It wasn’t too long ago when my wife and I were in your shoes, contemplating a huge family international move for a new and exciting executive/career opportunity. In our case, it was a move to the booming economic development zone of Shenzhen, China when our children were small.
During our initial research and travels to Shenzhen, even before we could think about where we wanted to live – all my wife and I could think about was how do we find the best possible international schools for our young children. That was our #1 priority. We knew if we got that part right, in an environment where our children would grow and thrive, we would also find our new community of friends and connections quickly and settle in faster in our new home country.
Fast forward to 2025, and a few more international moves later (including Dubai!) on the journey – we see many similarities for young expatriate families relocating to Dubai. We get it and we know your family priorities right from the start. We hope you find this information helpful to kick start your Dubai international school research. We are here for you, if you need any assistance to find your perfect Dubai community.
If you’re considering relocating your family to Dubai, you’ll be delighted to know that the city boasts an exceptional international private school system experiencing remarkable growth.
Dubai Big Picture – International Private Schools
- Economic Growth and Expat Influx: Dubai’s robust economy continues to attract professionals from around the globe. This influx of expats directly translates to increased demand for high-quality education. This in turn attracts the best and brightest educational professionals (Best in class school operators, instructors, coaches and mentors).
- Government Investment in Education: The Dubai Government, through the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), has consistently prioritized education, fostering a competitive and high-standard school environment.
- Reputation for Quality: Dubai’s international private schools have gained a reputation for academic excellence, diverse curricula (British, American, French, IB, etc.), and state-of-the-art facilities.
Dubai Private International School Key Stats
(Source: KHDA/Dubai Private School Landscape 24/25, published JAN 2025)
The best operators and educators in the world are drawn to Dubai, and education system in Dubai is among the best in the world.
- International School Totals: Dubai has 227 international schools, up from 149 international schools a decade ago.
- International School Enrollment: 387,441 students are currently enrolled as of January 2025, an increase of 6.2% over 2023/2024 enrollment figures.
- International School Enrollment Growth Rate: Dubai has seen a compound annual growth rate of +8.8% over the last 3 years (from 2020/21 spring enrollment).
- Early Childhood Centers Totals (ECC’s): As of July 2024, Dubai had 274 Early Childhood Centers with 25 new ECC’s opening in the last year.
- Early Childhood Center Enrollment (ECC’s): As of July 2024, Dubai had 27,490 children enrolled in ECC’s which represented a 16% growth rate from the previous year.
With Dubai overall population growth averaging +3.87% the last two years, we can see the demographic pivot and dramatic uptick in expatriate families with children relocating to Dubai through international school enrollment statistics – with international school enrollment +8.8% compounded annual growth rate running well over double the population growth rate. The 16% growth rate in ECC’s student enrollment illustrates both accelerated expatriate family relocations to Dubai, and concurrently new family formations of existing residents. All statistics point to continued healthy enrollment growth in international school sector.
New families that are aiming to relocate to Dubai in 2025 – it’s very important to get a jump on your research to start planning now for the new 2025/2026 school year.
Admissions Process: A Step-by-Step Guide:
- Research and Shortlist: Start now. Identify schools that align with your child’s needs, your family’s values and budget. Visit school websites, read DSIB ratings reports at (https://web.khda.gov.ae/en/resources/khda’s-data-statistics ) and attend virtual or in-person open house days. See links at the bottom of the KHDA web page: KHDA – Dubai Private Schools Open Data.
- Application Submission: Complete the online application form to desired school and submit all required documents, including academic records, passport copies, and visa details.
- Entrance Assessments: Most schools require students to undergo entrance assessments to evaluate their academic abilities as part of admissions qualifications process.
- Interviews: Both students and parents may be invited for interviews as part of admissions qualification process.
- Offer and Enrollment: Successful applicants will receive an offer letter. Upon acceptance, you’ll need to pay the required fees and complete the enrollment process.
Dubai Prime Communities for Excellent International Schools:
For families seeking the highest-rated (Outstanding/Very Good DSIB rating) international private schools, these neighbourhoods stand out:
- Al Barsha: Home to numerous established and highly regarded schools.
- Arabian Ranches: Affluent villa community, known for its family-friendly environment and excellent British curriculum schools.
- Mirdif: An area that has seen a large increase in high quality schools due to the increased residents in the area.
- Dubai Hills Estate: A newer affluent development with modern, state-of-the-art schools.
- Umm Suqeim: A long-established area with many well-regarded schools.
- Dubai Silicon Oasis: An excellent family community dedicated to educational excellence with Digital Park Smart District, colleges and universities, and home to many international schools.
For your convenience, we’ve provided a complete listing of Dubai International Schools with a DCIB rating of Outstanding/Very Good for 2022/2023 academic year (latest survey available). See list at the end of this Shine Life Newsletter.
Academic Excellence and College Placement Demonstrated Success:
- Many Dubai international schools boast exceptionally high graduation rates, with a significant percentage of students gaining admission to prestigious universities worldwide.
- Many Dubai international schools also offer International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program, consistently achieving high average IB scores and facilitating access to top-tier universities.
- DSIB reports do assess the quality of student outcomes. Schools with “Outstanding” ratings consistently send large numbers of students to top global universities.
Dubai Private Schools – Extracurricular Excellence:
Dubai’s international private schools excel in providing diverse range of extracurricular activities, driven to help every student reach their full potential.
Schools that stand out for their extracurricular programs often have dedicated facilities and experienced coaches and instructors. Schools like GEMS schools, and schools operated by Taaleem are examples of institutions that provide exceptional extra-curricular activities. DSIB reports will highlight schools with strong extra-curricular programs.
- Sports: Schools offer a wide range of sports, including swimming, football, basketball, tennis, and more, with many participating in inter-school competitions.
- STEM: Science and computer clubs are prevalent, with students participating in robotics competitions, coding challenges, and science fairs.
- Creative Arts: Schools offer drama, music, art, and design programs, encouraging students to explore their creative talents.
Parent Key Takeaways:
- As a result of exceptional Dubai Government planning and support, the private school sector is thriving, offering exceptional educational opportunities for Dubai’s children and new expatriate families.
- Start early. Careful research and planning are essential for securing admission to your preferred school.
- Consider your family’s lifestyle and priorities when choosing the best Dubai neighbourhood location.
- KHDA government website (including DSIB data reporting) is an invaluable resource for parents to research and assess the quality of schools.
Tom McLaughlin
Director
Shine Life Real Estate
About Shine Life
Shine Life is your trusted – family focused – professional partner in navigating the vibrant and dynamic Dubai real estate market. Established in 2021, our entrepreneurial and seasoned leadership team took the huge leap to establish our own boutique real estate firm with the desire to elevate the client service experience with a very human, family-oriented approach.
With over 14 years of experience, our team of professionals is committed to providing exceptional service tailored to your family’s unique property needs.
Our core values of excellence in customer service, dedication to hard work, professionalism, and integrity drive us to create a seamless and rewarding property journey for all our clients.
Contact Us
Email: tom@shinelife.ae
Phone: 04-228-2868
