How to Choose a Nursery in the Gulf: A Parent's Checklist

To choose a nursery in the Gulf, start with its licence. Then check how many children each adult looks after, how the entrances and pickup are kept safe, what its written health policies say, and how it talks to parents. Visit during open hours before you sign anything, and compare what you see with what you are told.

How do I check a nursery's licence?

Ask to see the licence first, wherever you live. Then check what you can:

• Dubai: the KHDA directory lists early childhood centres, and you can search it by location, fees and other criteria.
• Abu Dhabi: a 2019 ADEK notice said the licence should be displayed in reception where parents can see it, so look for it, though we could not confirm that notice still applies. ADEK's nurseries page links to the TAMM school finder for finding nurseries, but does not describe a licence lookup.
• Saudi Arabia: the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD) Controls bar any centre from opening, operating or advertising without a licence, and each branch needs its own (Arts. 7 and 9). We found no public licence lookup, so ask for the licence of the branch you are visiting. An older HRDF guide tells mothers to pick a centre with the Hadaf logo, but that logo marks Qurrah accreditation, so a centre without it is not necessarily unlicensed.
• Kuwait: Times Kuwait reported that Law 22/2014 requires a licence from the Ministry of Social Affairs. We found no public lookup for parents. Kuwait Times reported that the licence states the nursery's name, address, number of children and staff numbers, so compare those with what is in front of you.

We found no public lookup for Sharjah either. Elsewhere, ask which authority issued the licence and when it expires. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) also suggests asking about unresolved violations. It is a US source, but the question works anywhere.

How many children should each adult look after?

Ratios differ by place:

• Saudi Arabia (Art. 11): one supervisor per 5 children from birth to under 2, per 10 from 2 to under 4, per 12 from 4 to under 6, and per 15 from 6 to under 10. Existing licensed centres have 180 days to comply with these Controls.
• Dubai: Education Middle East reported in 2022 one adult per 3 children from 45 days to 17 months, per 5 from 18 to 35 months, per 8 from 36 to 47 months, and per 12 from 48 to 71 months.
• Kuwait and Abu Dhabi: we found no published figure, so ask the nursery directly.
• A US benchmark for comparison: the AAP suggests no more than 4 children per caregiver and 8 per group for ages 13 to 35 months. This is not a Gulf rule.

The AAP also suggests asking about staff training and absence cover.

What should I look for on safety?

• The AAP says children should be supervised by sight and sound, including at nap time.
• In Saudi Arabia, Art. 10 requires cameras at entrances, inside and in the outdoor courtyard, with at least 30 days of storage, and Art. 17 lets a parent access recordings on a complaint. Art. 12 requires a first-aid certificate for all staff.
• In Kuwait, Khaleej Times reported in October 2026 that the ministry reminded all nurseries they must install surveillance cameras.
• In Abu Dhabi, ADEK's licence renewal steps ask for a CCTV compliance certificate.

Who is allowed to collect my child?

The AAP suggests checking how the nursery verifies the identity of whoever collects a child. Ask whether there is a list of named adults and what happens if someone new arrives. In Saudi Arabia, an entry and exit policy is one of the policies Art. 13 requires.

Which health policies should I ask to see?

Ask for written policies on health, illness, medication and nutrition, as the AAP advises. In Kuwait, Arab Times reported a December 2025 decision listing health requirements, including staff medical exams, infection prevention, isolation rooms and food preparation. We did not find the full text, so ask the nursery how it applies them. In Saudi Arabia, staff need an annual medical report (Art. 12), and a child's medical report is renewed annually (Art. 14).

How will the nursery talk to me?

Saudi centres must give a daily report on the child and a monthly report on acquired skills (Art. 15), and Art. 13 requires complaints and parent communication policies. Elsewhere, ask how often you will hear about your child, in which language, and who to call if you are worried.

If a nursery uses Bambini, you see attendance, meals, naps, photos and messages on your phone, in Arabic or English.

Last checked 4 November 2026. This is general information, not medical advice.