The UAE’s private education sector has never been more dynamic. Off the back of a record-breaking 2024-25 academic year, in which 10 new schools opened in Dubai alone, adding over 16,000 seats and pushing private school enrolment past 387,000 students across 227 schools, the momentum is showing no signs of slowing. Across Dubai and Sharjah, a new generation of schools and nurseries is preparing to open its doors, bringing with it some of the most prestigious school brands in British and international education history.
This expansion is not incidental. It is the direct result of the UAE’s landmark Education 33 (E33) strategy, announced in October 2024, which sets out an ambitious roadmap to deliver 49,900 new school seats and at least 100 new private schools by 2033 with an explicit focus on quality, affordability, and innovation. The schools that opened in 2025 and will be opening in 2026 are among the first concrete expressions of this vision, and they represent a significant leap forward in both the breadth and calibre of education available to families across the emirate.
As the UAE continues to position itself as a global hub for education, these schools are not just filling demand, they are shaping the future.
Queen Elizabeth’s School, Dubai Sports City
Opening: August 2026
Curriculum: British (UK National Curriculum)
Location: Dubai Sports City
Ages: Nursery – Year 8 (phasing to Sixth Form)
Fees (Founding): AED 70,125 – AED 102,453
In a landmark first for British state education, Queen Elizabeth’s School, Barnet, the 2025 Sunday Times State Secondary School of the Year for A-Levels and one of the UK’s most decorated grammar schools will open its inaugural international branch campus in Dubai Sports City in August 2026. Founded in 1573 by royal charter from Queen Elizabeth I, QE Barnet has over 450 years of heritage and consistently ranks among the very top schools in the UK for both state and independent sectors.
This is a historic first: no British state-funded grammar school has ever opened an international branch campus. The Dubai school, developed in partnership with GEDU Global Education, will be a fully co-educational day school welcoming children from Nursery through Year 8 at opening, with a phased expansion to Sixth Form. Students will benefit from the distinctive QE Flourish Programme – a holistic character education framework built around the four pillars of Care, Challenge, Create and Compete alongside Dubai Sports City’s world-class sporting infrastructure.
Rugby School Dubai
Opening: August 2026 (subject to KHDA approval)
Curriculum: British (UK National Curriculum)
Location: Nad Al Sheba
Ages: Nursery – EYFS – Year 13 (Ages 3–18)
Fees (Founding): From AED 70,000
One of the most significant school launches in UAE history, Rugby School Dubai will bring the full ethos and legacy of Rugby School UK, founded in 1567 and world-famous as the birthplace of the sport of rugby to the Middle East for the very first time. Developed in partnership with Aldar Education, the school has been positioned as a “super-premium” offering, embodying the Rugby School philosophy: The Whole Person, The Whole Point.
Taking over the established Kent College Dubai campus in Nad Al Sheba, the site is already equipped with over 90 classrooms, a 400-seat auditorium, advanced science laboratories, swimming pools, rugby and football pitches, a hockey pitch, tennis courts, and a full athletics track. Founding Executive Principal Henry Price brings 13 years at Rugby School UK as Senior Housemaster and Head of Classics, as well as a headship at Oakham School, to the role.
Dubai International Academy Town Square
Opening: August 2026
Curriculum: Full IB Continuum (PYP, MYP, DP, CP)
Location: Town Square, Dubai
Ages: Pre-K (Age 3) – Grade 8, expanding to Grade 12
Fees (Founding): AED 49,000 – AED 70,500
Dubai International Academy Town Square (DIATS) is the eagerly anticipated third campus of the DIA group, whose Emirates Hills flagship holds an Outstanding KHDA rating and was Dubai’s first fully authorised IB continuum school. Located within the rapidly expanding Town Square master development in south Dubai, the 330,000 sq ft purpose-built campus has been designed around green, shaded outdoor learning zones that integrate seamlessly with the community’s parklands.
The school will deliver the full IB continuum, PYP, MYP, Diploma and Career-related Programme, in keeping with DIA’s ethos of Dream. Inspire. Achieve. Together. Facilities include innovation and STEAM labs, performing arts spaces, sports fields, and swimming pools. DIATS is a Candidate School for PYP and MYP authorisation. Founding Family fees are set well below KHDA-approved maximums, making this one of the most competitively priced IB school launches in Dubai’s 2026 cohort.
The Scholars School, Al Quoz
Opening: August 2026
Curriculum: British Curriculum + HPL Framework
Location: Al Quoz
Ages: FS1 – Year 6 (expanding to secondary)
Fees (Founding): From AED 42,700
The Scholars School is the newest venture from Scholars International Group, the organisation behind Dubai Scholars Private School, one of Dubai’s oldest and most respected British-curriculum institutions, founded in 1976. Positioned between Downtown Dubai and Jumeirah on Al Asayel Street, the school occupies the former Clarion School campus, a building renowned for its calm architectural character: curved forms, open internal spaces, natural materials and generous natural light throughout.
The school’s defining differentiator is its integration of High Performance Learning (HPL), a globally recognised pedagogical framework that places thinking skills, resilience, creativity and deeper conceptual understanding at the heart of learning – complementing, rather than replacing, the English National Curriculum. Founding Principal Kyle Knott brings substantial UAE school leadership experience to the launch. Founding Family fees start from AED 42,700 and are locked in for three years, with books, key resources and stationery included.
Taaleem School, Ghaf Woods
Opening: TBC
Curriculum: British Curriculum
Location: Ghaf Woods, near Global Village
Est. Fees: AED 51,000 – AED 77,000 (indicative)
In a pioneering collaboration between UAE education giant Taaleem and Majid Al Futtaim, a brand-new British-curriculum school is being developed within Ghaf Woods, Dubai’s first forest-living residential community, spanning 738,000 sq m and featuring over 35,000 trees near Global Village. The school is expected to join the acclaimed Dubai British School (DBS) family, which includes four Outstanding-rated campuses.
Ghaf Woods chairman Khalid Al Tayer has described the vision as creating a school that “inspires learning, nurtures wellbeing and connects young people with nature” – a philosophy that aligns closely with the community’s sustainability charter and forested landscape.
Ambassador International Academy, Mankhool
Opening: August 2026 (subject to KHDA approval)
Curriculum: Full IB Continuum (PYP, MYP, DP, CP)
Location: Mankhool, Bur Dubai
Ages: Pre-KG – Grade 8, expanding to Grade 12
Fees (Founding): AED 45,000 – AED 69,000
Ambassador International Academy Mankhool (AIAM) will be the first dedicated IB school to open in the Mankhool district of Bur Dubai, bringing full IB continuum education into one of the city’s most established and centrally located residential communities. Developed by Bridge Education, the new campus occupies a landmark 400,000 sq ft site adjacent to Mankhool Park and within easy reach of Zabeel Park.
Founding Principal Ruth Burke brings over 30 years of experience leading international schools across Ireland, the UK and the UAE. The school places a strong emphasis on AI literacy, digital skills, coding, entrepreneurship and business innovation, all woven into the IB framework. Founding Family fees range from AED 45,000 at Pre-KG to AED 69,000 for Grades 6–8.
Important Note for Families
All school openings listed are subject to final regulatory approval KHDA for Dubai, SPEA for Sharjah. Fees, year groups, and opening dates may be subject to change. Founding Family discounts, where offered, are typically first-come, first-served and locked in for 2–3 years. Families should contact schools directly for the most up-to-date admissions information.
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Further Reading:
- Sheikh Mohammed Announces AI as Mandatory Subject in UAE Schools
- Sheikh Hamdan Approves First Dubai Student Council to Empower Youth to Shape the Future of Education