At Remitly, we’re here to help you feel empowered as you take on the adventure of living in a new country. If you and your family have recently arrived in the UAE, you’ll want to ensure your child has the smoothest school transition possible. The first step in this transition is looking for schools and getting enrolled.
This guide will teach you about the school system in the UAE and how to enrol your child in classes in your new home.
School in the UAE and getting enrolled
When moving to a new country with your family, one of the first major steps is getting your child started in the local school system. On the surface, the school system is fairly straightforward to understand. However, choosing between public and private schools, and knowing what it takes to get enrolled are two big hurdles for many parents.
Understanding the school system in the UAE
There are four types of schools in the UAE:
- Public schools: These schools follow the national curriculum. The language of instruction is Arabic, with English as the main second language being taught. More information about the public school system can be found here.
- Private schools: These schools typically follow various international curricula and are not held to the national curriculum.
- Charter schools: These schools blend the public and private model.
- Special education schools: These schools are specifically for students with disabilities or learning difficulties.
Choosing between public and private schools
Some things to consider when deciding to enrol your student in a public versus a private school may be:
- Finances: Public school is only free for Emirati citizens or the children of Emirati women. Foreign students must pay AED 6,000 per year for tuition. Private schools will be more expensive, but scholarships may be available depending on the school.
- Curriculum: The curriculum taught will be important for many families when choosing public vs. private. Continuing the education track from your home country can help ease the transition for many students when they arrive abroad.
- Admittance: By law, public schools may only have 20% of their student body made up of foreign students. Your local school may have already reached this cap in cities with more expatriates, like Dubai. Additionally, only the children of those working for or alongside the Emirati government may be admitted to public schools.
Key enrollment steps and timeline
Enrollment in public schools is as simple as filling out the student registration form on the Ministry of Education (MoE) website. After submitting the registration form, the decision will be communicated electronically within three business days.
Each private school will have different admission requirements, but most will open their applications for the following school year in September or October. After applying, students will typically undergo an interview and assessment process. Most private schools will require foreign students and their guardians to complete all residency paperwork and have their Emirates ID before the start of the school year. This paperwork can take as much as eight weeks, so it’s important to start this process with plenty of time before the academic year begins.
Eligibility and admission requirements
When deciding where to enrol your student, it’s important to consider admission requirements for the school and the equivalent year or grade that your child will be attending.
Age criteria and grade placement
The UAE Ministry of Education (MoE) designs the national curriculum for public schools. Compulsory education begins with Grade 1, when students are six to eight years old, and continues through Grade 12. There are also two voluntary years of Kindergarten, called KG1 for four-year-olds and KG2 for five-year-olds. Students in the public school system are placed into different educational tracks during Grades 6 through 9, depending on their aptitudes and their interests.
In private schools, parents will need to decide between a 12-year school program or a 13-year school program. In a 12-year program, like the Emirati curriculum, students begin their compulsory education at age six in Grade 1 and finish after Grade 12. A 13-year program simply adds Kindergarten for five-year-olds. This is the program used in American and British schooling, for example.
Required documents for enrollment
For enrollment in public schools, students will need to show the following documents:
- Proof of housing, such as an electricity bill or documented lease contract
- A to-whom-it-may-concern certificate from their guardian’s employer
- End-of-year scorecards from the current and previous years
When enrolling in private schools, the local accreditation authority typically requests more documentation. This includes:
- A completed registration form with both the guardian and student’s contact information and basic details
- The Emirates ID card of the student
- Vaccination and medical records
- Academic reports from previous years
- Any other documents regarding or related to individual education plans or evidence regarding gifted students
The school may also request other documents, which will need to be submitted with the registration paperwork.
Language proficiency expectations
If you would like to enrol your child in an Emirati public school, you will need to prove their proficiency in Arabic, as this will be the main language of instruction. The Ministry of Education requires foreign students enrolling in public schools to demonstrate a mark of at least 85% in a previous Arabic class.
Students attending private schools are expected to show proficiency in the language of the school’s instruction. This can be proven during the admissions interview process, or with previous language certificates from recognised relevant exams.
Public vs private school: opportunities and costs
Deciding to enrol your child in public or private schooling options can involve several main considerations, namely cost and curriculum.
Free education options for nationals
Students with Emirati nationality or children of women with Emirati nationality are entitled to free education. They can register on the MoE website and will be assigned the public school closest to their residence.
Exploring fee structures for expat students
If granted admittance, expat students who wish to enrol in any of the Emirati public schools should expect to pay AED 6,000 per year for tuition.
On the other hand, private school fees will vary incredibly based on the institution, its location, and the curriculum offered. Depending on your student’s grade or year, there will also likely be different fees. In Dubai, for example, tuition for a student’s final year of private school can cost anywhere between AED 10,000 and AED 100,000 per year, before any additional fees like books, uniforms, or transportation.
Comparative analysis of curricula: British, American, and IB
The curriculum offered at a private school in the UAE can impact its tuition prices. As such, choosing the curriculum is a highly important factor when deciding where to enrol your child. As the UAE is an important international hub, it’s likely that private schools are offering the same education standards and curriculum as your home country. If you think you and your family may continue to live internationally, more widely recognised curricula like the British, American, or International Baccalaureate (IB) programs may pique your interest.
If you’re unfamiliar with these programs, there are a few key factors that may help you decide. Broadly speaking, American schools tend to push for flexibility, individualism, and creativity, while British teaching is more subject-specific and sequential. IB programs aim to teach students more holistically, with a focus on community, global perspectives, and critical thinking.
Though both the American and British curricula are well-regarded internationally, the IB program is exceptionally highly regarded for its approach and rigour. This translates to very high acceptance rates in universities among IB students. However, the A-level exams of the British curriculum and the Advanced Placement (AP) courses in the American curriculum also carry a lot of weight for universities.
Application process
The application process for private schools can be a serious endeavour, but we’ve compiled some tips on how to navigate each step.
Navigating the online application systems
If you’re trying to find a private school for your child from abroad before arriving in the UAE, you’ll likely need to apply online. The most common first step is submitting an enquiry. This will allow the school to get to know your student’s basic information to check if they have a space for them in the appropriate grade for their age.
Following the enquiry, you may be invited to fill out an application for your child. This may involve paying an application fee, providing a photo of your child, and sending recent school reports.
Understanding interviews and assessment processes
After a successful application, your student will be given an interview, an assessment, or both. The content of this interaction will depend on the student’s age and will help the school see if your child will fit in well with the school’s demands and culture. There may also be an interview with you as the parents. Most private schools will also want to be put in contact with your child’s current school to handle written assessments and ask for references.
Tips for a successful application
A few simple tricks can make the application process much smoother for you, your child, and their prospective new school.
- Organisation: Make sure to communicate with the school about the specific documents they need. This will include, but may not be limited to, documents like your child’s passport, immunisation records, and school transcripts. Get these ready as soon as possible and keep them and any physical or scanned copies filed carefully in case you need to retrieve them
- Practice: Work with a tutor to ensure your student’s core competencies and language skills are as strong as possible for the assessment.
- Rehearse: Going over some sample interview questions will also help your child feel confident and able to shine in the interview.
Addressing common concerns
Once you know what type of school you would like to consider and how to put together a good application, there are a few things to keep in mind.
Rules for school admission in the UAE
When it comes to public schools, the most important factor is if your child is not an Emirati citizen or the child of a mother with Emirati citizenship, the only way to be admitted into a public school is if one parent or guardian is working with or alongside the Emirati government.
Education opportunities for foreign children
This restriction means that most foreign children will need to attend private schools. The exact institution does not matter, but it must be accredited by the local education authorities.
The MoE oversees education licensing and accreditation for all private schools in the Northern Emirates. However, the emirates of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah have different bodies which regulate and provide accreditation for their private schools. Your child’s enrollment at school will also need to be registered with those authorities to ensure that the UAE’s compulsory education law is being fulfilled.
Kindergarten requirements and accessibility
Kindergarten is not required by law in the UAE, which means that four- and five-year-olds do not need to be enrolled in a school. The restrictions on public school access mentioned above still hold true for voluntary kindergartens and compulsory public schooling.
Additional resources and support
When it comes to a crucial decision like where to enrol your child for schooling when you arrive in the UAE, there can be a lot of information to sort through that can quickly become overwhelming. Luckily, many options exist for assistance and support through many different channels.
Government and regulatory bodies
The Ministry of Education, as well as the three Emirate-level governmental bodies mentioned above, have many guides and the most up-to-date information on what is needed to help your child succeed in their new school.
Educational institutions
The school that you are enrolling your child in will also be a very useful resource. Through much practice and experience, they have gained plenty of expertise in getting newly arrived students adequately enrolled and registered in the UAE. This is also true of prospective schools that you are still considering!
Expat parent communities and forums
You never have to feel like you have to do it yourself. Many people online have already taken the steps necessary to settle into life in the UAE, including enrolling their children in the education system. Your best resources will often be fellow foreign workers and expats in your job.
Forums and groups on sites like Reddit and Facebook are easily found online. A quick search in these groups will often pull up a trove of tips and tricks for navigating the Emirati system. Many people also take up blogging when they move abroad, so their pages on sites like Medium or Substack will also often yield a lot of information.
FAQs
How can I get free education for my child in the UAE?
Foreign students cannot receive free education in the UAE, but there may be scholarship opportunities available from the schools and/or local government.
Is KG1 mandatory in the UAE?
KG1 is not mandatory in the UAE. Both KG1 and KG2 are encouraged, but considered voluntary schooling in the UAE.
Is school free for foreigners in the UAE?
Public school is not free for foreign students in the UAE. If you are interested in enrolling your child in a public school, it will cost AED 6,000 per year if your child is eligible.