International Schools and the Education System in the UAE

The UAE places great importance on its education system as a means of progressing its economy and business sector. As an expat whether you’re looking for a kindergarten, exploring international schools, or thinking long-term about university, there’s a lot to take in and plenty of options to choose from. This guide covers everything you need to know about the education system in the UAE. We’ll help you navigate the choices and find the right fit for your family, whatever your plans are.

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The education system in the UAE

UAE education facts

School is mandatory for all kids aged 6–18. This mandate includes expat children as well.
Public schools are only free for Emirati citizens, so expat's children have to pay fees
Public schools offer courses in Arabic and place emphasis on English as a second language. The UAE mandated that more core subjects be taught in English as a way to improve the English language proficiency of their student body.
In public schools, boys and girls are taught separately throughout most of the primary, and all of the secondary levels. Even recess times are staggered so that boys and girls do not mix.
Although education systems from across the globe are present in the UAE, most schools in the emirates follow the UK education system.
Most schools offer primary and secondary instruction. Students will not need to transfer to a separate school to graduate from primary to secondary.

The UAE has four streams of education:

General stream: All students start their education in this stream. The stream includes a balance of arts, math, and sciences courses. When students leave this stream, they receive greater emphasis on math and sciences.

Professional stream: This can also be called the Vocational stream. Students can choose this stream in Grade 9. Upon completion of Grade 12 they will obtain an applied high school certificate which is equivalent to technical high school certificate. Learning in this track is based on applying knowledge and developing students’ practical skills.

Advanced stream: The only difference between this stream and the General stream is that students get to focus on specific fields of study like engineering, medicine or pharmacy.

Elite stream (Advanced Science Program): For academically outstanding students. This stream admits students from Grade 6 until they finish Grade 12. The curriculum focuses on science and technology with particular attention to analysis, reasoning, and problem-solving.

What Is the school system like in the UAE?

For most UAE schools, the school year starts in September and ends in June. Indian, Pakistani, and Japanese schools start in April and end in March.
School hours start between 7:00 and 8:00 a.m. and go until about 14:00 to 15:00.
The specific time differs between the grade level and, for public schools, divided male and female classes.
Kindergarten and primary school students have shorter days than secondary school students.

UAE schooling levels

The UAE education system is divided into four tiers:

Kindergarten	KG 1 and KG 2	4–5 years old
Primary School	Grade 1–6	6–11 years old
Preparatory Stage	Grade 7–9	12–14 years old
Secondary School	Grade 10–12	15–17 years old
	Grade 13	18 years old

For students wanting to be admitted into a particular grade for a school beginning in April, the must meet the minimum age requirement by July 31st.
For schools starting in December, students must meet the minimum age by December 31st.

UAE grading system

Although it can vary from school to school, the standard grading system in the UAE is based on the American grading system.

A	100-90%
B	89-80%
C	79-70%
D	69-60%
F	59-0%

Daycare & kindergarten

In the UAE, neither preschool nor kindergarten are mandatory. However, it is advisable that students attend daycare, preschool, or kindergarten as it will adequately prepare them for introduction into the primary school levels.

At what age do children start kindergarten?

Children can start kindergarten in the UAE from 4 years old. Kindergarten is for children who are not yet old enough to enter Grade 1. Kindergarten consists of two levels / two years of mixed-gender classes:

Kindergarten 1 (KG1)
Kindergarten 2 (KG2)

The educational approach of KG 1 and 2 is focused on developing social, language, physical, and academic skills.

How to apply to kindergarten

Submit an application on the school's site
You may need to pay 200-500 AED non-refundable fee. Make sure to register your interest early to avoid being on the waitlist.
Your child may have to take an informal assessment which would be a play session (colors/shapes/social skills, 15-30 min)
Within 1-2 weeks you would receive a response, and you would need to pay a deposit to secure your spot.

How to find kindergartens in your local area

Popular kindergartens in the UAE

Daycare and kindergarten fees

Daycare and kindergarten fees vary depending on which school you choose. Some school costs can be as low as 5,000 AED (approx. 400 USD) for one academic term, where the student attend school for five days a week and have Friday as a half day. They also typically operate from 8:00 till 13:00. Some schools can charge up to 50,000 AED (approx. 13,600 USD) per year or higher.

Primary & secondary schools

Primary and secondary education in the UAE lasts about twelve years.

Primary school

Primary school, also known as elementary school, lasts about six years. It stretches from grade 1 to 6 (about 6–11 years old).

In Grade 6 students can apply to enter the elite stream.

Preparatory school

Preparatory school compromises Grade 7 through 9. This level of school aims to nurture young students for secondary education, where they will hone their interests and specialty.

Secondary school

Secondary school, also called high school, ranges from Grade 9 to 12. This is the level where students will choose which stream (professional, general, or advanced) they wish to enter. Upon completion of Grade 12, students will receive a high school certificate, which indicates passing 12 years of compulsory education. Students who attend a technical secondary school will be awarded a technical secondary diploma upon completion.

For expats wanting their children to be educated in the school system of their home country, private schools offer curricula that follows British, American, French, German, Indian, Pakistani, or Filipino teachings. In addition to these course offerings, private schools must also offer core programs such as Islamic education, social studies, and Arabic as a second-language.

Enrolling into a primary/secondary school

For public schools

If your child is enrolling into a public school, the school registration is handled centrally by the Ministry of Education (MoE) via their website or app, typically in a short annual window which is usually February till March.

Emiratis, GCC citizens, children of Emirati mothers, diplomats' kids get priority and free education.
Expats (grades 2-12 only) need a parent in government/semi-government/local job.
Get your child's documents ready: Emirates ID, birth certificate, previous school reports, passport copies, vaccination records, proof of address/employment.
Log in and apply with UAE Pass on moe.gov.ae or MoE app during the open period; select transport if needed.
A decision will be made within 3 days.
Provide extras if requested; complete any interviews.

For private schools

Each private school has its own enrollment system, but for all schools, the application period begins in September or October for the following school year. Here’s how to enroll your child in a private school:

Check the KHDA/ADEK ratings (these are the annual inspections accessing private school quality in the UAE)
Pick your preferred study curriculum (British/IB/American),
Check the School fees and school location
Confirm your child's age eligibility (i.e. , 4+ for KG).
Fill online/in-person form on the school site
Your child attends test/observation; parents may be interviewed.
If accepted, pay registration/seat fee promptly and sign enrollment contract
Submit original documents and pay tuition

Some of the most popular schools are:

GEMS Al Barsha National School
[Dubai Schools Nad Al Sheba)(https://dubaischools-nas.ae/enquiry/)
Emirates national schools
Sharjah public school
Ras Al Khaimah academy
Al Salam Private School
Al Najah Private School
Rowad Al Dhafra Private School

Required documents for UAE public and private schools

For students seeking admission into one of the UAE’s private schools, these are the general requirements:

Emirates ID
birth certificate
immunization records
for Grade 2/Year 3 or higher: certificate of last grade/year of enrollment and transfer certificate / school leaving certificate; must be attested by the UAE Embassy in the country from which it is issued
international level examination if pupil was previously homeschooled or has a gap year in their education history
any certificates issued within the UAE must be attested by the relevant local authority

Some schools may allow a student to enroll in classes before acquiring all of these documents. Your child may also be expected to take an entrance exam.

Expect waiting lists for some private schools and be wary of institutions that offer placement on the spot with the promise of a monetary “donation.” These schools may only be trying to increase their numbers.

School cost

School costs are not cheap in the UAE, and tuition gradually increases with each grade level. However, some emirate states, such as Dubai, have implemented annual tuition caps that forbids schools from increasing their rates by exorbitant amounts.

These are the average yearly private school fees in Dubai, the most expensive emirate state:

School Year	Tuition (AED)	Tuition (USD)
Kindergarten (KG1 & KG2)	12,000-50,000	2,300-13,600
Primary School (Grade 1-6)	35,000-70,000	9,500-19,000
Preparatory Stage (Grade 7-9)	40,000-80,000	11,000-21,800
Secondary School (Grade 10-12/13)	40,000-100,000+	11,000-27,200+

For expats interested in public schools, fees range around 6,000-8,000 AED (1,600- approx. 2,200 USD) per year for each grade.

International schools

There are many schools in the UAE for international students. Some of the best international schools in the Middle East can be found in the UAE.

International schools in the UAE largely follow a western academic calendar. Classes start in September, with a two-week break at the end of the year. They resume in January and finish in June. Schools will normally follow a US or UK-based curriculum.

What are the admission requirements for international schools?

The admission requirements differ from school to school, but in general this is what you will need to enroll your child:

Application form
Registration fee (typically around 500 AED (approx.136 USD)), non-refundable
Emirates ID for student and parents
Immunization records
Student’s birth certificate
Attested Leaving Certificate from previous school
School records from the past two years

If there has been a gap in your child’s schooling they may be asked to take an entrance exam and have an in-person interview in order to receive placement. Schools in the UAE are of high quality and thus most entail a waiting list.

What are the tuition and fees for international schools

International school fees range between 40,000 to over 100,000 AED per year (approx. 3,710–5,830 USD). The price is dependent on the grade level and specific school. On average, international school fees are on par with private school fees.

British schools

French schools

German schools

Other international schools

If you are interested in a comprehensive list of British, German, French, and other international schools, please refer to this database.

Other religious schools

Although dominated by Islamic teachings and customs, expats looking for other religious education in the UAE will find a few options, such as:

St. Mary’s Catholic High Schools in both Dubai and Fujairah.
St Joseph’s School
St Mary High School Muhaisnah
Rosary private school

Higher education

The most popular higher education programs for international students coming to the UAE are Civil Engineering and Business Administration (specifically, an MBA). Also popular are Architecture and Aviation.

Top universities for international students in the UAE:

Best business schools with international influence:

American University (Dubai campus)
University of Dubai—Dubai Business School
University of Wollongong in Dubai
United Arab Emirates University—College of Business and Economics
University of Sharjah —College of Business Administration
School of Business Administration—American University of Sharjah

Best MBA programs in the UAE:

Best engineering programs in the UAE:

How much does it cost to study in the UAE for international students?

As with most aspects of the Gulf country, university tuition fees in the UAE can be very high. This cost is made even greater when students factor in the cost of living.. The average yearly cost of studying in the UAE is as follows:

Type of program	Tuition (AED)	Tuition (USD)
Undergraduate	40,000–80,000+	10,900–21,800
Post-graduate	75,000–120,000+	20,400–32,700

Prospective students should be sure to add an extra 1,200 AED (approx. 330 USD) per month for general living expenses. There are scholarships for international students provided through some of the universities and through the UAE government. Most of these scholarships are based on academic excellence.

Language schools

Whether you want to learn Arabic or brush up on English, there are many quality language schools in the UAE. While fluency in Arabic is not mandatory, having a general knowledge of phrases and greetings will go far in making your relocation process complete.

Top language schools in the UAE

Language school fees

Language school fees are school-dependent. Fees can range anywhere from 1,800 for 24 hours to 4,400 for 40 hours AED (approx. 435 to 1,200 USD).

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