Four new private schools to open in Dubai

Four new private schools are set to open in Dubai during the coming academic year. Ali Haider / EPA

Four new private schools will open in Dubai in the next upcomming 2020-2021 academic year.

On Wednesday, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority, the emirate's private school regulator, said the new additions will provide over 4,100 new seats for pupils.

The schools will offer British, Indian and American curriculums and will be open in Abu Hail, Dubai Silicon Oasis, Jebel Ali and Al Rashidiya.

"New schools will bring new educational models that are in line with changing expectations of families. We are positive that our new schools will continue to build on Dubai’s commitment to continue delivering high-quality education,” said Mohammed Darwish, chief executive of KHDA's Permits and Compliance Sector.

The coronavirus pandemic has led to the temporary closure of school campuses this year with classes moving online to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

This month, a private school in Dubai permanently closed due to the effect of the pandemic on its finances.

Authorities have yet to announce if pupils will return to school in September or continue e-learning.

Building a new school as well as hiring staff and organising curriculums can take years. These new schools are likely to have been in the works prior to the outbreak.

Despite the struggles caused globally by Covid-19, Mr Dawish said Dubai's private education sector continues to see growth and "demonstrate its resilience."

"We have grown year-on-year and Dubai is today home to around 300,000 students. The availability of high-quality education choices has been instrumental in helping Dubai achieve its strategic goals,” he said.

Dubai witnessed a 2.1 per cent overall growth in enrolment, according to its latest landscape report. The emirate has a total of 209 private schools. Thirty new schools have opened in the past three years.