We moved to Dubai with our own two children and have supported many families since. For almost all of them, the biggest worry comes down to the same question: Will the children get a place at a good school? Here are the five points you should know.
1. School first, then the home
There are no catchment areas in Dubai. You can apply to any private school, but you'll be doing the school run every day. If you rent a home first, you often find available places at the other end of the city. So: school first, then live nearby.
2. Start early
Good schools have waiting lists, especially in the middle grades. For popular schools, allow several months of lead time and apply to two or three schools in parallel. The school year starts at the end of August.
3. The costs you should expect
Dubai has more than 200 international schools. Annual fees range from under AED 10,000 to over AED 100,000 (roughly AED 4 = €1). For a good British or IB school, AED 40,000 to 90,000 per child per year is typical. On top of that come registration fees, school bus, uniform and books.
4. Don't just look at the overall rating
The school authority KHDA rates every private school, and the reports are public. Often more important than the overall rating is how strong the school is in language support or in your curriculum. And a very good school 45 minutes away is usually a worse choice than a good one around the corner.
5. Weak English is no reason to move down a grade
Hardly anyone knows this: a school in Dubai may not put your child in a lower grade just because their English isn't good enough yet. Instead, it has to offer language support.
Frequently asked questions
Can I enrol my child before we live in Dubai?
You can usually apply in advance. For final enrolment, your child needs their visa and Emirates ID, and these only come after your own visa. That's why the school start has to fit in with the visa timeline.
What happens if there's no place available?
Your child goes on the waiting list. Siblings of pupils already at the school get priority. That's why it pays to apply to several schools.
We take care of this for you
We put together a shortlist of suitable schools based on curriculum, age, location and budget, organise the appointments and align the school start with your visa.