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Schools and kindergartens in Dubai in 2025: programs, costs, and how to choose the best one for your child
Schools and kindergartens in Dubai in 2025: programs, costs, and how to choose the best one for your child
Anton Moskalev
@Anton_Moskalev
When a family moves to the UAE with children, one of the first and most important questions is choosing a school. There are many options, and it can be a little confusing at first. Below, I will explain everything in a simple and straightforward manner to make it easier for you to understand.
If you are thinking about moving with your family, choosing a school, or just want to better understand how life in the Emirates works, subscribe to my Telegram channel Real Estate | Investments | Dubai. I regularly share verified news, personal experiences, and useful observations there.
And if you want to chat live, join the Home In Dubai Community chat — it's a friendly Russian-speaking community where people discuss everything from finding housing and schools to legal issues and everyday matters. I look forward to seeing you there.
If you are thinking about moving with your family, choosing a school, or just want to better understand how life in the Emirates works, subscribe to my Telegram channel Real Estate | Investments | Dubai. I regularly share verified news, personal experiences, and useful observations there.
And if you want to chat live, join the Home In Dubai Community chat — it's a friendly Russian-speaking community where people discuss everything from finding housing and schools to legal issues and everyday matters. I look forward to seeing you there.
What educational programs are available in Dubai schools?
What educational programs are available in Dubai schools?
First of all, you need to decide which program you want your child to study. There are three main formats available in Dubai: American, British, and International (IB – International Baccalaureate).
The American Curriculum is the classic US education system, with familiar subjects, GPA, and the opportunity to apply to American universities.
The British Curriculum is focused on GCSE and A-level education and is suitable for those who plan to study in the UK or Commonwealth countries.
The International Baccalaureate (IB) is the most flexible and modern system, where the emphasis is on developing individuality, critical thinking skills, and a practical approach. Homework is kept to a minimum, and programs are tailored to the interests of the child. A distinctive feature of IB schools is that they operate almost like a full-time day camp: children can stay on campus from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., with classes running from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. This is convenient for parents and comfortable for children — they are immersed in an educational and creative environment where independence is valued over rote learning.
The American Curriculum is the classic US education system, with familiar subjects, GPA, and the opportunity to apply to American universities.
The British Curriculum is focused on GCSE and A-level education and is suitable for those who plan to study in the UK or Commonwealth countries.
The International Baccalaureate (IB) is the most flexible and modern system, where the emphasis is on developing individuality, critical thinking skills, and a practical approach. Homework is kept to a minimum, and programs are tailored to the interests of the child. A distinctive feature of IB schools is that they operate almost like a full-time day camp: children can stay on campus from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., with classes running from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. This is convenient for parents and comfortable for children — they are immersed in an educational and creative environment where independence is valued over rote learning.
I was looking for a school for my children and ultimately chose Bloom World Academy.
Why?
They teach the IB program here. It's convenient for me to bring my child at a time that is comfortable for him — from 7 to 9 a.m., and he chooses what he wants to do during that time. Plus, there is no homework, and I believe that homework is just shifting the learning process from school to parents.
I can also pick up my child until 7 p.m. if he decides to attend various clubs or the gym. It's not just a school, but a real campus where children learn, play, socialize, and spend a full day. Thanks to this, learning is much more lively and natural for children.
One of the nice bonuses is that upon enrollment, children in grades 1 through 9 are given a personal iPad or MacBook for three years. The school also offers several types of discounts, such as 5% for siblings, up to 15% for referred families, and special Founders/Welcome discounts for early birds. If you would like to sign up for a school tour, please fill out the form below.
Registration form They teach the IB program here. It's convenient for me to bring my child at a time that is comfortable for him — from 7 to 9 a.m., and he chooses what he wants to do during that time. Plus, there is no homework, and I believe that homework is just shifting the learning process from school to parents.
I can also pick up my child until 7 p.m. if he decides to attend various clubs or the gym. It's not just a school, but a real campus where children learn, play, socialize, and spend a full day. Thanks to this, learning is much more lively and natural for children.
One of the nice bonuses is that upon enrollment, children in grades 1 through 9 are given a personal iPad or MacBook for three years. The school also offers several types of discounts, such as 5% for siblings, up to 15% for referred families, and special Founders/Welcome discounts for early birds. If you would like to sign up for a school tour, please fill out the form below.
How to move to Dubai with your family and children
How to move to Dubai with your family and children
Moving to Dubai with your family and children has become much easier — the Emirati authorities are really interested in expats who want to educate their children here. There are several ways to obtain residency for family members:
- Purchasing real estate worth AED 750,000 (~USD 204,000) automatically sponsors all family members.
- Working for a company with a salary of AED 10,000 per month — the company will arrange visas for you and your family.
- Starting a business or freelance activity in the UAE provides an entrepreneur visa, which allows you to invite your family.
- The Golden Visa is for investors, talented professionals, and start-ups, available for 5–10 years with the right to sponsor spouses, children, and parents.
Documents required for visa applications for family members
Documents required for visa applications for family members
To enter the Emirates, relatives can obtain a guest visa for up to 90 days. However, if you plan to move with your family, you will need a residence visa, which is granted to children, spouses, parents, and close relatives.
List of documents required for family visas:
List of documents required for family visas:
- Passport (valid for at least 6 months)
- Color photo on a white background
- Copy of the sponsor's Emirates ID
- Birth certificate (for children)
- Marriage certificate (for spouses)
- Diplomas and certificates (if required for certain categories)
- Medical certificate (test results)
- Certificate of no criminal record (sometimes required)
Each document must be translated into English and Arabic, notarized, and legalized. You can read more about this procedure here.
Stages of the educational process in the UAE
Stages of the educational process in the UAE
The entire educational process in the UAE is divided into several stages:
- Nursery (up to 3 years old). The earliest age at which a child can be enrolled in nursery is 3 months.
- Preschool education (Foundation stage) from 3 to 6 years old.
- Primary school from 6 years old
- Secondary school from 12 years old
- Vocational and technical schools, colleges, and universities from age 18.
Preschool education in Dubai, UAE
Preschool education in Dubai, UAE
Nurseries and kindergartens are not included in the list of compulsory stages; parents can raise and educate their children independently.
Preschool education is divided into two stages:
It should be noted that preschool education is not mandatory under UAE law. If one of the parents is not working, they can educate their child themselves.
However, in kindergarten, children receive instruction from experienced specialists who help them develop reading and counting skills, knowledge of how to behave in society, communicate with peers, and all the necessary basics for subsequent admission to school.
Teachers usually communicate with children in English, but there are kindergartens and schools in the UAE that specialize in Russian-speaking migrant children. The level of preschool education is high in both types of institutions.
When choosing an educational institution, proximity to your place of residence and the cost of annual tuition play an important role.
At what age are children accepted into kindergarten?
Kindergartens accept children according to the stages of preschool education, so to enter the first stage, a child must be 3 years old.
However, many institutions offer not only initial preparation for school but also nurseries, so many preschool educational institutions accept children from one year of age or even from three months.
Working hours
Kindergartens usually operate on a standard schedule, which may vary slightly from one institution to another.
The standard working day starts at 7 a.m. and ends at 6 p.m. However, some kindergartens open at 8:00 or 8:30 a.m. and close at 5:30 p.m. In general, the length of the working day is approximately the same.
Kindergartens in Dubai
In Dubai, most kindergartens operate according to the British EYFS system, which focuses not only on academic skills but also on the comprehensive development of the child, including cognitive, physical, communicative, social, and emotional development. But this is not the only option — there are kindergartens with American, German, French, Indian, and other programs. So there is plenty to choose from; the main thing is to understand what is best for you and your child.
Below you can find the most popular kindergartens in Dubai.
Preschool education is divided into two stages:
- Kindergarten 1 (KG1) – ages 3 to 4. At this stage, children are taught daily routines and social norms and rules of behavior in society.
- Kindergarten 2 (KG2) – ages 5 to 6. At this stage, children are not only developed socially, but also taught to read, write, and count. After completing KG2, children have a good command of these skills.
It should be noted that preschool education is not mandatory under UAE law. If one of the parents is not working, they can educate their child themselves.
However, in kindergarten, children receive instruction from experienced specialists who help them develop reading and counting skills, knowledge of how to behave in society, communicate with peers, and all the necessary basics for subsequent admission to school.
Teachers usually communicate with children in English, but there are kindergartens and schools in the UAE that specialize in Russian-speaking migrant children. The level of preschool education is high in both types of institutions.
When choosing an educational institution, proximity to your place of residence and the cost of annual tuition play an important role.
At what age are children accepted into kindergarten?
Kindergartens accept children according to the stages of preschool education, so to enter the first stage, a child must be 3 years old.
However, many institutions offer not only initial preparation for school but also nurseries, so many preschool educational institutions accept children from one year of age or even from three months.
Working hours
Kindergartens usually operate on a standard schedule, which may vary slightly from one institution to another.
The standard working day starts at 7 a.m. and ends at 6 p.m. However, some kindergartens open at 8:00 or 8:30 a.m. and close at 5:30 p.m. In general, the length of the working day is approximately the same.
Kindergartens in Dubai
In Dubai, most kindergartens operate according to the British EYFS system, which focuses not only on academic skills but also on the comprehensive development of the child, including cognitive, physical, communicative, social, and emotional development. But this is not the only option — there are kindergartens with American, German, French, Indian, and other programs. So there is plenty to choose from; the main thing is to understand what is best for you and your child.
Below you can find the most popular kindergartens in Dubai.
There are more than 200 kindergartens in Dubai. You can see the full list on the website.
School education in the UAE
School education in the UAE
The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) is Dubai's regulatory body for education, which inspects schools, assigns ratings, and monitors the transparency of fees.
In total, Dubai schools offer 17 different educational programs:
The most common programs are:
In total, Dubai schools offer 17 different educational programs:
- British
- American
- IB – Swiss program
- Canadian
- French
- Russian
- Iranian
- German
- Arabic
- Australian
- Filipino
- Japanese
- SABIS
- MOE
- CISCE
- IGCSE
- CBSE – one of the most popular educational programs in India
The most common programs are:
- The American national curriculum (US curriculum).
- British National Curriculum (UK curriculum).
- Swiss (IB).
Types of schools in the UAE
Types of schools in the UAE
Three types of schools are available to the future generation in the Emirates:
In private schools, on the contrary, the main language of instruction is English, but by law, Arabic must be included in the curriculum.
The school year in the UAE
The school year in the UAE usually begins in late August or early September and lasts until the end of June. The structure of the year depends on the type of school and the chosen curriculum.
- Public schools — UAE nationals and citizens attend these schools free of charge, while migrants must pay for education.
- International schools are best suited for expat children. They offer a wide range of educational systems, including American and European.
- Specialized schools for children with developmental disabilities — these educational institutions are located throughout the country and are actively supported by the state.
In private schools, on the contrary, the main language of instruction is English, but by law, Arabic must be included in the curriculum.
The school year in the UAE
The school year in the UAE usually begins in late August or early September and lasts until the end of June. The structure of the year depends on the type of school and the chosen curriculum.
- Private schools operate on a trimester system: fall, winter, and spring.
- Public schools usually divide the year into two semesters.
- There must be at least 182 school days in the academic year.
- Winter — about 2–3 weeks (December–January)
- Spring — up to 2–3 weeks (March–April)
- Summer — approximately 2 months (July–August)
Rules for enrolling a child in school in Dubai, UAE
Rules for enrolling a child in school in Dubai, UAE
Once you have decided on a school, the standard procedure begins: you submit an application and attend an interview or test, depending on your child's age and the program you have chosen. Many schools accept children until the end of spring, but if there are places available, they may enroll them during the school year.
The documents usually required are:
The documents usually required are:
- the child's and parent's passport with a residence visa
- Emirates ID of the child and parent
- birth certificate (with translation)
- passport-size photos
- medical card with vaccination details
- Transfer Certificate for transferring children
- previous academic reports (for older students)
Important: almost everything must be translated, notarized, and legalized for the UAE. It is always best to check the full list on the specific school's website, as requirements may vary.
Best schools in Dubai in 2025
Best schools in Dubai in 2025
Schools in the UAE are regularly inspected to ensure that students receive the highest quality education. Regulatory bodies in the field of education are responsible for inspecting both private and public educational institutions.
You can view the ratings of all schools in Dubai by following this link.
Russian School in Dubai
Russian School in Dubai
If you are looking for a school with a Russian curriculum for your child, there is an option in Dubai. The Russian International School has been operating since 1996 and remains the only school in the UAE where teaching is based on Russian standards. The curriculum also includes subjects that are compulsory in the Emirates: Arabic, the basics of Islamic culture, and English. Children from Russia and CIS countries can study here from kindergarten (from 4 years old) to 11th grade. The school has a stable KHDA rating of "Good" and a clear teaching system that many parents are already accustomed to.
Tuition at the Russian International School in Dubai is significantly cheaper than at international schools. In 2025, tuition starts at AED 14,000 per year for lower grades and reaches about AED 22,000 for upper grades. The amount includes core subjects, some textbooks, and participation in school activities. Additional fees apply for transportation, school uniforms, and extracurricular activities, if you decide to participate in them.
Tuition at the Russian International School in Dubai is significantly cheaper than at international schools. In 2025, tuition starts at AED 14,000 per year for lower grades and reaches about AED 22,000 for upper grades. The amount includes core subjects, some textbooks, and participation in school activities. Additional fees apply for transportation, school uniforms, and extracurricular activities, if you decide to participate in them.
Frequently asked questions about education for children in Dubai:
Frequently asked questions about education for children in Dubai:
Yes, there are kindergartens in Dubai that cater to Russian-speaking families. In these kindergartens, children communicate in Russian and English, and the curriculum is adapted to cultural differences. Popular options include Russian Harmony Nursery and some groups in international kindergartens with Russian teachers.
Yes, it is possible if there are places available at the chosen school. You will need a transfer certificate from your current school and a standard set of documents. However, many schools require additional testing when transferring, especially if the program is different (e.g., from British to IB).
Formally, most schools require a visa, especially for paperwork and medical examinations. However, at the initial stage, some schools may enroll a child on a guest visa, but with the obligation to provide a residence visa within a few weeks.
Schools with IB (International Baccalaureate) and British Curriculum (GCSE/A-Level) programs are suitable for admission to European universities. They are recognized by most universities in the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, France, and Switzerland. Such schools include GEMS Education, Dubai College, and Jumeirah English Speaking School.
No, enrollment in a school does not in itself entitle you to a visa. A resident visa must be obtained for the child through one of the parents, who acts as a sponsor. Without this, the child will not be able to officially attend school or obtain an Emirates ID.
Yes, almost all private schools in Dubai have school uniforms. Parents purchase them separately, usually through recommended suppliers. The cost of a uniform set ranges from 300 to 800 AED per year, depending on the school and the number of items of clothing.
Every school in Dubai undergoes an annual inspection by the KHDA (Knowledge and Human Development Authority). The results are published on the official KHDA website in the form of ratings: Outstanding, Very Good, Good, Acceptable, and Weak. The rating affects parents' trust and the cost of education.
It depends on the school. In most international schools, children undergo an interview and a test of their English and math skills. Admission to lower grades is usually without exams, but middle and high schools may have academic requirements.
If you are thinking about moving with your family, choosing a school, or simply want to better understand what life is like in the Emirates, subscribe to my Telegram channel Real Estate | Investments | Dubai. I regularly share verified news, personal experiences, and useful observations there.
And if you want to chat live, join the Home In Dubai Community chat — it's a friendly Russian-speaking community where people discuss everything from finding housing and schools to legal issues and everyday matters. I look forward to seeing you there.
And if you want to chat live, join the Home In Dubai Community chat — it's a friendly Russian-speaking community where people discuss everything from finding housing and schools to legal issues and everyday matters. I look forward to seeing you there.
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