How to Find the Best Schools in Dubai

All expat children are welcome to attend state schools in Dubai: but it’s important to consider that classes will follow the local curriculum and most importantly will be taught in Arabic. If your children are not from an Arabic speaking background, this will present a real hurdle to integration and successful studying. All public schools in Dubai are inspected and vetted by the Dubai Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KDHA), who complete regular inspections.

Most expats choose an International School for their children, where your family will be taught either English (the majority) or your first language, and within an international setting amongst other expat children. International Schools are inspected by The Dubai Schools Inspection Bureau (DSIB), which publishes annual reviews of all private schools in Dubai.

Whichever type of school you choose, there is a local syllabus requirement, so all children in Dubai will learn at least a basic level of Arabic language skills, as well as Islamic or UAE social studies. All reports on schools compiled by the KDHA and the DSIB are available for your inspection on the respective websites. It’s important to note that just because a school receives an outstanding report, does not make it the best fit for your child.

Thanks to the large number of schools on offer, the schools remain very competitive, keeping grades and standards high across the board. Many of the International Schools in particular have incredible facilities available, as well as a robust focus on academic achievement.

School fees are unanimously high in Dubai, so the fees that schools charge are an important factor to consider when choosing the school for your family. Both private schools and state schools charge fees for expat children. As well as school fees you need to factor in the costs of uniforms and transport, as well as textbooks and school equipment needed during the course of study.

The average costs of a year’s tuition in Dubai is19,000 AED, but it’s important to remember that price is not always an indicator of quality. Costs vary widely, and at the same educational facility, prices will rise each year of education. In general, however, schools providing the International Baccalaureate, American and UK syllabuses are most expensive.

Some employers offer an education supplement as part of your relocation package. What your employer offers will probably have a large impact on the schools you can choose from. We recommend making sure to fully explore what your employer will offer in correlation to the costs of your choices before you move – if there’s a substantial discrepancy you may want to try to negotiate for more school support.

Applications need to be made as soon as possible, and as completely as possible. As part of your research process, begin getting together the important documentation: this will help you create speedy applications to the best schools, increasing your chance of beating the waiting lists.

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It’s important to compile your child’s educational records, immunisation and medical records, as well as any letters of recommendations or other special skills or achievements. You should also keep a number of passport sized photos, as well as copies of your passport as well as your child’s. Many of the schools require a face to face interview with your family and/or child, and there may be competency and language skills tests.