- Knowledge and Human Development Authority introduces new rules allowing villas and apartments to function as mini-nurseries under regulated early childhood care guidelines
- Up to eight children per home-based setup can be supervised by licensed educators, ensuring continuity of early childhood education in Dubai
- The policy enables flexible home-learning models with strict safety, compliance, and KHDA oversight during disruptions like emergencies or closures
In a notable shift in early childhood education policy, Dubai’s private education regulator has introduced new guidelines that will allow villas and apartments to operate as mini-nurseries, offering an alternative learning model during temporary closures of official centres. The move has been announced by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) as part of its effort to maintain continuity in early years learning in Dubai amid ongoing regional disruptions.
Under the updated framework, the KHDA nursery guidelines now permit regulated 'nursery-style services in host homes', where up to eight children from different families can be cared for and educated under the supervision of licensed early childhood staff. These home-based setups will be required to follow strict oversight, ensuring that learning quality and child safety remain central even outside traditional classroom environments.
The new policy also allows early childhood centres to deploy qualified teachers directly into homes, where they can conduct one-on-one sessions or teach small groups, including up to four siblings from a single family. This flexible approach is designed to support remote early education in Dubai, especially during situations such as security concerns, health emergencies, or extreme weather disruptions that require temporary suspension of physical nursery operations.
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According to the guidelines, all staff involved must be certified early childhood educators employed by licensed nurseries, with valid KHDA approvals, police clearance, and pediatric first aid training. Parents or a known family member must always be present during sessions, ensuring an additional layer of supervision within the home-learning environment.
The Dubai home-based nursery model also includes structured compliance requirements, such as risk assessments, weekly reporting to KHDA, and clear operational limits including hours from 7am to 5pm for children aged 45 days to six years. Nurseries are permitted to charge fees only under transparent and reasonable conditions, while ensuring no double billing for already-paid services.
With these measures, Dubai is redefining innovative early childhood education solutions, blending safety, flexibility, and continuity. The initiative highlights a growing global trend toward adaptive learning systems that can shift seamlessly between traditional classrooms and home-based environments while maintaining educational standards.
