Who licenses nurseries in the UAE?
Each emirate regulates its own nurseries: the KHDA in Dubai, ADEK in Abu Dhabi (including Al Ain) and SPEA in Sharjah. All nurseries also fall under the federal nurseries law, overseen by the Federal Authority for Early Education. Check a nursery's licence before you enrol.
Checked October 2026 · Sources
Who licenses nurseries, emirate by emirate
"Stating the licence" counts the nurseries listed here that name their regulator on their own website.
| Emirate or city | Regulator | Nurseries listed | Stating the licence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai | KHDAKnowledge and Human Development Authority | 390 | 128 |
| Abu Dhabi | ADEKDepartment of Education and Knowledge | 269 | 38 |
| Sharjah | SPEASharjah Private Education Authority | 160 | 21 |
| Ajman | Federal Authority for Early Education, with the emirate's authorities | 72 | – |
| Al Ain | ADEKDepartment of Education and Knowledge | 56 | 8 |
| Ras Al Khaimah | Federal Authority for Early Education, with the emirate's authorities | 40 | – |
| Fujairah | Federal Authority for Early Education, with the emirate's authorities | 12 | – |
| Umm Al Quwain | Federal Authority for Early Education, with the emirate's authorities | 6 | – |
How to check a nursery's licence
- Ask to see it. A licensed nursery can show you its licence. In Abu Dhabi, ADEK requires it to be on display at reception.
- In Dubai, use KHDA's directory. KHDA publishes a directory of early childhood centres.
- Check the name matches. The name and address on the licence should match the nursery you're visiting, branch included.
- On GulfNurseries, a nursery's page shows its licence when the nursery states it.
The federal nurseries law
All nurseries in the UAE fall under Federal Decree-Law No. 51 of 2022, which regulates nurseries. The Federal Authority for Early Education oversees them nationally, working with each emirate's own authority, which is why the regulator you deal with depends on where the nursery is.
Questions parents ask
Who licenses nurseries in Dubai?
The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) licenses early childhood centres in Dubai. Its online directory lists the licensed centres.
Who licenses nurseries in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain?
The Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) licenses nurseries across Abu Dhabi emirate, including Al Ain. It requires nurseries to display their licence at reception and children to be between 45 days and four years old.
Who licenses nurseries in Sharjah?
The Sharjah Private Education Authority (SPEA) regulates and supervises private nurseries, schools and education centres in Sharjah.
Who licenses nurseries in Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain?
Nurseries across the UAE fall under the federal nurseries law (Federal Decree-Law No. 51 of 2022), overseen by the Federal Authority for Early Education with the authorities of each emirate. Ask the nursery which authority issued its licence and ask to see it.
How do I check that a nursery is licensed?
Ask to see the licence: in Abu Dhabi it must be on display at reception. In Dubai, check KHDA's directory of early childhood centres. On GulfNurseries, a nursery's page shows its licence when the nursery states it.
Sources
Rules change: confirm them with the authority or the nursery, and tell us if something here is out of date.