Private schools in residential zones face 2028 closure deadline

Time is running out for private schools in neighborhoods. With a 2028 shutdown looming, relocation plans—and traffic approvals—are now critical to survival.

, and Administrator

2026 January 14 . 5:32 AM

1 min read

The image shows a group of school buses driving down a street lined with tall buildings. There are... — The image shows a group of school buses driving down a street lined with tall buildings. There are people walking on the sidewalk, trees, light poles, and a flag with a pole in the background. The sky is visible in the distance.

Private schools in residential zones face 2028 closure deadline

Private schools operating in residential areas will face closure by the end of the 2027-2028 academic year. The decision follows a series of amendments approved by the Municipal Council, setting a firm deadline for their relocation or shutdown. No government minister has been directly named in connection with the approval process.

The original ruling required private schools in residential zones to vacate within three years of new site allocations. Construction on these sites had to begin within a year of land being assigned. The Council later adjusted the timeline, fixing the final deadline at the close of the 2027-2028 school year.

Al-Mashari endorsed the updated decision with an added condition: allocated school sites cannot be transferred without prior approval from the Directorate-General of Traffic. A mandatory traffic study must also be completed before any handover. Once the deadline passes, the Ministry of Education will enforce the closures. The changes aim to regulate school locations more strictly. However, no specific minister has been identified as responsible for overseeing the process.

The closure plan will take full effect after the 2027-2028 academic year. Schools failing to relocate by then will be shut down by the Ministry of Education. The new traffic approval requirement adds an extra layer of oversight before any site transfers occur.