Dubai's new schools to help meet demand for cheaper education

Eight new schools will open in Dubai over the next year

The Knowledge and Human Development Authority has shared a comic book guide to the coronavirus with pupils. Chris Whiteoak / The National

New cost-effective schools opening their doors in Dubai over the next year will meet a growing demand for  cheaper education in the emirate.

Five new schools, four of which will follow the UK curriculum, will welcome pupils from this September, with three more to open in time for the start of term in 2020.

The Knowledge and Human Development Authority, the private education regulator in Dubai, said the move was being made to widen choice for parents and would create 13,000 new places for pupils.

Al Ghaf Primary School, opening next year in Jebel Ali, will have annual fees ranging from Dh35,000 in foundation stage one to Dh49,500 in year six.

Al Salam Community School, which will follow the UK curriculum and is set to open doors in Al Twar,  has fees starting at Dh22,000 for foundation stage one pupils and increasing up to Dh38,000 for year 13 pupils.

"More of the demand is in the affordable segment now,' said Sara Boomsma, interim director at the education consultancy, Gabbitas.

"We are saturated at the premium level and for new schools opening in the market the mid-tier or mid-price segment is a smart move because there is bit of a gap there."

While 13 schools opened in Dubai in 2018, only five are opening in 2019 and three in 2020.

"I think it is natural to see a bit of a tailing off in the number of schools opening,"said Ms Boomsma

"We have had a huge volume of schools open in the last few years and there is more competition between schools."

Arcadia High School in Barsha South is the most expensive school opening in Dubai this year. The school will follow the UK curriculum and will charge Dh75,000 for year seven and Dh90,000 for year 13.

Ambassador International Academy in Al Quoz 2 will also have a high fee structure, starting at Dh30,400 at the pre primary level and  increasing up to Dh36,600 for year 4 pupils.

Apple International School will be opening in Al Qusais, though information regarding its fee structure or curriculum has not been revealed yet.