, Premises and Costs

Opening a nursery or early childhood centre in Dubai involves more than obtaining a commercial licence. The operator must develop an acceptable education and care model, appoint an eligible manager, prepare suitable premises and obtain an Educational Services Permit from the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA).

What is a Dubai nursery licence?

A Dubai nursery is generally regulated as an early childhood centre (ECC). Its commercial licence records the legal entity and approved business activity, while the KHDA Educational Services Permit authorises the centre to deliver early childhood education and care.

The exact model should be defined before applying. Important decisions include:

• the age groups the centre intends to accept;
• the proposed curriculum and language model;
• full-day, part-day and holiday arrangements;
• the maximum planned enrolment and room capacities;
• meal, transport and clinic arrangements, if offered;
• the legal owner and management structure; and
• whether the premises is purpose-built or being converted.

A nursery is not the same as a school, general training institute, babysitting service or children's entertainment venue. Choose the activity that matches the service actually delivered.

Which authorities are involved?

• KHDA: reviews the Education and Care Plan, manager, premises readiness and Educational Services Permit.
• Commercial licensing authority: handles the trade name, initial approval, legal entity and commercial licence.
• Dubai Municipality and building authorities: address planning, building completion, environmental health and other premises requirements.
• Dubai Civil Defence: deals with applicable fire and life-safety approvals.
• Dubai Health Authority: may be involved where an on-site clinic facility requires licensing.
• Landlord, developer or free-zone authority: may need to approve use, fit-out, access and signage.

Commercial initial approval alone does not allow the centre to enrol children or begin operating.

KHDA's three-stage approval process

These are service-processing periods after complete requirements are received. They do not include time spent revising documents, locating property, completing fit-out work or obtaining external approvals.

Phase 1: Education and Care Plan

The first KHDA phase requires a valid trade-name reservation, valid initial approval from the licensing authority and an Education and Care Plan prepared in line with KHDA's guide.

The plan should present a coherent operating model rather than promotional copy. It normally needs to explain:

• the centre's values, educational approach and intended outcomes;
• the curriculum framework and how learning will be planned and assessed;
• age groups, daily routines and transition arrangements;
• inclusion and support for individual needs;
• child protection, safeguarding and supervision;
• health, hygiene, nutrition and emergency procedures;
• staffing structure, leadership and professional development;
• parent communication, complaints and records;
• quality assurance and continuous improvement; and
• premises, resources and capacity planning.

KHDA states that the plan must comply with the standards of the approved curriculum and may request further information. Where amendments are required, KHDA's current service page states that they should be submitted within 25 working days and permits up to three amendment attempts.

Initial approval is currently valid for one year. KHDA may extend it by six months where an acceptable justification is provided.

Phase 2: Nursery manager approval

The proposed manager is central to the application. KHDA's published requirements include:

• a current curriculum vitae;
• a Certificate of Good Conduct;
• properly certified or attested academic qualifications;
• a passport copy with a valid UAE visa; and
• evidence of relevant early childhood experience.

KHDA indicates that the manager should hold a bachelor's degree, ideally in Early Childhood Education, and have at least three years' experience in an early childhood centre. A higher or Level 5 leadership qualification is preferred or should be pursued. KHDA may also require an interview.

Do not leave manager recruitment until the final inspection. A delayed or unsuccessful manager approval can hold up the entire centre.

Phase 3: Building readiness and inspection

For the building-readiness phase, the operator must have the commercial licence, valid KHDA initial approval and manager approval, together with the relevant premises documents. KHDA lists examples including:

• approved building plans;
• Building Completion Certificate;
• environmental health and safety approvals;
• Civil Defence approval;
• DHA clinic facility licence where applicable; and
• evidence that the site and building are suitable for educational use.

KHDA conducts a compliance visit. Once the required conditions are fulfilled and the AED 10,000 service fee is paid, the Educational Services Permit can be issued.

How to choose suitable nursery premises

Property is often the biggest commercial and regulatory risk. Before signing a long lease, carry out technical and authority due diligence. Confirm:

• that early childhood educational use is permitted;
• safe arrival, collection and visitor-control arrangements;
• room sizes and realistic capacity by age group;
• child-safe toilets, handwashing and changing facilities;
• appropriate indoor and outdoor learning areas;
• shaded play space and safe play-surface design;
• accessible routes and inclusive facilities;
• ventilation, daylight, temperature control and acoustics;
• kitchen, food-handling and storage needs;
• isolation, first-aid or clinic arrangements;
• fire exits, alarms, evacuation and emergency access; and
• the cost and feasibility of changing the building.

A visually attractive villa is not automatically suitable for a nursery. Obtain professional layout and approval advice before paying major deposits or starting construction.

Documents checklist

• shareholder and authorised-signatory identification;
• trade-name reservation and commercial initial approval;
• legal-form and incorporation documents;
• Education and Care Plan;
• manager CV, qualifications, good-conduct certificate and visa documents;
• tenancy and property documents;
• approved architectural, MEP and fire-safety drawings;
• building completion and applicable external approvals;
• commercial licence;
• insurance and operating policies where required; and
• supporting evidence requested during KHDA review or inspection.

Step-by-step setup sequence

1. Define the nursery concept. Set age groups, curriculum, capacity and service model.
2. Choose the company structure and reserve the trade name.
3. Obtain commercial initial approval.
4. Prepare and submit the Education and Care Plan.
5. Screen premises and complete technical due diligence.
6. Appoint and obtain approval for the manager.
7. Finalise the lease, designs and external approvals.
8. Obtain the commercial licence and complete the approved fit-out.
9. Recruit staff, install resources and implement policies.
10. Apply for building readiness and complete the KHDA visit.
11. Pay the permit fee and open only after the permit is issued.

Staffing, safeguarding and daily operations

The manager approval does not replace the need to appoint suitably qualified educators and support staff. Plan recruitment around the centre's age groups, curriculum, capacity and opening hours. Verify current KHDA appointment and qualification requirements for each role.

Before opening, the nursery should have usable policies for:

• child protection and reporting concerns;
• safe recruitment and staff background checks;
• arrival, authorised collection and visitor access;
• supervision and staff deployment;
• first aid, illness, medication and infection control;
• allergies, meals and food safety;
• accidents, incidents and emergencies;
• inclusion and individual support;
• parent agreements, fees, complaints and refunds;
• photography, privacy and record retention; and
• transport and excursions where offered.

Curriculum and language requirements

The curriculum described in the Education and Care Plan should match what families and inspectors see in practice. Learning spaces, staff planning, observations and resources should support the approved approach.

Dubai's early childhood regulatory framework includes current KHDA requirements concerning curricula, enrolment approvals, quality and Arabic-language provision. Confirm how those rules apply to the centre's ages, curriculum and language model when the application is prepared.

How much does it cost to open a nursery?

KHDA publishes an AED 10,000 fee for the Educational Services Permit. That is only one component of the project. A realistic budget should include:

• company formation and commercial-licence charges;
• rent, security deposit and property advisory costs;
• architectural, engineering and authority submissions;
• construction, fire safety, accessibility and outdoor works;
• classroom furniture, toys, books and learning resources;
• toilets, changing, kitchen and clinic equipment;
• technology, access control and safeguarding systems;
• manager and employee recruitment, visas and payroll;
• insurance, marketing and pre-opening training; and
• working capital for the enrolment ramp-up period.

Prepare low, expected and high scenarios. Fit-out changes and a slower-than-expected enrolment ramp can have a much greater effect than the permit fee.

How long does nursery setup take?

KHDA's published processing periods total 34 working days for complete submissions across the three phases. The full setup normally takes longer because the phases depend on commercial documents, manager recruitment, premises design, construction and external approvals.

A practical programme should identify dependencies and allow contingency for plan revisions, authority comments, long-lead equipment and inspection corrections.

Common nursery setup mistakes

• signing a lease before confirming educational use and layout feasibility;
• copying a generic Education and Care Plan that does not match the centre;
• appointing the manager too late or without checking eligibility;
• assuming a commercial licence is sufficient to operate;
• beginning fit-out before plans and technical requirements are clear;
• setting enrolment capacity from floor area alone;
• underbudgeting outdoor works, fire safety, staff and working capital;
• advertising services or age groups outside the approved model; and
• opening or accepting children before the KHDA permit is active.

Official references

• KHDA: Early Childhood Centre Educational Services Permit
• KHDA: How to open or expand an early childhood centre in Dubai
• KHDA: Early childhood legislation and regulations

Plan your Dubai nursery

Al Shamil Zone can support the commercial setup, document coordination and approval roadmap while your education, property and technical specialists complete the KHDA and premises workstreams.

Discuss your nursery project: call +971 4 408 1900, message +971 50 777 5554 on WhatsApp, or request a consultation.

This article provides general information and not legal, educational, property, health-and-safety or regulatory advice. Confirm current requirements and fees with KHDA and the relevant authorities before committing funds.