13.08.2025
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What is it about? At first glance, schools in Dubai differ little from those in other countries: similar large buildings, classrooms, and uniforms. However, the education process itself is structured slightly differently than, for example, in Russia. Dubai schools have various learning systems, children mainly communicate in English, and many modern technologies are implemented.
What to consider? To enrol in any Dubai school, providing a package of documents is not enough; the child must pass an entrance test. If successful, one needs to prepare a substantial sum, as education in the Emirates is fee-based. And these are not all the important aspects of education.
Recently, significant changes have occurred in the UAE education system, resulting in every child having the opportunity to receive a good education. All children aged 6 to 18 in Dubai must attend school, regardless of their background.
Typically, children are enrolled in pre-school institutions at the age of 4. Compulsory universal education has been introduced to ensure every child can develop their abilities on an equal basis.
Children can be enrolled in nursery from 6 months of age, whilst kindergartens accept children from the age of 3. This is a mandatory service that requires payment. Attending such an institution costs parents between 1,500 and 4,500 AED per month.
Most kindergartens operate according to educational programmes that align with international curricula. These are designed taking into account the age of the pupils. Some nurseries offer bilingual programmes, with instruction in both English and Arabic.
Primary schools in Dubai are designed to educate children from the age of six. Students study there for 6 years.
Generally, subjects are taught in English, but one can choose an institution with different languages of instruction: Arabic, German, French, or Spanish. The main goal of primary education is to establish a foundation for further learning.
The next 6 years after primary school are spent in secondary school. Such schools in Dubai are divided into two types: there are regular institutions where children study academic subjects, and there are technical schools.
In the latter, students acquire skills necessary for their future profession. Depending on their abilities and talents, students can choose a priority specialisation and prepare for it.
Various colleges and universities in Dubai cater to different educational needs. Students can choose an educational institution with the programme that suits them best.
These include IB (International Baccalaureate), British (GCSE and A-Levels), and Indian (CBSE) programmes, satisfying the demands of representatives from various parts of the world. Diplomas obtained there are internationally recognised and confirm the quality of education received.
The UAE offers very high-quality educational services. As more than 90% of Dubai's population consists of citizens from other countries, these institutions meet their requirements.
Free schools in Dubai are available only to citizens of the country, and those are public ones. Private institutions must be paid for: school fees in Dubai start from 10 thousand dollars per year.
What distinguishes schools in Dubai: interesting facts and features of the educational system:
Which schools in Dubai can be considered for education? There are three types of schools in the UAE:
These schools are primarily intended for free education of UAE citizens, so teaching is conducted in Arabic, and expatriates should keep this in mind, although such schools will cost less than private ones. The cost of paid education for non-citizens is approximately 10–15 thousand dirhams per year.
Private international schools in Dubai are numerous and have differences between them. How they differ:
Private schools in Dubai are considered more prestigious, so even UAE citizens often enrol their children there. Teaching is usually conducted in English.
In the UAE, there are sufficient educational institutions for children with special developmental needs. Such schools receive subsidies from the state.
Private schools base their work on educational standards from various countries (USA, UK, France, India and others), and some operate under the international programme.
It is abbreviated as IB from International Baccalaureate. When comparing different schools, pay attention to their curriculum.
British, American and international education systems are the most popular in Dubai.
British schools in Dubai are the better choice when the student has determined their future professional field. Students can choose a priority subject area for in-depth study: natural sciences, social sciences and humanities, or mathematics and computer science.
For example, if the child wishes to study natural sciences, they can intensively study biology, chemistry and physics. This is an advantage over the IB system, where no more than two natural science disciplines can be studied at an advanced level.
The British education system aims at quality preparation of students for A-Levels examinations in subjects needed for their chosen specialisation. As a result, graduates have good chances to enter university in their chosen field of study and outperform competitors.
English schools in Dubai provide a good foundation for further development and career building, especially in finance, law, and IT.
American schools emphasise the study of five mandatory subjects: English language, natural sciences, history, mathematics, and the fifth can be a foreign language or physical education.
In this education system, great attention is paid to extracurricular activities, which are considered important for comprehensive development. The teachers' task is to develop students' communication skills and their ability for self-presentation.
These features of the educational system make American schools most suitable for those who see their future in creative fields. Their potential can be maximised there effectively. Often, schools with the American system are chosen by media business owners to prepare their children for managing such inheritance.
IB programmes are aimed at providing children with education that will be recognised in any country. International schools in Dubai should be chosen by those who plan to move to other countries because the programmes coincide in main aspects across all IB schools worldwide.
Therefore, one can start studying in Dubai, move to Paris in a year or two, and won't have to "catch up" with their classmates — the knowledge level will be the same. Such universality is convenient if the student does not specifically plan to enter an American or British university.
Students must choose one subject from each of six areas. The division according to the IB programme is as follows: language and literature, foreign language, individuals and societies, sciences, mathematics, arts. The disadvantage of this system is that each area must be covered regardless of abilities. As a result, one of the subjects that is mastered less well reduces the average academic performance.
By our standards, lessons start early, no later than 8:10 AM, and often at 7:50 AM or earlier. Some additional classes or training sessions may start as early as 6:30 AM. Such an early start to the day is commonplace there.
From Monday to Thursday classes end no earlier than 12:45 PM for younger students and at 3–5 PM for older students. As Fridays in Dubai have shortened working hours, children study until 12–2 PM. On weekends, compulsory lessons are not held, but many students attend additional classes and electives on Saturdays and Sundays.
Since students spend a lot of time studying at school, homework assignments are usually small. Each subject gives one assignment per week, designed to take 20–40 minutes. As a result, completing all homework requires no more than an hour per day.
High school students may study much more at home, but this is not so much related to homework as it is to preparation for tests and examinations.
Schools in Dubai often apply an individual approach, and teachers assign tasks depending on the child's abilities and progress. Some need to reinforce what they've learned, while others can complete challenging tasks to develop skills. This increases motivation for both strong and weak students.
Most schools are equipped with dining halls or cafeterias. Students can choose hot meals or snacks like sandwiches or sweets. The purchase method depends on the school: in some, you can simply buy what you want, in others, you'll need to pre-order food through a special application. But in any case, you can eat at the institution.
Despite this, children can bring food from home. Most often, lunch boxes are brought by young children who are not allowed to visit the cafeteria until a certain age, but no one prohibits high school students from doing this. During the long break (lunchtime), students can eat their lunch wherever it is convenient for them: in the yard on a bench, sitting on the floor in the corridor, or settling in the rest area. There are usually no strict rules about this.
All schools for children in Dubai require wearing school uniforms until senior grades. Such clothing can be ordered online or bought in a special shop; this should be done in advance, before classes begin. There are everyday and sports uniforms, and students can wear the latter all day if physical education is on the schedule. Children are not forced to change clothes.
Typically, school uniform consists of trousers/skirt, shirt, tie or neck scarf, and jumper (which can be a cardigan or blazer). Sports uniform is purchased additionally. Sometimes the set includes accessories in school colours and with its logo: socks, headwear, etc.
For high school students, uniform is not mandatory, but business-style clothing is prescribed.
Schools in the UAE are distinguished by diverse educational programmes and can satisfy various requirements. Every parent wants to give quality education to their child, and many consider the best schools in Dubai.
The following educational institutions are most popular:
These institutions have high reputations due to quality education and qualified teachers. Besides academic knowledge, they give children opportunities for development through scientific and creative activities, forming well-rounded personalities.
Almost all schools in Dubai are day schools. Students live at home with their families and come to classes daily.
There are only two boarding schools in Dubai:
If parents do not live in Dubai but want to provide quality education for their children, they can consider this option. The child will be provided with comfortable accommodation and proper nutrition.
Students reside in dormitories on the school's closed territory. During school time, they attend lessons and additional classes, and participate in sports and extracurricular activities. Evening time and weekends can be devoted to personal matters, homework completion, rest, and watching films. The children are supervised by tutors. Also, under supervision, students can visit the beach or cinema.
Russian citizens usually want to know whether there are Russian schools in Dubai. Indeed, if your children studied in Russia and you plan to return to Russia, you would like to consider Russian-speaking schools in Dubai.
In the UAE, there is only one institution where teaching is conducted in Russian and most teachers are from Russia — Russian International School. It is located in Dubai, in the Deira district. In the KHDA rating, this school is rated "Good".
The cost ranges from 14,500 dirhams for first grade to 22,350 dirhams for 11th grade.
The school has been operating since 1996 according to Russian educational standards. There are no other Russian schools in Dubai.
Features of Russian International School:
When choosing an educational institution, you can use the KHDA website. The site's navigation allows filtering by parameters such as location, tuition costs, and others.
On the page with the list of schools, you can see the rating assigned to them by the commission. It is based on the level of teaching and safety, student performance, and their proficiency in English and Arabic languages. Each new school is thoroughly checked, and the highest rating is assigned only after many years of successful work.
The scale consists of six points. The highest level is designated as "Outstanding", and the lowest as "Very Weak".
Education for children from other countries is fee-based not only in private but also in public schools. Private schools in the UAE do not provide scholarships for education, unlike many other countries.
There is a large difference in how much schools in Dubai cost: the difference can be sixfold. For one year of education at the initial stages FS, KG, you will have to pay from 8,000 to 65,000 AED (converted to dollars 2,200–17,700). Graduate classes are more expensive and the cost varies from 16,000 to 130,000 AED per year (4,400–35,500 dollars).
The cost includes lessons, additional classes (including school communities and clubs), additional sports clubs, and use of textbooks. School trips around Dubai or even to other emirates may also be included.
Additionally paid for:
Some schools require a contribution for additional expenses and property maintenance. Sometimes there is a security deposit. This is needed in case of serious damage caused to other persons or school property.
Most often, you can pay for each term separately. Students are not automatically transferred to the next grade, so to stay in school, you need to make a 10% prepayment of the full cost for the next year.
To enrol a child in school, you need to provide several documents. Most often, the list is as follows:
You need to find out in advance if there are schools in Dubai with available places: often prestigious institutions have a waiting list for admission. The task is made easier by the fact that most schools allow online registration.
It is not enough to book a place, you must receive a confirmation by email.
Registration follows a clear sequence of required steps to make it easier for parents to navigate. First, payment must be made. Then the necessary documents are provided. After this, parents receive confirmation of "conditional enrolment" by email. They also receive an invitation for entrance testing if the child is entering grades two through ten.
Often, testing is conducted on a specific day for a large group of students at once. Individual interviews at school are sometimes difficult to arrange, especially during preparation for the new academic year when staff are overloaded. Tests are not conducted during holidays. To learn the holiday schedule, you can visit the school's website.
Kindergartens usually accept children without entrance tests and interviews. But from the age of four, the kindergarten administration can invite children to a language test. Future first-graders also take an entrance test; it is usually held at school.
To enrol in lower grades of Dubai schools, good knowledge of English is not mandatory, even if you have chosen an institution with English instruction.
About 80% of students are not native speakers, so teachers are trained to work with children who have poor English comprehension. The younger the child, the easier the adaptation to the new language environment, and soon students begin to feel more confident.
For middle school education, you will need to have at least B1 level language proficiency. Without it, it will be impossible to fully understand the material, which will lead to falling behind in studies. Therefore, you need to improve language skills and prepare for testing.
Usually, language schools in Dubai, especially those working with British curriculum or IB, can offer language support to students with insufficient English levels.
If the level is too low to successfully master the programme, additional English classes will be organised with the child before or after lessons. Sometimes, as part of the support, students are helped even during classes in other subjects.
It should be noted that schools cannot always provide this service to everyone. If a student shows insufficient English language level in the entrance test, and the school's resources for providing support are exhausted, they may be denied enrolment. This happens even when there are generally available places, and the previous enrolled student might have known the language even worse.
Starting from grade 10, B2 level is required for school admission in the UAE. Insufficient language knowledge will not allow the student to master the curriculum and get high scores in final exams. Poor results of graduates affect the school's rating, so admission without good English knowledge is a very difficult task.
Good English knowledge will help you enrol in the school you need, which means you need to improve your level. Language camps and summer schools in Dubai can help with this. You can inquire about the timing and cost of such training.
There are German schools in Dubai where you can take the Abitur or Matura exam. You can find detailed information at the educational institution itself. For example, you can get a diploma equivalent to the German Abitur at the German International School. It is designed for German evening schools and has the same content as Abitur or Matura in any country worldwide.
School holidays in Dubai roughly coincide with vacation periods in countries such as Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Summer holidays are in July and August. There are also autumn, winter, and spring breaks.
Modern education is impossible without new technologies, so Dubai invests substantial funds in this sphere. The MBRSLP (Mohammed Bin Rashid Smart Learning Programme) has been created, aimed at implementing intelligent learning strategies to increase education effectiveness and make learning interactive. This recognised programme confirms that Dubai offers modern education.
Dubai schools have computer classes and interactive whiteboards, using such learning tools as platforms and applications for e-learning. The use of modern technologies helps students choose an individual development path, as many additional educational resources become available to them. Students develop creativity, critical thinking, and learn to work in teams.
An education consultant is an expert who can be consulted on matters such as school selection or application procedures. They have all the information about the education system in Dubai and various schools. A consultant will help navigate school selection, for example, recommend the most suitable schools in Dubai for Russian children. They can also provide information about enrolment in institutions.
Parents can choose the institution whose curriculum best meets their requirements. Modern technologies, rich educational environment, and consultant assistance make education in Dubai promising and in demand worldwide.
