The UAE has hundreds of international schools with multiple curricula coexisting. A school choice is driven by your child's age, your plan to return home, budget, and home location.
Main curricula
- British (IGCSE → A-Level) — the largest count. GEMS, Raffles, Kings'.
- American (Common Core → AP/SAT) — ACS, American School of Dubai.
- IB (International Baccalaureate) — PYP/MYP/DP. Dubai International Academy.
- Indian (CBSE/ICSE), French (Lycée), German (DISD) — nationality-aligned schools
- UAE Ministry (public) — mostly Emiratis; foreign students limited.
Tuition (rough)
- Range: 40,000–120,000+ AED/year
- Higher years / higher ratings → more expensive
- Most schools add registration fee, deposit, books separately
Ratings
- Dubai: KHDA annual school inspections (Outstanding / Very Good / Good / Acceptable / Weak). Public.
- Abu Dhabi: ADEK's equivalent (Irtiqaa).
Ratings directly affect tuition and waitlist length.
Home-language weekend schools
Many communities run weekend schools that teach home language, history, and subjects in parallel to a weekday international school — e.g. Dubai Korean School (KSD) for Korean families. Check your community association for your country's equivalent.
Things to think about
- Return timing: if returning within 3–5 years, British or IB simplifies re-entry.
- Waitlists: top-rated schools can take multiple years. Start enquiring before you've even signed the move.
- Transport: school bus availability, route, cost.
- Sibling discount: many schools offer 5–20% off the second child's tuition.
What it costs
Tuition is the single biggest line in most family budgets here. Rough Dubai annual ranges (2026):
- Foundation / FS (ages 3–5): AED 25,000–60,000
- Primary (Years 1–6): AED 35,000–75,000
- Secondary (Years 7–11): AED 45,000–90,000
- Sixth Form / IB Diploma: AED 55,000–105,000+
Budget extras on top: registration/application fee (~AED 500, non-refundable), uniforms (AED 500–2,000), transport (AED 3,000–8,000/year), books, meals, and activities. Many schools give a sibling discount (5–20% off the second child).
Application — documents and timing
Typical documents:
- Child's passport + Emirates ID (or visa in process)
- Birth certificate
- Last two school reports
- Transfer Certificate (TC) from the previous school — mandatory for Year 3 and above, so request it before you leave
Timing: apply 6–12 months ahead for popular schools, especially at Foundation entry and the Year 7 transition. Many run an assessment or interview before offering a place, and top-rated schools carry waitlists.
2026 change: the admission age cut-off shifts from 31 August to 31 December from the 2026–27 year. Children must reach the required age by 31 December of the admission year — worth checking if your child is a borderline birthday.
Gotchas
- Term start: Sep (British/American), Apr (some Indian/Pakistani schools)
- Visa linkage: no enrolment without the child's dependent visa + Emirates ID
- Fees are termly: most schools bill in three instalments and a place isn't held without the deposit
- KHDA caps fee increases based on each school's rating and an annual index — a higher rating can mean a bigger allowed rise