Prestigious Queen Elizabeth’s School sends more students to Oxbridge than any other UK state school. It will be the first UK state grammar school to open an international branch. Although an all-boys school in the UK, it will be co-educational in the UAE. Founded by Queen Elizabeth I, the school has a 450-year history and one of the strongest alumni networks in Britain.
It seems not a week goes by without the announcement of a new school in Dubai. This week, yet another institution joins the city’s thriving education landscape: Queen Elizabeth’s School (QE) Barnet, one of the UK’s most academically successful and prestigious schools, is set to open its first international branch in Dubai Sports City. The KHDA has officially confirmed its approval.
Scheduled to open in August 2026, this marks the first time a UK state school has expanded overseas. With 157 Oxbridge offers between 2023 and 2025 and consistent top performance in national league tables, QE’s move to Dubai signals a new era for international education.
Voices from the Top
Caroline Pendleton-Nash, CEO, Queen Elizabeth’s Global Schools, said,
“This landmark approval allows us to accelerate our vision to deliver world-leading K-12 education to students from across the UAE. While the model of establishing international branches is familiar among leading UK independent schools, this marks the first time in history that a distinguished UK state grammar school has embarked upon such a partnership. The opening of Queen Elizabeth’s School, Dubai Sports City, represents an unprecedented and truly exciting milestone for global education.”
Neil Enright, Headmaster of Queen Elizabeth’s School, Barnet, added:
“We are delighted to have received this encouragement from the KHDA to offer a rounded and enriching QE education to children in the UAE, spreading opportunity and supporting students to become the leaders of their generation. We are also excited by the potential for international collaboration, which, in time, will build a global network of Elizabethans for the benefit of our new students as well as those within the state sector in Barnet.”
Edward Hobart, His Majesty’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, said:
“I am delighted that Queen Elizabeth’s School will open in Dubai Sports City next year. This milestone represents the first time a British state funded grammar school has expanded globally, testament to the enduring strength of UK-UAE educational partnerships. By bringing QE’s proven educational methodology and 450-year heritage of academic excellence to Dubai, it increases the opportunity for young people in the UAE to access world-class British education. I look forward to seeing the positive impact this world-class institution will have on students and the broader educational landscape in the UAE.”
History of Excellence
Founded in 1573 under a charter from Queen Elizabeth I, Queen Elizabeth’s School, Barnet, has a long-standing tradition of academic distinction. The school consistently ranks among the top-performing schools in the UK, both private and state, and sends more students to Oxbridge than any other UK state school.
In 2025, QE was named Sunday Times State Secondary School of the Year for A-levels with an impressive 98% of grades at A*–B for the twentieth consecutive year above 95%.
Notable alumni include Sir Lucian Grainge CBE (Universal Music Group CEO), Sir Demis Hassabis CBE (DeepMind Co-founder and Google AI leader), Mustafa Suleyman CBE (Microsoft AI CEO), and Robert Rinder MBE, among many others. The school also counts former actor Crispin Bonham-Carter, known for Pride and Prejudice and Casino Royale, among its senior staff.
On the Ground
Queen Elizabeth’s School is partnering with UK-based Global Education (GEDU) to manage its international branches. Dubai will be the first, followed by schools in Gujarat and Delhi. Each international campus will have its own leadership team and operate independently, with revenues reinvested into QE Barnet and its partner schools to enhance facilities and opportunities.
Networks and Power
QE maintains one of the UK’s most active alumni networks through QE Connect, an online platform linking generations of graduates for mentoring, career support, and networking. Alumni frequently return for talks, mock interviews and mentorship through the QE Futures programme, reinforcing a lifelong support system.
A New Model for Dubai
The Dubai campus will differ from its UK counterpart by being co-educational and fee-paying. It will be an all-through school offering education from early years to Sixth Form, following the National Curriculum for England.
While QE Barnet is academically selective, UAE regulations typically require more inclusive admissions. How QE will adapt its selective ethos to Dubai remains to be seen, but the school aims to uphold its rigorous academic standards and holistic educational values, including arts, music, and sport.
Caroline Pendleton-Nash said:
“The Dubai branch campus will remain faithful to the mission, ethos, tradition, and exacting academic standards of Queen Elizabeth’s School, Barnet, while embracing Dubai’s spirit of innovation and ambition. Our mission is to nurture confident, able, and responsible young people who are prepared to lead happy and fulfilled adult lives and to make a positive contribution to others. In uniting the heritage of one of the UK’s most distinguished schools with the vision of Dubai, we aspire to set a new global benchmark for educational excellence.”
The Big Guns
Queen Elizabeth’s School joins an elite list of British schools with UAE campuses, including Brighton College, Kent College, and upcoming Harrow and Gordonstoun Abu Dhabi schools.
Admissions
Queen Elizabeth’s School Dubai Sports City will open initially from Nursery to Year 8, expanding to Sixth Form in subsequent years.
For more information and to enquire about admissions, visit the official website.
Further Reading:
- Dubai’s KHDA‑guided 2025‑2026 Academic Calendar is Now Live
- KHDA Unveils Dubai Students Council for 2025–26 to Elevate Student Leadership
- KHDA Pauses Inspections for 2025–26 as Dubai Evolves Quality Assurance in Education