Ten private schools in the UAE have been ranked among the top 100 in the world by luxury lifestyle magazine Spear’s.
Schools including Brighton College Abu Dhabi and Dubai College were named among the top 15 in the Middle East, which contributes to the annual global list.
Eton College, Cheltenham Ladies' College and Gordonstoun School were among the top schools in the UK, while the Ivy League feeding school Groton School in Connecticut and Harvard-Westlake School in Los Angeles were among the leading institutions in the US.
North London Collegiate School in Dubai was the most expensive day school in the Middle East, with annual fees of up to Dh106,600 ($29,022), data from Spear’s and Carfax Education showed.
Boarding at King’s Academy in Jordan can cost $53,250 a year.
Many of the UK schools on the list segregate boys and girls, while those in the US, Middle East, Asia and Europe are mainly co-educational.
The global rankings includes schools attended by royals, politicians and diplomats.
The ranking is based on formal criteria such as academic results and preparation for university entry, the reputation of the school locally and internationally, and how adequately they prepare pupils for life after education.
Here are the 10 private schools in the UAE listed among the world's best.
The British School Al Khubairat: Dh43,160 to Dh70,630
The British School Al Khubairat has long been considered one of the best in the country and its story began more than 50 years ago.
It focuses on the well-being of pupils and staff and has won global accolades for its mental health programmes.
Former pupils have been accepted at some of the most prestigious universities in the world, including Stanford, Harvard, Oxford and Cambridge.
Fees at the school in Al Mushrif range from Dh43,160 in Foundation Stage One to Dh70,630 in Year 13.
Cranleigh Abu Dhabi: Dh65,000 to Dh96,333
The school places great focus on the pupil well-being, sustainability and community.
Cranleigh has a more than 150-year history in England and its Abu Dhabi site celebrates the many cultures in the country.
Fees at the British curriculum school on Saadiyat Island range from Dh65,000 in Foundation Stage One to Dh96,333 in Year 13.
Brighton College Abu Dhabi: Dh48,900 to Dh77,720
Brighton College UK was founded in 1845. Pupils at the school in Abu Dhabi have gone on to study at the University of Oxford, Imperial College London and the University of St Andrews.
Fees at the British-curriculum school range from Dh48,900 in nursery to Dh77,720 in Year 13.
Dubai College: Dh86,607 to Dh98,070
The British-curriculum school in Al Sufouh is one of the oldest in the city and is considered to be among the best in the emirate.
Founding headmaster Tim Charlton set up the institution in 1978, so British secondary school pupils would not have to return home to continue their education.
Dubai College's fees for Years 7 to 11 are Dh28,869 for every term. Fees for Years 12 and 13 are Dh32,690 a term in the 2022-2023 academic year. There are three terms in a school year.
Jumeirah College: Dh72,988 to Dh91,235
Jumeirah College is a British-curriculum school in Al Safa 1 and has 1,125 pupils from more than 59 countries.
In 2021, pupils received offers to attend universities including Imperial College London, the London School of Economics, the University of Oxford and the University of Melbourne.
Fees at the school range from Dh72,988 for Year 7 to Dh91,235 in Year 13.
Jumeirah English Speaking School: Dh41,829 to Dh93,852
The school follows the British curriculum and is one of the oldest in the emirate. The school has two branches — one in Al Safa 1 and a second in Arabian Ranches.
Jumeirah English Speaking School was started in an apartment in Deira in 1975, when 17 pupils attended. Now the school has more than 1,400 pupils in Arabian Ranches and about 2,000 pupils in Al Safa 1.
Fees at the school start at Dh41,829 for Foundation Stage One and increase to Dh93,852 for Year 13.
Swiss International Scientific School Dubai: Dh53,000 to Dh99,000
The school in Dubai is a bilingual international baccalaureate school that opened in 2015. It is the largest Swiss school outside Switzerland.
About 1800 pupils from more than 100 countries are enrolled. It offers bilingual programmes in the French and German languages, as well as an English programme with foreign languages.
For pupils who do not wish to pursue a fully bilingual programme, there is a Steam programme for children from ages 4 to 11.
Day school fees for pupils for the international baccalaureate programme range from Dh53,000 in pre-kindergarten to Dh99,000.
Day school fees for the international baccalaureate bilingual programme are Dh62,484 in pre-kindergarten to Dh99,000 in Year 12.
Nord Anglia International School Dubai: Dh63,447 to Dh95,946
The British-curriculum school focuses on personalised education and says it ensures pupils develop 21st-century skills.
Pupils have access to projects with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the Juilliard School and the UN children's fund.
Fees at the school range from Dh63,447 in Foundation Stage One to Dh95,946 in Year 13.
North London Collegiate School Dubai: Dh66,400 to Dh106,600
North London Collegiate School Dubai is an IB curriculum school.
Fees at the school range from Dh66,400 in pre-kindergarten to Dh106,600 in Year 12.
The school says it focuses on ensuring pupils are challenged in their studies and beyond the syllabus.
Repton School Dubai: Dh52,863 to Dh95,000
The school in Nad El Sheba is one of three branches in the UAE. This branch, founded in 2007, received an outstanding rating on reports from the Dubai Schools Inspection Bureau between 2014 and 2020.
Fees for foundation stage start at Dh52,863. Fees from Years 1 to 6 range from Dh59,754 to Dh70,221 and rise to Dh88,000 for Years 7 to 11.
Fees for Years 12 and 13 are Dh95,000.
Libya's Gold
UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves.
The panel’s 2017 report followed a trail to West Africa where large sums of cash and gold were hidden by Abdullah Al Senussi, Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, in 2011.
Cases filled with cash that was said to amount to $560m in 100 dollar notes, that was kept by a group of Libyans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
A second stash was said to have been held in Accra, Ghana, inside boxes at the local offices of an international human rights organisation based in France.
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
Scores
New Zealand 266 for 9 in 50 overs
Pakistan 219 all out in 47.2 overs
New Zealand win by 47 runs
First Person
Richard Flanagan
Chatto & Windus
Results
5pm: Wadi Nagab – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,200m; Winner: Al Falaq, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Ahmed Al Shemaili (trainer)
5.30pm: Wadi Sidr – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: AF Majalis, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: AF Fakhama, Fernando Jara, Mohamed Daggash
6.30pm: Wadi Shees – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Mutaqadim, Antonio Fresu, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
7pm: Arabian Triple Crown Round-1 – Listed (PA) Dh230,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Bahar Muscat, Antonio Fresu, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
7.30pm: Wadi Tayyibah – Maiden (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Poster Paint, Patrick Cosgrave, Bhupat Seemar
'Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore'
Rating: 3/5
Directed by: David Yates
Starring: Mads Mikkelson, Eddie Redmayne, Ezra Miller, Jude Law
The Two Popes
Director: Fernando Meirelles
Stars: Anthony Hopkins, Jonathan Pryce
Four out of five stars
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Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Know your Camel lingo
The bairaq is a competition for the best herd of 50 camels, named for the banner its winner takes home
Namoos - a word of congratulations reserved for falconry competitions, camel races and camel pageants. It best translates as 'the pride of victory' - and for competitors, it is priceless
Asayel camels - sleek, short-haired hound-like racers
Majahim - chocolate-brown camels that can grow to weigh two tonnes. They were only valued for milk until camel pageantry took off in the 1990s
Millions Street - the thoroughfare where camels are led and where white 4x4s throng throughout the festival
Election pledges on migration
CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections"
SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 201hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 320Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.7L/100km
Price: Dh133,900
On sale: now
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Related
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Transmission: seven-speed automatic
Power: 400hp
Torque: 560Nm
Price: Dh234,000 - Dh329,000
On sale: now
Famous left-handers
- Marie Curie
- Jimi Hendrix
- Leonardo Di Vinci
- David Bowie
- Paul McCartney
- Albert Einstein
- Jack the Ripper
- Barack Obama
- Helen Keller
- Joan of Arc
RedCrow Intelligence Company Profile
Started: 2016
Founders: Hussein Nasser Eddin, Laila Akel, Tayeb Akel
Based: Ramallah, Palestine
Sector: Technology, Security
# of staff: 13
Investment: $745,000
Investors: Palestine’s Ibtikar Fund, Abu Dhabi’s Gothams and angel investors
Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
Tips to avoid getting scammed
1) Beware of cheques presented late on Thursday
2) Visit an RTA centre to change registration only after receiving payment
3) Be aware of people asking to test drive the car alone
4) Try not to close the sale at night
5) Don't be rushed into a sale
6) Call 901 if you see any suspicious behaviour
Other must-tries
Tomato and walnut salad
A lesson in simple, seasonal eating. Wedges of tomato, chunks of cucumber, thinly sliced red onion, coriander or parsley leaves, and perhaps some fresh dill are drizzled with a crushed walnut and garlic dressing. Do consider yourself warned: if you eat this salad in Georgia during the summer months, the tomatoes will be so ripe and flavourful that every tomato you eat from that day forth will taste lacklustre in comparison.
Badrijani nigvzit
A delicious vegetarian snack or starter. It consists of thinly sliced, fried then cooled aubergine smothered with a thick and creamy walnut sauce and folded or rolled. Take note, even though it seems like you should be able to pick these morsels up with your hands, they’re not as durable as they look. A knife and fork is the way to go.
Pkhali
This healthy little dish (a nice antidote to the khachapuri) is usually made with steamed then chopped cabbage, spinach, beetroot or green beans, combined with walnuts, garlic and herbs to make a vegetable pâté or paste. The mix is then often formed into rounds, chilled in the fridge and topped with pomegranate seeds before being served.
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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Who has lived at The Bishops Avenue?
- George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
- Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
- Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
- Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills.
Hunting park to luxury living
- Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
- The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
- Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds
Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
Heather, the Totality
Matthew Weiner,
Canongate
Killing of Qassem Suleimani