Ten new private schools are set to open in Dubai for the 2021-2022 academic year.
Dubai’s first Australian-curriculum school and the Dubai campus of the Royal Grammar School Guildford, a 500-year-old institution in England, are among the arrivals.
About 15,000 school places will be created in the process.
The schools are in the districts of Tilal Al Ghaf, Al Warqa, Al Karama, Al Barsha, City Walk, Mirdif, Nad Al Sheba, Al Khawaneej and Al Rashidiya.
Dubai’s government said the decision was "building on strong demand from parents for innovative education offerings”.
“We are happy to welcome 10 new schools to Dubai, which will now provide parents with more educational choices,” said Mohammed Darwish, chief executive of permits and compliance at the city’s education regulator, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority.
“The addition of the new schools is part of our commitment to delivering high-quality education and efforts to further consolidate Dubai’s growth as a global education destination.”
The schools will offer a choice of Australian, UK, US, and IB curricula.
A total of 25 new private schools have opened in Dubai over the past three years. About 286,500 pupils study at private schools in Dubai.
This year, Dubai’s government set out plans for a major expansion of the city in its Urban Master Plan 2040. Among the goals was to boost the population from 3.3 million in 2020 to 5.8 million within 20 years.
The anticipated growth means the city will expand and require more schools, universities and public transport systems.
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Exam joy for pupils amid pandemic disruption - in pictures
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A pupil in Abu Dhabi receives her exam results as children across the UAE discovered how they fared in IGCSE and International A-level exams they sat in January. All photos by Victor Besa / The National -
Pupils in Abu Dhabi receive their IGCSE and International A-level results after sitting exams in January. They were the only external tests the schoolchildren will sit this year. -
School staff applaud as pupils open their exam results. -
Staff show their support for pupils in Abu Dhabi who received their exam results. For many pupils, these are the final grades they will use to seek a place at university. -
Zayaan Siddiqui celebrates his results. Two major UK exam boards have cancelled IGCSE and International A-level tests in the summer because of the Covid-19 pandemic. -
An Abu Dhabi pupil calls loved ones after receiving her exam results. -
Grade 9 pupil Farah Nour calls her mother after getting her results. -
Pupils were excited to share their results. -
Pupils who sat the exams in January are not set to sit any more external tests this year. -
An Abu Dhabi pupil studies his exam results. -
Pupils celebrate after receiving results. -
Abu Dhabi pupil Jessica Parsons says she is happy with her grades.
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New schools bring heritage and innovation
The Royal Grammar School Guildford Dubai will have places for 2,100 pupils when complete and offer the GCSE and A-level qualifications.
Founded in 1509, it is one of UK’s oldest schools.
In Tilal Al Ghaf, between Motor City and Sports City, the 40,000-square-metre school will have a 25-metre swimming pool.
In its first year, the school is offering a 20 per cent discount and fees will range from Dh60,000 ($16,338) in foundation stage one to Dh77,600 in year six.
Two new, cheaper schools will also open in September.
The initiative, called Dubai Schools, will be run by a private sector operator with government funding, under a new model for the city.
Dubai Schools will be operated by Taaleem, one of the country's top education providers, and will be regulated by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority.
The schools will offer an American-curriculum education embedded in Islamic values.
The schools will be in Al Barsha and Mirdif.
Fees will vary from Dh29,900 for kindergarten pupils to Dh36,155 for fourth-graders.
Transport costs and school uniforms are included in the fees.
