Best schools in Dubai

Parents should plan to visit schools if possible – and sooner rather than later when they learn of a posting to the city. With ever-increasing numbers of families arriving in Dubai on a seemingly weekly basis, the most popular schools are operating with long waitlists, especially in key year groups.

Your first consideration may be curriculum. A British-style education, with schools following an adapted English national curriculum through to GCSEs and A levels, remains hugely popular but increasing numbers of schools follow a hybrid approach, either offering the IB diploma in graduating years or offering an international or other national (eg German) curriculum in primary and middle years.

Families may also be attracted by the growing numbers of recognised brand-name schools, especially those of leading British schools, but this in itself is not a guarantee of quality. Many of these schools are in partnership with educational groups, property companies or private equity firms. Do your homework to check their educational interests align with yours and to assess the level of involvement of the parent school in terms of quality assurance checks and day-to-day running of the school. One telling sign is the rate of staff turnover; while they may be initially lured in by the offer of a competitive salary, you can be sure they won't stay put in an unhappy working environment.

If you’re worrying about whether your children will be able to live somewhat outside the bubble, and meet locals as well as fellow international children, fear not. The majority of well-heeled local families send their children to these private schools because they learn English – and everybody has to attend Arabic classes anyway.

A note of caution – some of the very anglicised school names are actually aimed at an Arabian audience, and you may not find your child in as international environment as you intended. 

View all British curriculum schools in Dubai >

Unless you are already living in the Middle East, schooling in Dubai is likely to feel very different from your child’s current experience.

The most obvious adjustment is the climate. With temperatures regularly exceeding 40°C in the summer months (June to September), schools operate a ‘hot play’ policy, meaning that outdoor play and sport move indoors when it is simply too hot. Even in the cooler months, the heat and humidity can be surprisingly draining. When visiting schools, it is well worth paying close attention to the quality and availability of indoor play and sports facilities.

The school week also looks a little different. Most schools start early – typically around 7.30am – with sport training often held before school to take advantage of the cooler hours. Fridays are a half day, and following guidance issued by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), schools now finish at 11.30am to allow for Friday prayers. Some schools offer optional online learning for secondary pupils on Friday afternoons, but this varies, so it is important to check individual school arrangements. During the holy month of Ramadan, schools operate reduced hours, with earlier finishes across most year groups and adjusted schedules for exams, clubs and activities.

School holidays are also set by the KHDA, with all schools following the same academic calendar, which can slightly vary year-on-year depending on when Ramadan falls. Most recently, this meant a four-week break over Christmas – ideal for families keen to travel home, less helpful for households with two working parents.

From August 2026, there is also a significant change to year group placement. The cut-off date will move from August/September (as used by most UK schools) to 31 December, as determined by the KHDA. This change will apply initially to admissions from early years through to year 2, with older year groups unaffected, and will then apply to all future intakes moving forward.

All children educated in Dubai are required to learn Arabic. Non-native speakers study the language up to year 10, with most schools offering separate streams for native and non-native speakers and many schools encouraging students to take Arabic GCSE (if a GCSE programme is on offer). In some schools, Arabic may replace another modern foreign language, so parents keen for their child to study French, Spanish, German, or another language should ask directly what is on offer.

Extra-curricular provision is generally strong, with a wide range of activities and sports available, although it is worth checking which are included in fees and which come at additional cost. Dubai also has a thriving network of external sports clubs running after school and at weekends, and it is not unusual for pupils in A teams for popular sports to supplement school training and fixtures outside the school day.

Children with special education needs have access to excellent facilities in Dubai, both in school and via external organisations. The KHDA is fully committed to embedding inclusion throughout education providers as part of the government’s pledge to welcome diversity. While some schools are better equipped than others, it is mandatory that all schools in Dubai are able to cater for special education needs, in some capacity.

Not all Dubai schools accept children under 4, so if you are looking for a way to start your 3-year-old on the road to Oxford, you will want to look for the schools that offer a foundation (rising 3s) stage. Stand alone nurseries can be booked up with sometimes as long as two-year waiting lists, so you should put your infant’s name down at birth (or before) to be guaranteed a place. 

Some nurseries accept babies from 3 months although most prefer to accept around 12 months. Fees and timings vary dramatically from school to school. In general, nurseries are open for four or five hours although some offer early mornings and later evenings. Some provide lunch and summer classes.

However, the only way to find out about a school properly is to visit. The most popular nurseries – in true Dubai style – have long waiting lists. The ones in Jumeirah and Umm Suqeim are particularly popular because they are the oldest; that doesn’t always mean best, but it does mean people know more about them and have more on which to base their opinions. 

Nurseries that have come recommended to us by other parents include Homegrown Children’s Eco nursery, which adopts a green, holistic approach to pre-school education and has two locations in Umm Suqeim; Ladybird nursery which has expanded to three different locations now and offer the Montessori method; Children’s Oasis, which starts at three months and offers a multilingual education.