Al Khaleej, 19 June 2026: The Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) has confirmed that schools in Abu Dhabi cannot prevent students from sitting exams due to delayed or unpaid tuition fees.
ADEK clarified that schools must follow formal procedures when dealing with delayed payments. These include issuing three consecutive warning notices to parents, spaced at least a week apart. After these notices, schools may suspend a student’s registration for up to three days per semester, but only once per term.
While schools may withhold exam certificates, transfer documents, or block re‑registration until outstanding fees are settled, they must notify parents in writing at least three months before the end of the academic year about the consequences of non‑payment.
The authority stressed that all schools must comply fully with this policy from the start of the 2025–2026 academic year, publishing clear and transparent guidelines on their websites to ensure fairness and accountability.
In parallel, ADEK announced new strategic priorities for private education, focusing on four pillars:
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National identity and values
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Student health, safety, and wellbeing
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Future skills development
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High‑quality inclusive education
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