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How to choose a school in Dubai

With over 200 private schools and fees ranging from around AED 8,000 to AED 120,000 a year, the hardest part is not finding a good school. It is narrowing an overwhelming list down to three you can actually go and look at.

This is also the decision that shapes everything else. We say it constantly because we learned it the hard way: choose the school first, then choose where you live. We moved to a villa community and moved back, largely because the school run was costing three hours of the day.

The process, step by step

Filter on KHDA. The government rating works much like Ofsted, and you can filter by curriculum and rating to get from 200 schools to a manageable handful.
Shortlist three. Ours was Hartland International, Jebel Ali and Repton. Three is enough to compare properly without losing weeks to tours.
Visit in person. Take the children. They pick up on things you will not, and being part of the decision helps enormously with the move itself.
Assessment. Around 500 AED per child, checking English fluency and whether additional support is needed. It can be done in person or remotely with your current school.
Secure the place. A deposit of 10% of the annual tuition, then the paperwork.

Apply earlier than you think

Popular schools have waiting lists, and September is the most competitive intake. Six to twelve months ahead is sensible, and many schools accept rolling admissions if your timing is less tidy.

Frequently asked questions

How do you choose a school in Dubai?+

Start with the KHDA website, which rates schools much like Ofsted and lets you filter by curriculum and rating. Build a shortlist of three, book in person tours, and take your children with you. The rating tells you very little about whether a school suits your particular child.

Should you choose a school or a neighbourhood first?+

The school, every time. Traffic is the biggest drag on daily life here, and a fifteen minute drive can become forty in the school run. Choose the school, then look at where you can live near it.

How much are school fees in Dubai?+

Roughly AED 8,000 to 30,000 a year on the Indian curriculum, AED 30,000 to 95,000 on the British curriculum, and AED 55,000 to 120,000 and above for premium IB. Fees rise as children move up, so budget for the whole school career.

What is the admissions process?+

Book a tour, then an assessment if you want to proceed, which costs around 500 AED per child and checks English fluency and any learning support needs. If a place is offered you pay a deposit of 10% of the annual tuition and complete the paperwork.

Which curriculum should we pick?+

British is the most common choice for UK families and transfers well if you move again. American suits families heading to US universities, IB suits globally mobile families, and Indian CBSE offers strong academics at the lowest fees.

Browse every school in our Dubai schools guide, see which areas suit your shortlist in the neighbourhoods guide, or take a look at the relocation package if you would like help choosing with someone who has done it here.