Two schools in Dubai have been named in a new list of the top centres of learning to watch out for worldwide.
Deira International School was named among the schools to watch out for while The Royal Grammar School Guildford Dubai was included in the category of new institutions to watch out for.
The Ones to Watch list by the Global Schools Index was published by Carfax Education, a global education consulting company.
The list included 25 schools on the brink of joining the top 125 in the world or those schools that were different from the mainstream.
“The Ones to Watch category adds an exciting dimension to our annual Schools Index,” said Fiona McKenzie, head of education at Carfax Education.
“It recognises schools making waves through consistent potential, innovative approaches or unique learning experiences.
“It's a testament to our commitment to providing valuable insights for parents seeking the very best education for their children worldwide.”
Schools were judged on a number of factors including academic standards, facilities, how unique their ethos is, preparation for university entry and the way they prepared pupils for life beyond academia.
A panel of consultants at Carfax Education researched and picked these institutions, recognising what made them different.
The list is broken down into four categories: Schools to watch, new schools to watch, schools breaking away from the mould and small schools offering a distinctive experience.
Nobody is left behind
Deira International School, founded in 2005, follows the UK curriculum and offers the IB diploma programme.
“Pupils take an active role in the decision-making processes of the school and their collaboration with architects and designers for the new sixth-form centre demonstrates how well this approach works,” read the report from Carfax Education.
“A culture of coaching and mentorship means no pupil or staff member gets left behind.”
The Royal Grammar School Guildford Dubai was launched in 2021 with a promise to provide a progressive education in an eco-friendly environment.
The school was said to be on course to become the first near-energy-neutral school in the Middle East, thanks to solar panels in the car park and on the roof, and special pillow-shaped pockets in the plastic ceiling, which allow light into the building, but absorb heat.
The school offers the British curriculum and aims to follow the ethos of its mother school in the UK.
In January, the school made a pledge to eliminate all single-use plastic by the end of the year.
Best in the region
In September, 10 private schools in the UAE were named among the best 15 in the Middle East in Carfax Education’s School Index 2023. The schools were also featured among the 125 top private schools in the world in the school index.
Schools on the Ones to Watch list are those that have consistently demonstrated remarkable potential and are poised to make a significant impact.
A third category looks at schools that are breaking away from the mould while a fourth list focuses on unique small schools offering a distinctive experience.
One of those on the distinct experience list is Think Global School, a travelling high school that believes that education is all around you.
“It offers pupils a chance to explore the world whilst pursuing a progressive and academically rigorous curriculum,” read the report from Carfax Education.
“Each year, pupils are immersed in four different global locations, studying a core curriculum plus the history, culture, geography and socio-economic influences of the area, in innovative and active ways.”
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Uefa Champions League Group F
Manchester City v Hoffenheim, midnight (Wednesday, UAE)
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
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Dos
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Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
Fourth Arab Economic and Social Development Summit
As he spoke, Mr Aboul Gheit repeatedly referred to the need to tackle issues affecting the welfare of people across the region both in terms of preventing conflict and in pushing development.
Lebanon is scheduled to host the fourth Arab Economic and Social Development Summit in January that will see regional leaders gather to tackle the challenges facing the Middle East. The last such summit was held in 2013. Assistant Secretary-General Hossam Zaki told The National that the Beirut Summit “will be an opportunity for Arab leaders to discuss solely economic and social issues, the conference will not focus on political concerns such as Palestine, Syria or Libya". He added that its slogan will be “the individual is at the heart of development”, adding that it will focus on all elements of human capital.
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- Option 2: 50% across three years
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