With a huge mix of expat culture, the UAE’s educational system is varied with many international schools to choose from. With varying curriculi, you may be limited if you want your child to follow one specific curriculum. For example, there is a major focus on British curriculum, but the American curriculum is also followed to some degree.

There are varying views on which are the best schools in Dubai. Asking around will get you some consensus but these schools pop up in conversation all the time (P=primary, S=secondary): Jumeirah English School (P), Dubai English Scool (P), English College (P, S), Jumeirah English College (S), Jebel Ali English College (S), Jebel Ali Primary (P), Sharjah English School (P), Dubai College (S), Emirates International School (P,S)

The schools above have a bit of a history and some may consider them head and shoulder above the rest of the schools in Dubai and all follow the British system. Looking into offerings in a bit more detail, you will see that there are a number of other schools which say that they follow the English or British System, but are run predominantly on the Indian System and very rote focused.

The quality of the education in those listed above is excellent and on a par with the best schools in England (ie top 10%), with high grades achieved, although, the quality of the students is relatively high with only the supposed intelligent expats in the top positions being able to afford the education. However, this does not necessarily negate the teaching staff who are recruited on technical expertise.

The main issue that there is in Dubai with regard to education is the problem of getting in. Many of these schools are oversubscribed, and there are not enough being built to meet the demand of the western expats. So, in order to be able to get a child in, you need to pre plan and get on the waiting lists which could be quite long. So you'll need to get in contact with them asap, especially if you are planning to move. Although there are a large number of schools opening up all the time, the issue that you will face is not knowing the quality of the schools.

The oversubscription is somewhat compounded by the fact that large expat employers (eg. DUBAL - dubai aluminium) buy bulk places at some schools, as a sort of retainer to keep places for the children of their expat workers. So, if you are coming out here independently or with a smaller company, planning is imperative.

Cost of education for a good quality primary averages at about 6000dhs per term with three terms per year, although you should be able to get specifics from the schools themselves. The amounts to pay are not cheap and are continuing to go up. This has brought in the newer schools to try and balance the demand with supply, but as we have said, quality is not always guaranteed. You may pay less for some schooling, but you will be sacrificing in some areas. With the cost of living, whether that be rental school space continuing to increase, the standard of teaching decreases as some schools will only offer their teaching staff very low salaries. That’s not to say that schooling is bad. All we are saying that when you are researching schools, look into them with your eyes opened.

Some tips would include sending 2 kids to the same school as having one child at a school would boost the other up the waiting list later on, but it all depends on how long you intend to stay in Dubai or Abu Dhabi, and where you intend to live, especially if you are renting. If at all possible, schooling should become a negotiation point when negotiating your contract to move jobs to the UAE or internally. It can make the difference in whether it is worthwhile to work in Dubai, for example. In some companies, only a few schools are covered – and for some other companies perhaps a certain amount is covered towards schooling and you are expected to make up the shortfall. Others flatly reject paying for schooling. Be very clear that schooling is not free (unless you are a local Emirati) – and so if it is not covered you will have to pay it in some form. Make sure you are specific on your contract as to what is covered with regard to schooling. Aside, some companies cover payment of fees for schools outside of the country, which may help if your job is commutable with your family at home. Although rare, worth looking into if this is your situation.

It is compulsory to learn arabic, and sit exams in these. Rumours always fly round that this will be stopped, but it is no bad thing to have to learn the local language of the country that you are in. Students don’t have to do exams in other subjects in Arabic, just for clarity.

There is a limit on schooling when it comes to secondary school. Historically, all the UAE schools do not offer the full spectrum of technical, science or computing subjects and so this obviously limits choice. Although this is changing and there is more and more scope for growth , what this means is that further facilities, in general are not so good, in comparison to the west, e.g computer rooms, labs etc. Schools, however look amazing. The best schools in Abu Dhabi and Dubai are fantastic and you will be truly amazed setting foot in such schools.

The number of schools opening increases year by year however, there is no government funded schooling for expatriates so all schools will charge fees. Fees are high and some may include books and school bus fares, but usually the price only includes tuition fees. When thinking of enrolling your child into a school it may be worth speaking to friends/ colleagues for an unbiased opinion as fees and waiting lists can vary.

Most schools offer a good variety of extra curricular activities, however some may charge extra for these classes. The information required to enroll your child into a school in the UAE may seem endless but is necessary as with all the other paperwork you have to go through with everything else and includes:

• A school application form

• Copies of birth certificates. This may need to be attested depending on the school

• Copies of passport for both child and the parents which must show the residence visa stamp Again, this may need to be attested which each school differs.

• Passport pictures of the child

• Immunisation information and medical history for the child

If transferring from a school in the UAE:

• School records for the past two years if applicable

• An official transfer certificate detailing the child’s education, date of enrolment, year of placement, date of leaving the school, school stamp and signature. You may need to provide this anyway, so it is worth getting an official record from any previous school that your child attended.

We have broken down information from Nursery, Primary, Secondary and Higher Education levels, providing a brief gist of what is available and links to some institutions. With additional research, you will find further institutions based in the UAE

Nurseries, Montessori’s and Preschools

The age intake can vary and most nurseries are open for about 4 to 5 hours in the day. It is best to visit as many nurseries so that you are able to compare the difference in their school days. You will also get an idea of the make up of the children, as well as the type of discipline enforced.

Fees vary enormously at nursery schools as it all depends on how many days you want to send your child and whether you opt for a full day or half day. As a guide, a child enrolled on a 5 day week doing a full day (8am – 2pm) is usually Dhs 5,500 per term. Most nurseries charge a Dhs 700 registration fee. This estimate of charges is from 2008, but prices constantly increase.

Below is a list of some nurseries in Abu Dhabi and Dubai to get you started in your search. These have not been vetted by us so please contact them individually for more information.
 

Abu Dhabi

Bright Beginnings Nursery
Tel: +971 2 445 5339 Fax: +971 2 446 4431


Humpty Dumpty Nursery
Tel./Fax No. +971 2 666 3277, Mobile No. +971 50 818 5838


First Steps Nursery
Tel: +971 2 445 4920 Fax: +971 2 445 4940


International Montessori Nursery
Tel: +971 2 449 4680 Fax: +9712 449 4690


Jigsaw Nursery
Tel: +971 2 445 5222
 

Dubai


Alphabet Street Nursery
Tel: +971 4 348 5991 Fax: +971 4 348 5992


Bright Morning Nursery
Tel: +971 4 394 6118 Fax: +971 4 394 1510


Children’s Oasis Nursery
Tel: Umm Suqeim: +971 4 348 8981; Emirates Lakes: +971 4 390 5010, Dubai Marina: +971 (4) 390 5100


Emirates British Nursery
Tel: +971 4 348 9996 (Umm Sequim), +971 4 288 9611 (Mirdiff)


Gulf Montessori Nursery
Tel: +971 4 282 7046, Fax: 971 4 282 9954


Jumeirah International Nursery
Tel: +971 4 349 9065, Fax: +971 4 344 6756
 

Primary and Secondary

The level of teaching in UAE is usually high with excellent facilities available. The Ministry of Education regularly carries out inspections in order to maintain good standards. Schools offer a mix of international curriculum i.e. iGCSE, A Levels and the IB (International Baccalaureate) among others. It is usually a good idea to think carefully about what type of curriculum you want your child to follow, as we have mentioned previously as this limits your choice of school. The decision should really be based on which country you see your long term residence to be in, for example if you plan to move back to the UK eventually, it might be worth your child studying the British system. Try not to base your decision on where your colleague’s child goes because you’ve heard its good – in the long term it may not be suitable for your situation. Some schools have a combined primary and secondary institution which can be worth looking into if you have more than one child.

The criteria for some schools may include your child having to take an entrance exam and a family interview. Fees are quoted as yearly, and different schools quote different fees. For most primary schools the cost of schooling for one year in Dubai, say, ranges from Dhs 10,000 to Dhs 35,000 per year and secondary schools from Dhs 15,000 to Dhs 60,000 per year. These fees do not include registration fees, deposits, trips or medical (if any) and are an estimate based on 2008 and 2009.

Below is a list of some primary and secondary schools in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. These have not been vetted by us so please contact them individually for more information.
 

Abu Dhabi


Al Nahda National School
Category: Primary and Secondary
Girls School Tel: +971 2 4477600 / 4474550 - Fax (9712)4477894
Boys School Tel: +971 2 4454200 / 4452984 - Fax (9712)4454805

American International School in Abu Dhabi
Category: Primary and Secondary
Tel: +971 2 444 4333 Fax: +971 2 444 4005

British School Al Khubairat
Category: Primary and Secondary
Tel: +971 2 4462280 / FAX: +971 2 4461915

Cambridge High School
Category: Primary and Secondary
Tel: +971 2 552 1621 Fax: +971 2 552 1622

International School of Choueifat
Category: Primary and Secondary
Tel: +971 2 446 1444 Fax: 971 2 446 1048
 

Dubai


American School of Dubai
Category: Primary and Secondary
Tel: +971 4 344 0824 Fax: +971 4 344 1510


Cambridge High School
Category: Primary and Secondary with foundation stage
Tel: +971 4 282 4646 Fax: +971 4 282 4109

Deira International School
Category: Primary with foundation stage
Tel: +971 4 232 5552 Fax +971 4 232 5151


Dubai American Academy
Category: Primary and Secondary
Tel: +971 4 347 9222 Fax: +9714 347 6070

Dubai British School
Category: Primary and Secondary with foundation stage
Tel: +971 4 361 9361 Fax: +971 4 360 9294


Dubai International Academy
Category: Primary
Tel: +971 4 368 4111 Fax: +971 4 361 9050

Emirates International School
Category: Primary and Secondary
Curriculum followed: International Baccalaureate
Tel: +971 4 362 9009 Fax: +971 4 362 9229


English College
Category: Secondary
Curriculum followed: British
Tel: +971 4 394 3465 Fax: +971 4 394 7242


Horizon English School
Category: Primary
Curriculum followed: British
Tel: +971 4 342 2891 Fax: +971 4 342 9759


International School of Choueifat
Category: Primary and Secondary
Curriculum followed: British and American
Tel: +971 4 399 9444 Fax: +971 4 399 9045


Jebel Ali Primary School
Category: Primary
Curriculum followed: British
Tel: +971 4 884 6485 Fax: +971 4 884 5373


Jumeirah College
Category: Secondary
Curriculum followed: British
Tel: +971 4 395 5524 Fax: +971 4 395 4586


Jumeirah Primary School
Category: Primary and foundation stage
Curriculum followed: British
Tel: +971 4 394 3500 Fax: +971 4 394 3960

Kings Dubai
Category: Primary and foundation stage
Curriculum followed: British
Tel: +971 4 348 3939 Fax: +971 4 348 3223


Regent School
Category: Primary and Secondary with foundation stage
Curriculum followed: British
Tel: +971 4 360 8830 Fax: +971 4 360 8831

GEMS Royal Dubai School
Category: Primary and Secondary with foundation stage
Curriculum followed: British
Tel: +971 4 288 6499 Fax: +971 4 288 6490


The Sheffield Private School
Category: Primary and foundation stage
Curriculum followed: British
Tel: +971 4 267 8444 Fax: +971 4 267 8938

St Mary’s Catholic School
Category: Primary and Secondary
Curriculum followed: British
Tel: +971 4 337 0252 Fax: +971 4 336 8119

Star International School
Category: Primary and Secondary
Curriculum followed: British
Tel: +971 4 263 8999 Fax: +971 4 263 8998

Universal American School in Dubai
Category: Primary and Secondary
Curriculum followed: American
Tel: +971 4 232 5222 Fax: +971 4 232 5545

Wellington International School
Category: Primary and Secondary
Curriculum followed: British
Tel: +971 4 348 4999 Fax: +971 4 348 6595

Westminster School
Category: Primary and Secondary with foundation year
Curriculum followed: British
Tel: +971 4 298 8333 Fax: +971 4 298 8603


Winchester School
Category: Primary with foundation year
Curriculum followed: British
Tel: +971 4 882 0444 Fax: +971 4 882 0440
 

University, Higher Education and Professional courses

Further educational courses tend not to be as popular as Primary and Secondary schooling. This is usually the case when expat families decide to either all move back to their home country or send their child back home for further studies. This is more common amongst western expat families. However, the ever increasing population of the UAE has recently seen a surge in students at primary and secondary level who are showing an interest to continue their higher education studies in the UAE. This in turn has led to more centers offering undergraduate and post graduate courses in the Arts, Sciences, Business and Management and Engineering arena. Currently, the majority of institutions are based in Dubai around the Knowledge Village and Dubai International Academy areas. Abu Dhabi lacks choice at present, however plans to build a New York University Campus are underway with a potential Yale Campus for the future. Because there is a limit on number of institutions, there is also a limit on courses, so longer term, you may need to consider the additional cost of sending your child overseas for their undergraduate course. For postgraduate courses, more institutions are offering distance learning opportunities which is proving more popular among staff who cant forgo the salary to return home and study.

Below is a list of some university and higher educational institutions in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. These have not been vetted by us so please contact them individually for more information.
 

Abu Dhabi


Abu Dhabi University
Courses: Arts, Sciences, Engineering, Computer Science and Information Technology
Additional Info: This institution has also has a campus in Al Ain
Tel: +971 2 558 8999


UAE University
Courses: Business and Economics, Education, Engineering, Food Systems, Sciences, Information Technology, Humanities, Social Sciences. Additional Info: Welcomes applicants who are expats as well as nationals.
Tel: +971 3 755 5557 Fax: +9713 754 5277


Paris – Sorbonne University
Courses: The University runs a number of programmes including Archaeology and Art, French and Comparative Literature, History and Geography, Languages, Law and Music among others. All classes are taught in French. For non – French speakers, a one year French programme is offered. Additional Info: The Abu Dhabi campus is Paris – Sorbonne’s first centre outside France. The university follows the License-Masters-Doctorate (LMD) system which is a total of 3 years duration.
Tel: +971 2 509 0555 Fax: +971 2 509 0656


New York University NYU Abu Dhabi (In Development)
The website outlines plans for the development and launch of this well established university. It is intended for enrolment to begin in autumn 2010.
 

Dubai

The American College of Dubai
Courses: Courses and Associate Degree programmes in Business Information Technology and Arts
Additional Info: Offers university level credits enabling transfers to international institutions.
Tel: +971 4 282 9992 Fax: +971 4 282 8060


American University of Dubai
Courses: Business, Information Technology, Engineering, Interior Design, Arts, Visual Communication
Tel: +971 4 399 9000 Fax: +971 4 399 8899


American University of Sharjah
Courses: Languages, Literature, Business, Finance, Communications, Architecture, Engineering, Design, Economics. Postgraduate courses also offered in Arts and Sciences, Architecture and Design, Business Management and Engineering.
Tel: +971 6 515 5555 Fax: +971 5 515 2200


British University in Dubai
Courses: Postgraduate courses in Environmental Design of Buildings, Information Technology. Some PHD courses are also available. Additional Info: Dubai’s first postgraduate research based university.
Tel: +971 4 391 3626 Fax: +971 4 366 4698

Dublin Business School
Courses: One year foundation course in English and Business and a one year Certificate in Business and Language (CBL) and a 3 year degree course BA (Hons) in Business Studies.
Tel: +971 4 367 1292

Emirates Academy of Hospital Management
Courses: Offers a range of courses in International Hospitality Management, International Tourist Management and Business and Tourism. Additional Info: This institution is owned by the Jumeirah Group, the company that owns Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Burj Al Arab and Madinat Jumeirah. Tel: +971 4 315 5555 Fax: +971 4 315 5556

Heriot-Watt University Dubai
Courses: Offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Business, Management, Finance, Accounting and Information Technology. Additional Info: One of the UK’s renowned university’s
Tel: +971 4 361 6999 Fax: +971 4 360 4800

London Business School - Dubai-London Executive MBA
Course: A unique 2 year MBA programme run in the prestigious London Business School environment with modules offered in Dubai during the 2nd year. An optional international assignment can also be taken. In addition to the Executive MBA, the Dubai centre will run six Executive Education programmes.
Tel: +971 4 425 0182 Fax: +971 4 425 0180

Manchester Business School
Course: Offer a distance learning and self study approach whereby professionals who are already in senior and managerial positions can attend workshops and lectures to complement their profession.
Tel: +971 4 365 8313 Fax: +971 4 360 4505

Manipal Academy of Higher Education
Courses: Offers a range of courses in Information Systems, Media and Communication, Fashion and Interior Design at various certificate levels including undergraduate and postgraduate.
Tel: +971 4 366 4577

Middlesex University
Courses: Offers a range of undergraduate courses in Accountancy, Business Studies, Tourism, Human Resource Management, Marketing and Computer Science.
Additional Info: Another popular UK university. Courses can be studied as a single or joint honours programme.
Tel: +971 4 367 8100 Fax: +971 4 367 2956

SAE Institute
Courses: Offers specialist courses in Audio Engineering, Digital Animation and Film making.
Additional Info: This is an Australian film and multimedia training institute.
Tel: +971 4 361 6173 Fax: +971 4 368 6800

University of Wollongong
Courses: Offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Business and Information Technology, Accounting, Banking and Management.
Tel: +971 4 367 2400 Fax: +971 4 367 2760
 

Dubai International Academic City and Dubai Knowledge Village

It is worth further researching other higher education institutions that may perhaps be setting up in Dubai. They are probably likely to associate themselves either with Knowledge village or Dubai International Academic City which is a kind of freezone for education establishments and likely to house the newer bigger entrants. Dr Ayoub Kazim, executive director of Dubai Knowledge Village (DKV) and Dubai International Academic City has explained DIAC will provide the best academic resources to both residents and expatriate students. Presently Knowledge Village has a mix of training and human resource institutions along with a few international universities. The non educational establishments has made the strategy of knowledge village appear a little bizarre, but going forward we believe there will be more educational institutions in place.
 

Special Needs Institutions

Special needs type schooling in the UAE is not extensive so if you have a child with a disability it is worth checking out what is on offer before you embark on your move to the UAE. The location of where a school is may affect the area you decide to buy or rent your property simply because there may be limited availability of schooling. In terms of choice, more are available in Dubai, however Abu Dhabi does offer a few institutions too. Awareness of special needs is still generally pretty low in the UAE so there is not a wide level of specialty presently offered.

Special needs institutions are not government funded so they operate like a charity and rely on donations and voluntary work. All will charge tuition fees. The majority of teaching is in English but Arabic is offered.

Below is a list of some special needs institutions in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. These have not been vetted by us so please contact them individually for more information.
 

Abu Dhabi

Al Noor Speech, Hearing and Development Centre
Info: Students are accepted with all types of disabilities and ages and partially run as a charity.
Tel: +971 2 449 3844


Future Centre
Info: Accepts all nationalities and ages between 3 and 20. Specialises in disabilities such as Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), Downs Syndrome, cerebral palsy and traumatic brain injury as well as an autism unit.
Tel: +971 2 666 9625 Fax: +971 2 665 1912
 

Dubai


Al Noor Centre for children with Special Needs
Info: Departments for Autism, Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language and Physiotherapy.
Tel: +971 4 340 4844 Fax : +971 4 341 7274


Dubai Centre for Special Needs
Info: Students are equipped with individual programmes and centre specialises in physiotherapy, speech and occupational therapy.
Tel: +971 4 344 0966


Dubai Autism Centre
Info: Provides teaching for autistic children and a support network for parents and training teachers.
Tel: +971 4 398 6862


Rashid Paediatric Therapy Centre
Info: Provides care in speech, occupational and physical therapy.
Tel: +971 4 340 0005





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