Dubai to offer 14,000 seats as 25 nurseries, schools and universities set to open

Dubai: Families in Dubai will soon have even more education options for children, with 25 new private institutions opening their doors in the 2025-26 academic year.

From nurseries to international universities, the expansion brings over 14,000 new seats for children and young adults. the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) revealed on Sunday, a day before the first day of the new academic year in most educational institutes and the reopening day after the summer vacation in others.

KHDA confirmed that the new openings include 16 early childhood centres (ECCs), six schools, and three universities, a move that strengthens Dubai’s position as a global hub for quality education.

“Together, these new institutions will add more than 11,700 new school seats,” said KHDA.

The new nurseries alone create space for more than 2,400 little learners. Most will follow the UK’s Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum, while others will introduce Creative Curriculum, Montessori, and Maple Bear programmes, ensuring parents have options that match their preferences.

For school-aged children, families can look forward to five new UK curriculum schools and one French curriculum school. Among them are GEMS School of Research and Innovation in Sports City, Dubai British School Mira, Victory Heights Primary School in City of Arabia, and Lycée Français International School in Mudon.

Dubai’s university scene is also growing. The Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA), ranked 27th globally for business and management, will set up in the city. Joining it are the American University of Beirut, ranked 237th worldwide, and Fakeeh College for Medical Sciences from Saudi Arabia.

Aisha Miran, Director General of KHDA, said: “Dubai’s private education sector continues to grow in scale, quality, and diversity. The new schools, early childhood centres, and international universities opening this year demonstrate strong investor confidence in our city and align with the Education 33 Strategy (E33) to ensure high-quality education for every learner at every stage."

"By welcoming trusted operators and innovative models into more communities, we are creating new opportunities for our learners to thrive, while supporting Dubai’s long-term economic and social aspirations" she added.

The latest expansion means Dubai now has 331 early childhood centres, 233 schools, and 44 higher education institutions.

Parents can browse the KHDA website and mobile app for a full list of private education options available across the emirate.