UK’s 515-year-old school to open campus in Dubai

Dubai: St Paul’s Girls’ School, the United Kingdom’s top-ranked academic institution, is bringing its world-renowned legacy to Dubai in partnership with Meraki Education, a leading Dubai-based education group.

The collaboration will establish SPGS International School Dubai, a coeducational campus set to redefine academic excellence in the region.

The Dubai campus will be a purpose-built facility welcoming boys and girls from early years to sixth grade, featuring world-class facilities for science, arts, sport, design, sustainability, and well-being. It is designed to be both a centre of learning and a community hub.

The school, which has 515-year British academic legacy, is expected to open campus in Dubai in 2029.

According to a press release on Tuesday, St Paul’s Girls’ School sends more than half its students annually to Oxford, Cambridge, and Ivy League universities. The new Dubai campus will replicate this tradition, offering a rigorous British curriculum, state-of-the-art facilities, and pathways to global higher education.

Bernard J. West, Managing Director of Meraki Education, said: “To bring the tremendous St Paul’s legacy to Dubai is to establish a lasting foundation for excellence. A school of this calibre does not simply serve a community; it defines it. Its presence enhances every aspect of its surroundings, intellectually, socially, and culturally. Together, we are creating a destination for learning and a landmark for Dubai.”

Sara Brazendale, Managing Director of SPGS International, added: “The founding of SPGS International School Dubai represents more than the creation of a school; it marks the establishment of an enduring institution. This new campus will help shape the future of Dubai by nurturing a generation of scholars, innovators, and leaders who reflect the city’s ambition and spirit. We chose to work with Meraki because their team possesses both a comprehensive understanding of education and an exceptional appreciation of the St Paul’s ethos.”

St Paul’s Girls’ School has been a pioneer in redefining leadership through education, long before women were admitted to universities. It was among the first to unite moral purpose with academic rigour, to champion women’s education on equal terms with men, and to prove that creativity and intellect can thrive together.

St Paul’s heritage spans two of the UK’s leading independent schools, both governed by the Worshipful Company of Mercers, London’s oldest livery company. St Paul’s School (1509) and St Paul’s Girls’ School (1904) share a commitment to scholarly achievement and moral integrity.

Meraki Education is a Dubai-based group operating premium international schools, including North London Collegiate School Dubai, North London Collegiate School Singapore, and Hartland International School, bringing proven expertise in education and governance.