Ten private schools in UAE rank among top 100 in the world

North London Collegiate School in Dubai is the most expensive day school in the Middle East, with annual fees of up to Dh106,600

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

Pupils at The British School Al Khubairat in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

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

 Michael Wilson, principal at Cranleigh Abu Dhabi, is delighted the school has received international recognition. Fatima Al Marzooqi / The National

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

Pupils at the school have gone on to study at the University of Oxford, Imperial College London and the University of St Andrews. Chris Whiteoak / The National

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

A Dubai College Girls' rugby team train before a match in the UK. Antonie Robertson / The National

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 has 1,125 pupils from more than 59 countries. Photo: Jumeirah College

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

Jumeirah English Speaking School in Al Safa 1 in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

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

Signs remind pupils to follow Covid-19 precautions at the Swiss International Scientific School in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

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.

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A guide to Abu Dhabi's nine top ranked private schools

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

James Monaghan, principal of North London Collegiate School. Photo: Antonie Robertson / The National

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

Repton School in Dubai received an outstanding rating on DSIB inspection reports from 2014 to 2020. Photo: Repton Dubai

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.

Updated: September 08, 2022, 2:32 PM