Contradictions in the guidelines
Village guide to KHDA age cut-off changes • last updated 5 Jul 2026
KHDA describes the new placement rules in two documents: a short Parent FAQ and the full Student Placement Guidelines. They mostly agree. In a few places they point different ways, or leave a question open. Here you can open both documents, side by side, to read any excerpt in context.
Pick a point from the selector. We show the exact wording from each document, why it is unclear, and the source and page. Use Copy quoteto paste a line into the PDF’s search (Cmd or Ctrl + F), or See in context to open the document at that passage and light it up.
These are genuine ambiguities, not accusations. Where the two documents differ, a parent cannot always tell which rule applies, and that is worth raising, kindly.
Unclear point 1
A child placed below their age: is it a notification, or does it need KHDA approval?
For a child arriving with a transfer certificate that shows a grade below their UAE age, one rule says the school simply uses the certificate and notifies KHDA. Another says no child in Dubai may be placed below their chronological age group without going through KHDA’s formal exceptional-placement approval. The documents never state plainly which applies to a new arrival, so a parent cannot tell whether a below-age placement is a routine notification or needs formal approval.
The wording, from each document
If the TC grade and the UAE age–grade chart diverge, the school must notify KHDA before confirming placement.
Where the TC shows a lower grade than the UAE age–grade chart, the school uses the TC and notifies KHDA if there is a significant discrepancy.
No child currently in Dubai may be placed in a year group below their chronological age unless approved through KHDA’s exceptional placement process.
In this guide
- Overview
Where to start, and how we got here
- Age & Year Calculator
Find your child’s year, by birth date
- What changed
What the new guidance says, line by line
- Three clarifications
The questions an overwhelming number of parents keep asking
- Contradictions you are here
Where the two official documents disagree
- Who to contact
The people and inboxes at KHDA that read, and reply
Not official guidance.A plain-language comparison by Village to help parents read the two documents together. Both are quoted in full, and open from any point via “See in context”. For the rules themselves, see the KHDA Student Placement Guidelines: FAQs for Parents. If a point here matters to your child, the kindest next step is a calm email to your school, or to KHDA, asking which rule applies.