How to start a daycare business in Dubai?

UAE is a lively country, and is full of people bustling about doing their work. Dubai is home to young parents who are busy in their official duties and are not at home mostly. So, you can start a daycare business in Dubai to serve people looking for a nursery for babysitting.

After all, these busy parents are unable to hire a maid, and prefer a child care center for babysitting. Because of this, there has been a rising demand for the nursery business registration in Dubai. It is becoming one of the most sought-after businesses in the UAE.

Opening a nursery requires a business license, that only a citizen of the UAE can obtain. The foreigners can not have any stake in the nursery business, however they can work as a manager. If you’ve an interest in launching a business in Dubai, then take our sincere advice and invest in a nursery.

Key takeaways of Dubai child daycare vertical in the UAE

These are the notable insights of Dubai child nursery domain in the UAE.

• Children aged 0-14 make up 15.12% of the UAE population offering a strong potential market for daycare services. (Global Media Insight, 2025)
• Access to affordable childcare and pre-K can raise parents’ earnings by over 20% and boost household economic stability. (NBER / CT Insider, 2025)
• Women’s labour force participation in the UAE is 54.1%, increasing demand for reliable daycare as more parents work. (World Bank Gender Data Portal, 2024)
• The global childcare services market is valued at USD 343 billion in 2024 and projected to grow to USD 442 billion by 2030 at a 4.3% CAGR. (Grand View Research, 2024)
• Every dollar investment in quality early childhood programmes can yield USD 6-17 in societal returns and 13% annual ROI in some contexts. (Heckman Equation, 2017 / UNICEF, 2022)
• High-quality early childhood education delivers measurable improvements in children’s academic outcomes, lifelong education and earnings. (McCoy et al., 2017)

Process of opening a daycare business in Dubai

This is the procedure to start a daycare business in Dubai, UAE.

• Choose the type of daycare business
• Make a business plan
• Acquire licenses and certifications
• Find a safe daycare facility
• Get insurance
• Hire expert staff
• Write your daycare policies

Now, we take a brief look on these steps of launching a child care business in Dubai.

Choose the type of daycare business

The first thing you need to decide is: what kind of daycare center you wish to own? Accordingly, look into whether you want a home-run daycare or do you want a separate space for it. Also, you may need to decide on the age group you wish to cater to.

Consider all of these factors before making any decisions. Subsequently, you will have to decide the business entity for your daycare center. It will have huge effect on your business operations and on the way you are taxed. Are you going to have business partners or not? Moreover, you should select a business entity that provides you protection.

For daycare business, making it a limited liability company might be the best choice. Since, the business will take legal responsibility in case of anything going wrong. This selection can prove helpful in any future lawsuits.

Make a business plan

Now, moving onto the next step in starting a daycare business in Dubai: making a business plan. Your business plan should include a basic outline of what your business will do. Also, it should include a summary, overview of the company, and market analysis.

It should include a financial plan that details your financial projections as well. One thing you must include is market research. Because, this research will assist in making your daycare business in Dubai a profitable one.

Acquire licenses and certifications

To start a daycare business in Dubai you may not need a masters’ degree in child care. However, you most certainly need a business license. The UAE offers a number of business licenses as per the nature of business.

For a daycare center in Dubai, the government issues an exclusive license allowing it to operate as a separate entity. Likewise, the certifications from Dubai Municipality, Directorate of Civil Defence, and the Public Health Department are necessary. Complete all this legal paperwork, to start a daycare business in Dubai.

Find a safe daycare facility

The UAE government requires the daycare business to show that it is safe for the children. Only then, the Dubai government issues a license or register the facility. This is a pre-requisite, whether you start a daycare business from your home, or buy or lease a new property.

Ensure that your chosen location meets health, safety, zoning and hazard laws laid out by the authorities. In the UAE, you have two options — free zone, or mainland. So, you can pick one which is suitable to establish your daycare business in Dubai.

Get insurance

Prevention is always better than cure. It is a cliche that we have used a million times in our life. However, it doesn’t mean that the message it carries is of no importance.

As a business owner of a daycare business in Dubai, it’s your responsibility to provide utmost childcare to these children. So, you have to ensure the safety of the children in all possible ways. It is a good idea to get insurance against all the possible risk factors.

Hire expert staff

Talent acquisition of skillful staff will help you in running your daycare business in Dubai. Make sure you do thorough background checks. So that there are no surprises later on.

Try to hire individuals who exude a loving and charming vibe and have some experience working with children. Leave a little wriggle room in your budget. So that when your daycare business takes off, you are ready for growth.

Write your daycare policies

Your daycare business policies will inform the parents from the start on things that you are willing to entertain. Also, convey them beforehand the things that are strictly off-limits.

The daycare policies should provide the parents with the complete logistical information regarding how you will run your daycare business. It should cover protocols concerning, vaccination, illness, drop-off and pick-up times, curriculum, and field trips. Also, tell them everything else of importance that you think your clients should know about your daycare center.

Vital documents for acquiring nursery license in Dubai

Here, we list the legal paperwork that you need to submit for nursery license approval.

• A copy of your passport
• Copy of your family book
• Education certificate of the owner
• Police clearance certificate
• An agreement written in Arabic stating that you will appoint a UAE national as manager — To make sure this is error free get legal translation services in Dubai
• Address of your chosen location
• Nursery license application signed by the applicant
• Acquaintance document, or introductory statement (if any)

Once, you have undergone all the above tasks, you can officially start your nursery setup in Dubai.

Steps of getting a children nursery license in Dubai

You have to go through these steps to obtain a nursery license in Dubai, UAE.

• Get approval from the Ministry of Education, by submitting a duly filled application.
• Submit a copy of your business and academic plan to the Ministry for review and make changes to the plans.
• While you are getting the initial approval from the Ministry, get the location for the nursery certified from safety experts before signing a lease.
• Acquire approval from Dubai Municipality and the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), respectively.
• Get further approval from Civil Defense and Municipality by submitting the required paperwork specified by the Ministry.
• The MoE will conduct an on-site visit after they have given their consent.
• Later on you can sign a lease for your preferred location.
• Obtain permission and approval from the MoE to appoint a nursery manager.
• Get a license from the Department of Economic Development.

Top areas for incorporating up children daycare centers in Dubai

These are some of the best locations for establishing the children nursery centers in Dubai.

• Bur Dubai and Oud Metha: These residential districts with many apartments, offices, and schools are excellent for daycare centres targeting working parents.
• Jumeirah and Umm Suqeim: These prime villa communities with high concentration of families with strong purchasing power and established schools are ideal for nurseries.
• Al Barsha and Al Barsha South: It is popular with mid to high-income families, close to key schools, Mall of the Emirates and the major roads. This makes them ideal for the working parents commuting across Dubai.
• Mirdif: This long-standing family neighbourhood with villas, parks, playgrounds, and easy access to schools, has high demand for nearby childcare.
• Downtown Dubai and Business Bay: These urban residential towers and business hubs close to the Sheikh Zayed Road facilitate corporate and office-workers focusing daycare models.
• Deira (Al Rigga, Al Muteena, Abu Hail): They are well-established communities with a strong mix of expatriate families and easy access for crèche via public transport.
• Al Nahda and Al Qusais: These highly populated, budget-friendly areas with many schools and nurseries are suitable for more affordable daycare offerings.

Considerations while setting up a Dubai daycare business

As always, initiating a business in Dubai irrespective of the industry and the passion for your craft alone is not enough. Similarly, you can’t guarantee that your daycare center is copacetic, either financially or legally. You have to do a fair amount of due diligence when looking to start a daycare business in Dubai.

Besides, you need to acquire business licenses and fulfill other regulatory obligations. These measures ensure that your daycare facility aligns with the UAE’s health and safety codes. Here are the things to consider before starting a nursery business setup in Dubai.

• Requirements
  • Baby proofing the daycare space
  • Safe building with proper security measures
  • Qualified administration
  • A good and transparent relationship with the parents
  • Essential equipment
• Rooms and classrooms
  • The classrooms and other places must be adequately ventilated and should be well-lit.
  • Walls, Floors, and ceilings must be clean and have no defects.
  • Each window in the nursery must be fitted with fine wire mesh to prevent bugs.
  • Furniture must be in excellent shape and condition as well as fit for a child to play around.
  • No usage of chalk is permitted in the classes. Use whiteboards and markers in the classes.
  • The nursery must provide suitable sleeping space for children.
  • Children must be grouped according to their age to decrease the chances of bullying and other such inconveniences.
• Infrastructure
  • The nursery must be established in a quiet and calm place away from all the noise and pollution.
  • No, asbestos should be on the premises.
  • Broken electrical wires and sockets must be replaced.
  • Do not overload the electrical power sockets.
  • The walls of the building that is going to serve as a nursery must be of concrete, and the use of
  • portable cabins or wooden cabins is prohibited.
  • Make sure that the nursery is child-proof and safe.
  • Any maintenance work in the nursery must be performed after the working hours.
• Activity hall
  • A hall with suitable toys for the children to play must be available on the premises.
  • Toys must be appropriately sized so that it cannot be swallowed and be hazardous for the children.
  • The toys must be sterilized, cleaned, disinfected, and stored correctly.
  • Dubai’s child care laws ban the use of toys that contain magnets or high levels of electromagnetic energy.
  • The toys must be of the highest quality.
• Playgrounds
  • The playground must be safe, with proper shade where the child could rest.
  • Any sharp edges and hard areas must be enclosed.
  • The playground must be cleaned and sterilized regularly.

Benefits of opening a kids daycare business in Dubai

These are the advantages of beginning a kids daycare center in Dubai.

• Strong and continuous demand: High participation of both parents in the workforce creates continuous need for reliable childcare services
• Recurring revenue model: Enrolments typically run on monthly or term-based fees, supporting stable, predictable cash flow
• Regulated market: Licensing and safety rules create higher barriers to entry to protect compliant, high-quality operators from low-quality competition
• Community impact: Daycare centres support early childhood development and become anchors in the local community
• Scalability: Expand to multiple branches, or franchise your brand in other high-demand districts of Dubai
• Attractive sector growth: Childcare and early education have projection to grow steadily over the next decade, making daycare a relatively future-proof business segment

Importance of daycare child nursery businesses in Dubai

Both the male and female populations living in the UAE are either into employment, or are running their own business. This trend is creating a need for child care centers or daycare businesses. Especially, the mompreneurs need help of a nursery setup in dealing with their growing children, and new-born babies.

People who are teachers, or who love children and have experience in caring for children— and have an entrepreneurial streak. So, they can consider starting a daycare center in Dubai. This daycare setup can either run from home or they can get a special facility for it.

Either way, working in childcare sector is a stable choice for novice entrepreneurs. Particularly, as it is expecting a growth rate of 7% over the next decade. So, if you are seriously aiming to start a daycare center in Dubai, then read on.

Challenges for Dubai child daycare space and solutions

New investors in the Dubai child nursery space can face these hiccups, and can try these remedies.

• Complex licensing and approvals: Daycare centers in Dubai require multiple approvals from authorities like Ministry of Education, Dubai Municipality, Civil Defence, KHDA and DED. Need of permissions from the Ministry of Education, Dubai Municipality, Civil Defence, KHDA and DED make the procedure complex. Working with a professional consultant like KWS ME helps streamline the documentation and follow-ups, reducing delays and ensuring compliance.
• Ownership restrictions: Only the UAE nationals can legally own a child nursery business, which limits the direct ownership for the foreign investors. However, expatriates may still participate in the management, curriculum planning, or operational roles at the daycare centers. For this purpose, they need to sign legally structured partnerships with proper guidance.
• High initial setup cost: Daycare setup requires substantial investment for rent, fit-out, safety enhancements, equipment and hiring staff. A solid business plan and proper cost estimation helps the investors in thoroughly managing the budgets. Remember, you have to pick the right location and facility size upfront to keep the operational expenditures in check.
• Strict health and safety standards: Daycare centres must comply with strict applicable regulations of the UAE. For example, child safety, facility design, hygiene, emergency readiness, etc. Engaging qualified architects and safety experts from the beginning ensures compliance and smooth approval during governmental inspections.
• Hiring and retaining qualified staff: Recruiting trained and caring childcare professionals is essential but competitive in Dubai. Offering fair compensation, training opportunities and a positive work environment supports better retention and service quality.
• Building trust with parents: Keep in mind, parents prioritise safety, transparency and a nurturing environment when selecting a daycare. Clear communication, visible certifications, strong safety protocols and encouraging parent reviews help build credibility and long-term trust.

KWS ME helps you open a child daycare business in Dubai

Launching a daycare business in Dubai is a rewarding venture due to the busy lifestyle. Expert consultants can handle all licensing and approvals with the UAE regulatory authorities while saving your valuable time. It is where KWS Middle East proves handy from the concept refinement to licensing to launch.

Get expert guidance on the right structure, location, visas, and banking with a proven track record and top client ratings. Begin your kids nursery center in Dubai with confidence by booking a free consultation today. For connecting with KWS Middle East, call us at +97180059763, email us at info@kwsme.com, or WhatsApp us at +971509664705 now.

Conclusion

When it comes to starting a daycare business in Dubai, it is clearly not for the faint-hearted. However, for those who adore children and like to take care of them, this is the best business for them. So, running a daycare business is incredibly rewarding.

Ensure that your nursery director is ready to start work as soon as get your final approval. This way you can save your precious time. Furthermore, the chosen candidate must have a university degree in early childhood education, or early childhood leadership.

They must have some sort of professional certification as well. Starting a nursery business involves communicating and interacting with many governmental agencies. Because of approvals from relevant government departments, you can efficiently run a nursery business.

Take all the necessary steps to make your daycare business setup in Dubai legal and to operate smoothly. Thus, that your charges and their parents can thank you for all your hard work. Business setup consultants provide top-notch company formation services to entrepreneurs.

The procedure for business registration in Dubai can get a little intimidating for someone new to the country. Hence, getting help from a business setup consultant is useful for entrepreneurs during such a situation. They can help you easily get the license for a nursery or any legal business.

These consultants are well-versed with the legalities of business incorporation. Consequently, they make the process of business formation hassle-free. Contact us at KWS Middle East and book your commitment-free call with our experts today.

FAQs about Dubai children daycare sector in the UAE

These are the answers to the common questions regarding profitable Dubai children nursery vertical in the UAE.

Author Bio