Hire a learning support assistant in Dubai

By ShadowTeacher Team · Updated September 24, 2026

If a school in Dubai has asked you to provide a learning support assistant, this page covers what that involves locally: which regulator the school answers to, what it will ask for before an LSA can start, what LSAs in Dubai charge, and the verified teachers currently listed here.

In Dubai, as across the UAE, the LSA and the shadow teacher are the same one-to-one, in-class role. Every teacher below has had certificates, CV, Emirates ID and police clearance checked before appearing.

Schools and the regulator in Dubai

Private schools in Dubai are regulated by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA). KHDA's inclusive-education framework expects schools to admit students of determination and to plan support for them, and it uses the term learning support assistant for one-to-one classroom support. The framework does not fix who pays: some schools employ LSAs, while many ask families to fund a dedicated LSA when a child needs full-time individual support. Dubai schools often prefer LSAs who have completed an LSA training course, so ask whether yours does.

Dubai has the widest choice of curricula in the country, with British, American, IB, Indian and French schools spread from Jumeirah and Downtown to Dubai Marina, JVC, Mirdif, Al Barsha and the outer communities. Because of that spread, the LSA's home area matters: an LSA living near the school is more likely to keep a full-day placement going for a whole year. Most Dubai teachers on ShadowTeacher UAE are based in Dubai, and several Sharjah-based teachers also take Dubai placements.

What an LSA does in class

An LSA in Dubai sits with your child in the mainstream classroom, re-explains instructions in simpler steps, adapts the task in front of them to the targets in the individual education plan, supports friendships and group work, and records progress for the class teacher and for you. The aim is for support to fade as your child becomes more independent, not to become permanent.

Verified learning support assistants in Dubai

See every verified teacher in Dubai

How to hire an LSA in Dubai

  1. Browse and shortlist. Filter by Dubai, language, gender and the specialty your child needs, then read each teacher's education, experience and languages.
  2. Message candidates. Describe your child, the school, the hours and the start date. Your message goes directly to the teacher.
  3. Interview and check references. Meet in person, ask for a previous family or school as a reference, and look at the certificates yourself.
  4. Agree terms and start the school's paperwork. Put hours, fee, notice period and holidays in writing, then send the school the documents it listed so the LSA is on its approved-staff list before day one.

What a learning support assistant costs in Dubai

Fees are agreed directly between you and the LSA. The range below is what verified teachers based in Dubai declare as their monthly minimum on ShadowTeacher UAE; when too few teachers have answered for Dubai, the UAE-wide range is shown instead.

Verified teachers in Dubai on ShadowTeacher currently ask between AED 2,000 and AED 6,500 a month (median bracket AED 4,000 to 5,000).

Full breakdown by emirate, hours and qualification: What a shadow teacher costs in the UAE

Frequently asked questions

Do schools in Dubai provide an LSA, or do parents pay for one?

Some do, and include it in the fees. Many ask the family to fund a dedicated LSA when a child needs full-time individual support. Your school's inclusion policy and admission letter say which applies; KHDA sets the framework, but each school decides its own staffing.

Will a school in Dubai accept an LSA I hired myself?

Most do, once the LSA's qualifications, ID and police clearance have been submitted and the school has added them to its approved-staff list, which usually takes one to two weeks. A few schools only accept LSAs from agencies they already work with, so ask the inclusion lead before you agree terms.

How do I find a learning support assistant near me in Dubai?

The teachers listed on this page are based in Dubai. Use the filters on the full directory for language, gender and specialty, and message candidates directly.

Is a shadow teacher in Dubai the same as an LSA?

Yes. Schools and KHDA documents say learning support assistant; parents say shadow teacher. Both describe the same one-to-one support inside the classroom.

Learning support assistants in other emirates

Abu DhabiSharjahAl AinAjmanRas Al KhaimahFujairahUmm Al Quwain

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