Thomas Legal Consultants

Education Law Practice in the UAE

At Thomas Legal Consultants, we understand the complex regulatory and commercial landscape of the UAE’s education sector. We advise a diverse range of clients including School operators, Universities, Investors, Training Institutes, and Ed-Tech Startups, on every legal aspect of establishing and operating educational ventures across the Emirates.

Our deep understanding of federal and emirate-level regulations, particularly those of the Ministry of Education (MoE), KHDA (Dubai), and ADEK (Abu Dhabi), enables us to provide strategic and compliant legal solutions that align with both local policies and international best practices.

Our Services Include:

Licensing & Regulatory Compliance: Guidance on obtaining and renewing approvals from MoE, KHDA, ADEK, and other authorities for schools, training institutes, and higher education providers.

Entity Formation & Structuring: Advising on company formation in mainland UAE and free zones, including DIFC and ADGM, with tailored structuring for foreign ownership and local partnership models.

Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A): Legal due diligence, transaction structuring, and documentation for the acquisition or sale of educational institutions and education-related businesses.

Real Estate & Campus Development: Support with school and university infrastructure projects, including land acquisition, long-term lease agreements, and build-operate-transfer (BOT) models.

Contracts & Internal Policies: Drafting and reviewing parent-school contracts, admissions policies, student handbooks, and faculty/staff employment agreements.

Employment & HR Compliance: Legal advisory on the hiring of academic and administrative staff, employment visa structures, and compliance with UAE Labour Law within the education context.

Ed-Tech & Data Protection: Support for digital education platforms on IP rights, licensing of content and software, and compliance with the UAE Data Protection Law.

Regulatory Advice & Dispute Resolution: Representing institutions in disputes before regulatory bodies, resolving student or staff grievances, and handling education-related litigation and arbitration.

Need Business Growth & Success through Proactive Legal Risks Management?

If you would like to discuss your situation/requirements, kindly provide your details, and we'll reach out to you. We strive to respond to all inquiries within 24 hours. Needless to add, but reminding you that your initial consultation is free of charge and comes with no obligation to proceed.

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