How to choose a school in the UAE?

The development of the education sector is a key part of the UAE’s Sustainable Development Goals and over the decades the country’s education community has grown by leaps and bounds.

Dubai even has a Global Teacher Award, celebrating the good work of teachers across the world.

So, the options to find a good school for your child are many.

Choosing the right school for your children requires a lot of research, school visits and calculation to ensure the tuition fees fit within your budget.

Here are some of the factors that you need to consider when selecting a school:

While the Ministry of Education oversees the education sector in the country, in Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) is focused on developing the education system in Abu Dhabi and the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) is responsible for inspecting all private schools in Dubai to ensure proper quality of education.

Picking the right school can be tricky, though, and two of our resources for picking a school in Dubai here and here might help you get ahead in your search.

Tuition fees

Annual tuition fees can vary based on the year your child is enrolled in (fees can increase as the child progresses from primary to middle and high school), the curricula as well as the specific school’s facilities being offered (like extra curricular classes, swimming pools, stadia etc within the school premises).

Many schools with a proven academic record can also charge a premium or might be difficult to get into.

In Dubai, schools are also allowed to increase tuition fees by set percentages based on their annual performance.

Despite the regulations set in place by the authorities, school fees in the UAE are among the highest in the world.

Not every company offers education allowance for your children and receiving one as part of your employment package can also depend on your pay grade. If you do not receive an education allowance, it is extremely important to look for a school that has school fees that fit your budget.

Schools in the UAE offer a wide range of tuition fees, which can help residents with every budget find an option.

A 2019 report showed that in Dubai, parents could pay anywhere from Dh12,000 to Dh65,000 in an academic year.

Curriculum

There are different curricula available in UAE schools and how you select a particular curriculum depends on various factors. Whether you are looking for an Indian education system or an IB curriculum, parents can select from several schools to enroll in one that suits their needs the most. Some parents may look for continuity of education from home country or what top global colleges are looking for.

Abu Dhabi schools offer 13 curricular according to ADEK:

Dubai schools offer over 17 different curricula. Want to find the right school? Visit KHDA’s online directory here

The different curricula include:

Other factors to consider

While factors like how close the school is to your home or fees might be the deciding factor in selecting the ideal school for your children, many other factors can also swing the decision in a school’s favour.

Many schools have a focus on extra-curricular activities, with pupils encouraged to take up projects at an international level to build up their portfolio for college admissions.

Top three deciding factors:

Location: For many parents, proximity of the school premises to their home or to a public transport facility can be a big deciding factor.

Rankings: Schools in Dubai and Abu Dhabi are inspected by KHDA and ADEK respectively and where they stand in the annual rankings can offer an indication of the aspects of schooling you are interested in.

Extracurricular activities: Many schools have a focus on extra-curricular activities, with pupils encouraged to take up projects at an international level to build up their portfolio for college admissions.

It is also advisable to visit the school and request for a school tour before you take a decision, quite often the parental support provided by a school, or lacking in another, can change a parent’s decision.

When and how should you apply for your child’s admission?

1) Well in advance, to be on the safe side! How quickly the registrations close largely depend on the demand for the school and some schools open registrations for the year’s intake 12 months in advance.

2) At many popular schools, you may also have to make non-refundable deposits, particularly for elementary years.

3) Students may also be required to sit for an entrance exam, while some schools also require that a percentage of tuition fees be paid well in advance to secure a spot.

4) Students might also need to give interviews in some schools, so contact your preferred school well in advance to find out about their admission process as well as waiting list.

5) These factors for enrolling your children in a school vary from one education provider to the other, regardless of their curriculum. So, whether you wish to enroll your child in an Indian school or an American one, take time to study all the options and contact the school in advance before you take the final decision for your child’s education.

6) If the school you are applying to is known to have a long waiting list, contact them a year before the official start of academic year to make sure you don’t miss your child’s admission in your preferred school.

So, whether you wish to enroll your child in an Indian school or an American one, take time to study all the options before you take the final decision for your child’s education.

All documents for admission into a school must be submitted in either English or Arabic. Legally translated and attested copies will be required where these are not the original languages of issue.

- Admission process

What are the documents needed to apply for school admission?

Every school will have specifications that you can find on their website or at their administration office on the school’s premises, but here are a list of documents you will most definitely need:

1) A filled in application form with the prescribed fee

2) Copy of the latest school reports for the current year, and final report for last year (if applicable)

3) Transfer letter if transferring from outside UAE, or transfer certificate if transferring from another Emirate within UAE

The Transfer Certificate is usually a letter prepared by the previous school confirming the student’s attendance and last recorded school year group/grade. In some cases, this is the only evidence required. In many cases, however, the authenticity of the Transfer Certificate (and sometimes Identity documents) need to be attested by the Ministry of Education or equivalent Authority and the UAE Consulate in the home country, and by the UAE. Ministry of Foreign Affairs on arrival in the UAE. In some cases, the Embassy of the home country in the UAE can fulfill the Attestation requirement for the Education Authority and UAE Consulate. The schools to which you apply will provide you with a sample Transfer Certificate and will confirm the requirements.

4) Passport size photographs of the pupil - 3 to 6

5) Copy of Health Insurance card

6) Copy of valid passport, valid emirates ID, and valid residence visa (for expatriate applicants only)

7) Copy of birth certificate and vaccination records.

8) You would also need to attach copy of valid passport, Emirates ID, and residence visa (for expatriate families only) for the father and the mother.

9) Passport size photographs of both parents - 3

Please note that birth certificates have to be attested by the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the UAE Embassy of the country of origin.

All documents for admission into a school must be submitted in either English or Arabic. Legally translated and attested copies will be required where these are not the original languages of issue.