The UAE’s Sustainable Development Goals include developing the education sector, and the country’s education community has grown by leaps and bounds over the decades.
Dubai even has a Global Teacher Award, which honors teachers around the world for their good work.
So, finding a good school for your child is not difficult.
Choosing the right school for your children requires a great deal of research, school visits, and calculating the tuition fees to ensure you can afford them.
When selecting a school, you should consider the following factors:
- Tuition fees/overall education costs
- Curriculum
- Factors such as extracurricular activities, parental support, etc.
While the Ministry of Education supervises the education sector in the country, the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) is responsible for developing the education system in Abu Dhabi and the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) is responsible for inspecting all private schools in Dubai for proper quality of education.
However, choosing the right school in Dubai can be tricky, and our resources for picking a school here and here might help you in your search.
Tuition fees
The annual tuition fees can vary depending on the year your child is enrolled in (the fees may increase from primary to middle and high school), the curricula being taught as well as the school’s facilities (such as extracurricular activities, swimming pools, stadia, etc within the school premises).
A number of schools with a proven academic record may charge a premium or may be difficult to get into.
The tuition fees at Dubai’s schools can also be increased by set percentages according to their performance.
Despite the regulations set by the authorities, school fees in the UAE are some of the highest in the world.
Education allowances aren’t offered by every company, and the amount you receive depends on your pay grade. When you do not receive an education allowance, it is extremely important to look for a school that charges reasonable fees.
A wide range of tuition fees is available at schools in the UAE, so residents with different budgets can find a suitable option.
According to a 2019 report, parents in Dubai could pay anywhere from Dh12,000 to Dh65,000 per academic year.
Curriculum
Different curricula are available in UAE schools, and how you select a particular one depends on several factors. From an Indian education system to an IB curriculum, parents can enroll in a school that best suits their needs. Parents may look for continuity of education from their home country or what top global colleges require.
According to ADEK, Abu Dhabi schools offer 13 curricular:
- American Curriculum
- Bangladesh Curriculum
- British Curriculum
- French Curriculum
- German Curriculum
- IB Curriculum
- Indian Curriculum
- Iranian Curriculum
- Italian Curriculum
- Japanese Curriculum
- Pakistani Curriculum
- Philippines Curriculum
- SABIS Curriculum
Over 17 different curricula are available in Dubai schools.
The different curricula include:
- American
- Canadian
- French
- German
- Indian
- IB
- Iranian
- Japanese
- MOE
- MOE/American
- Pakistani
- Philippines
- Russian
- Sabis (UK/US)
- UK
- UK/BTEC
- UK/IB
- US/IB
Another factor to consider
Some factors, such as how close the school is to your house or its fees, may influence how you choose the ideal school for your children, but many other factors can also influence your decision.
Extracurricular activities are often emphasized in schools, and pupils are encouraged to participate in international projects to build up their college application portfolio.
Top three deciding factors:
Location:
Many parents consider the proximity of the school’s premises to their home or to public transportation when choosing a school.
Rankings:
In Dubai and Abu Dhabi, schools are inspected by the KHDA and ADEK, and where they rank in the annual rankings can provide information about the aspects of schooling you are interested in.
Extracurricular activities:
Many schools emphasize extracurricular activities, with students encouraged to take on projects at the international level to build up their resumes for college admissions.
If you are considering a school, ask for a school tour and visit before making a decision. Quite often, a school’s level of parental support, or the lack thereof, can change a parent’s mind.
How and when should you apply for your child’s admission?
1) To be on the safe side, plan well in advance! It greatly depends on the demand for the school how quickly registrations close; some schools open their registrations for the next year’s intake 12 months in advance.
2)Many popular schools also require nonrefundable deposits, particularly for elementary years.
3) Many schools also require students to take an entrance exam, while others require a portion of tuition fees to be paid well in advance so that a spot can be reserved.
4) Some schools may require students to participate in an interview as well, so contact your chosen school well in advance to find out about the admission process and waiting list.
5) These factors differ from education provider to education provider, regardless of a school’s curriculum. Take the time to study all the options and call the school in advance before you make your final decision regarding your child’s education, whether the child attends an Indian school or an American one.
6) If the school you are applying to has a long waiting list, contact them a year before the official start of the academic year to make sure your child won’t miss out on admission.
Hence, before making a final decision on your child’s education, take time to review all the options before you choose an Indian school or an American one.
What documents are required for school admission?
On the school’s website or at the administration office, each school will have specific specifications, but here are a few documents you will certainly need:
1) Fill out the application form and submit it along with the fee
2) A copy of the latest school report for the current year and the final report for the previous year (if applicable)
3) You will need either a transfer letter if you are transferring from outside the UAE, or a transfer certificate if you are transferring from another Emirate within the UAE
4) Three to six passport-sized photographs of the pupil
5) A copy of your health insurance card
6) A copy of a valid passport, Emirates ID, and a valid residence visa (for expats only)
7) A copy of the birth certificate and vaccination records.
8) The father and mother must also provide a copy of their passports, Emirates IDs, and residence visas (for expatriate families).
9) Both parents’ passport-sized photographs – 3
Birth certificates must be certified by the UAE Embassy in the country of origin, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
For admission to a school, all documents must be submitted in either English or Arabic. Where these are not the original languages of issue, legally translated and attested copies will be required.