The emirate of Dubai, energetic and astonishing as it is, is rapidly gaining status as the center of education in the Middle East. Encompassed by sand-hills, towering with sparkling new high-rises, Dubai is a world-class city ascending from the desert at an unimaginable pace. Whether your interests lie in architecture, sports, tourism or business, Dubai is the epicenter of learning and has truly been built to cater for all who visit.
An upsurge in population has resulted in major investments in the education sector in Dubai. The advantages of studying in Dubai include:
Education plays a pivotal role in Dubai’s development programs. The school system in Dubai does not differ from education in the UAE. There are many public and private schools serving Emiratis and expatriates. The medium of instruction in public schools is Arabic with emphasis on English as a second language, while most of the private schools use English as their medium of instruction.
All schools have entrance examinations and most have a uniform dress code. Fees vary by school with many charging different fees for each age group. Additional fees are payable for registration, transport, uniforms, extra-curricular activities and other expenses.
The following documents must be submitted with an application form for admission:
The education system in Dubai is a four-level system consisting of fourteen years of instruction, from primary to secondary school. It’s especially important that the primary and secondary level education is free of cost to every single resident of the UAE. Mandatory schooling starts at 4-5 years of age, with the age of 3 years and 8 months set as the minimum requirement for Kindergarten.
The academic year is divided into three terms, starting in September and ending in June. The school week runs from Monday to Thursday. Start and finish times vary by school but are typically 8:00 am and 2:30 pm.
| Primary School Education | Preparatory School Education | Secondary School Education | Technical Secondary School Education | |
| Length of the program: | 6 years | 3 years | 3 years | 6 years |
| Approximate age: | 6 to 12 | 12 to 15 | 15 to 18 | 12 to 18 |
The UAE Ministry of Education announced school calendar dates for the year 2021-2022. Private schools have been allowed up to one-week of flexibility to accommodate foreign curriculum examination schedules. The total number of school days is supposed to be 186.
| 2021-2022 | Semester 1 – Autumn Term | Semester 2 – Spring Term | Semester 3 – Summer Term |
| First day of term | 29 Aug 2021 | 03 Jan 2021 | 15 Apr 2021 |
| Last day of term | 9 Dec 2021 | 24 Mar 2022 | 01 July 2022 |
The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) was established in 2006 to enhance quality standards and support the development of the education sector in Dubai.
Tuition ranges from AED 12,723 (USD 3,463.84) to AED 64,093 (USD 17,449.32) per annum.
Around 8% of all places are held for students from the Gulf locale and 7% for foreigners. As of 2020, there were 194 private schools in Dubai offering various curricula like British, American, Asian, and UAE Ministry of Education curriculum. A total of 255,208 students from 187 diverse nationalities were enrolled in Dubai-based private schools, with the Indian and British curricula alone accounting for 64% of the enrolment in these institutes.
The number of colleges and universities in Dubai has grown significantly in the last 20 years and every year the number of their staff and students increases by about 30%.
Both Dubai Knowledge Village and Dubai International Academic City (DIAC) are the central hubs of higher education in the city. They provide an exceptional environment for training and learning support activities. DIAC is the world’s only free zone dedicated to higher education. There are currently world-reputed universities and training institutes of higher learning in Dubai from various regions including the USA, UK, Australia, India, Pakistan, Iran, France, Russia, Belgium, and Canada. These institutions offer programs that range in duration from one year to four years.
Major academic programs on offer include:
Some of the top universities in Dubai offering degrees and courses include Harvard Medical School Dubai Center, London Business School, University of Strathclyde, Manchester Business School, Duke’s Fuqua School of Business and Cass Business School, among others.
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