Overview
For families moving to the UAE, the school is often the first decision, and it shapes where you live. Most expatriate children attend private schools, which offer many international curricula. Places at popular schools fill early, so start looking months before you move.
Public or private?
Public (government) schools teach the national curriculum in Arabic. They are free for UAE nationals, and only certain groups of non-citizens can apply, subject to conditions set by the Ministry of Education and the Emirates Schools Establishment.
Private schools teach a wide range of curricula and charge fees that are approved by the regulator of each emirate. This is where most families from abroad, including families from Arab countries, enrol their children.
Who regulates schools
| Emirate | Regulator of private schools |
|---|---|
| Dubai | Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) |
| Abu Dhabi | Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) |
| Sharjah | Sharjah Private Education Authority (SPEA) |
| Ras Al Khaimah | Department of Knowledge |
| Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Fujairah | Ministry of Education |
The regulator licenses schools, approves their fees and publishes inspection results. Its website is the place to check that a school is licensed.
Curricula on offer
Private schools offer, among others, the British curriculum (GCSE and A levels), the American curriculum, the International Baccalaureate, Indian curricula (CBSE and ICSE), French, German and the UAE Ministry of Education curriculum. Arabic language is taught in private schools, and Islamic education is taught to Muslim pupils, alongside the national subjects required by the Ministry.
Think about where your child may study next. If you may move again, a curriculum that is easy to continue elsewhere matters more than any single school's reputation.
Inspection ratings
Schools are inspected regularly. In Dubai, inspection ratings run from Outstanding through Very good, Good, Acceptable and Weak to Very weak, and they are published on KHDA's website. Abu Dhabi inspects schools through ADEK's Irtiqa'a programme. Ratings are a useful start, but visit the school and talk to parents too.
Fees
Each school sets its fees, and the regulator must approve them; in Dubai, a school's permitted fee increase is linked to its inspection rating. Ask every school for its current fee schedule, including registration fees, deposits, transport, uniforms and trips. Do not rely on figures from old lists, and check the approved fees on the regulator's website.
Age rules and timing
- Most schools start the year in August or September. Some, mainly Indian curriculum schools, start in April.
- From the 2026 to 2027 school year, the age cut-off for schools starting in August or September is 31 December of the admission year: for example, a child must be six by 31 December to join Grade 1 (Year 2 in British schools). Schools starting in April use 31 March.
- Meeting the age rule does not guarantee a place; schools also assess readiness and availability.
Documents for enrolment
Requirements vary by school and emirate, but you will usually need:
- The child's and parents' passports and, once issued, residence visas and Emirates IDs
- The child's birth certificate (attested if issued abroad)
- Recent school reports
- A transfer certificate from the previous school, for Grade 2 and above, attested in the country of issue and in the UAE when it comes from abroad
- Vaccination records and passport photos
Start attestation early: it can take weeks in your home country.
Step by step
- Choose the emirate and area where you will live.
- Shortlist schools by curriculum, rating, fees and distance on the regulator's website.
- Contact the schools, ask about places and register for assessment.
- Accept an offer and pay the registration deposit.
- Submit the documents and complete registration once your residence is issued.
Recommended next step
Decide which curriculum you want your child to follow, then compare three to five licensed schools near where you plan to live, using the regulator's ratings and approved fees.