It is well known that Dubai, a vibrant and cosmopolitan city in the United Arab Emirates, boasts a luxurious lifestyle, modern infrastructure, and a multicultural environment. People from all across the world are interested in living in Dubai and that’s the reason, the population of the city is increasing and has become a favorite destination for foreigners or expats.
Besides towering skyscrapers, modernity, and unique infrastructure, Dubai is also renowned for its thriving education system. Families who live in Dubai or recently moved to Dubai must be concerned about their children’s education. When deciding to move to a new location, education is the most important factor to consider.
As expat parents in Dubai, it is important to know the schooling system in Dubai. Due to the 89% expats population, Dubai is known as a hub for international schools, 90% of education in Dubai is based upon international schools. Finding the right school for your child that suits you according to your values, curriculum, and budget is a difficult task. This article is about the schooling system in Dubai, it will help you to know about the benefits and unique features of the educational system in Dubai.
Introduction: Education In Dubai
The government of UAE has made significant steps in education to ensure high-quality education for children whether they are Emiratis or expats. The education or schooling system in Dubai is regulated or inspected by the Ministry of Education and Knowledge and Human Development Authority. These departments supervised and implemented the educational policies in all educational institutes of Dubai.
From the age of five to fifteen, education is compulsory for all the children in Dubai.
Both private and public schools are included in the educational system. In public schools, there is no tuition fee for Emirati children but expats or foreigners have to pay some specific amount in public schools.
In Dubai, the education system is divided into four tiers:for further details do visit ere homes :
| Stage | Grade | Age |
| Kindergarten | KG1 & KG2 | 4 to 5 years old |
| Primary School | 1st to 6th | 6 to 11 years old |
| Preparatory | 7th to 9th | 12 to 14 years old |
| Secondary School | 10th to 12th | 15 to 17 years old |
Schools in Dubai are rated based on the following ranking:
- Outstanding
- Very Good
- Good
- Average
- Weak
The standard grading system in most of the schools in Dubai is similar to the American grading system:
- A – 100 to 90%
- B – 89 to 80%
- C – 79 to 70%
- D – 69 to 60%
- F – 59 to 0%
School timings in Dubai vary and depend on schools, curriculum, and grades, but generally, it is 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM, Monday to Thursday.
Categories Of Schools In Dubai
Schooling in Dubai is divided into three general categories including
Private Schools
Public Schools
Higher Education institutes
Private Or International Schools
Until 2001, foreigners or ex-pats were not allowed to attend public schools in Dubai, which is the reason why there are more private schools than public schools in Dubai. Private schools are synonymous with international schools and 90% of education is based on international schools.
International schools follow different 15 curriculums including American, British, Indian, The UAE Ministry of Education Curriculum, International Baccalaureate (IB), Russian, Japanese, Iranian, French, Pakistani, Filipino, German, SABIS, IAT, or Canadian. It is an attraction for foreigners or expats’ parents, they can decide which school is best for their children according to their national curriculum, and they can follow their national norms by living in another country.
Arabic Language in all the private or international schools is compulsory for any curricula.
Private Schools are open for both local emirates and foreigners. These schools are more popular in Dubai and 50% of the population of Dubai is getting an education through this category of the school.
Tuition fees for most of the international schools in Dubai start from AED 12,723 to AED 64,093. Education in private schools in Dubai is expensive compared to other cities.
Another advantageous feature of private schools is “rolling admission” so that expat families can apply for admission at any time in the year.
Seats are often limited in popular international schools. So, to get admission to your desired and preferred school, it is necessary to apply early.
List of most famous International Schools in Dubai:
Following is the list of the 10 most popular international schools in Dubai. These schools were rated as outstanding by the government of UAE in 2020.
- Repton School
- King School, Al Barsha
- King School, Dubai
- Horizon English School, Dubai
- Dubai College
- Dubai English Speaking School
- Jumeirah English Speaking School
- Dubai British School
- GEMS Wellington International School
- GEMS Dubai Academy
Public or Government Schools
Public or government schools in Dubai are run by the UAE government. Education is free at the primary and secondary levels in public schools for the Emirates but if foreigners or expats want to get admission in public schools, they have to pay fees.
Following are the documents that are required to submit with the application form in public schools:
- Passports
- Residence permits
- Rent contracts
- Transcripts
Public schools in Dubai follow an Arabic curriculum and the medium of instruction is the Arabic language. These schools also follow English as a second language.
Most public schools in Dubai are gender-segregated.
List of most famous Public Schools in Dubai:
- Rashid School Dubai
- Islamic School for Training and Education
- Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Islamic Institute
- Zabeel High School Dubai
- Amna Bint Wahab School for Girls
Factors To Consider Before Choosing The Right School
The right decision about the school has a profound impact on children’s academic, social, and personal development. Before making a significant decision about the school, there are a few factors to consider.
If you consider them, your decision will be highly appreciated.
- Academic Reputation
- Location and Commute
- Cost and Financial Aid
- Class size and Student-to-Teacher Ratio
- Facilities and Resources
- Extracurricular Activities and Programs
- Diversity and Inclusion
- Support Services
- Reputation and Alumni Network
- Personal Preferences and Fit
Conclusion
Dubai is a multicultural modern city; it is an amazing favorite destination for people around the world. The government and other high authorities of the city are taking significant steps to maintain the high standards of the city and similarly, they are also playing a vital role in the education sector and ensuring the high quality of education at every level by implementation of various policies.
There are multiple options in Dubai to choose the right school for your children. It is necessary to conduct deep research and consider the various factors, so you will be able to make an informed and wise decision about the schooling of your children.
