International schools are seemingly gaining the most amount of popularity in the UAE. The expat hotspots Dubai and Abu Dhabi in particular are known to offer a lot of education opportunities for expat kids. However, the costs and the fees are of course high and getting a place at a prestigious international school in the region of UAE is anything but easy.

UAE continues to have the highest number of English-medium international schools (511) in the world. These details was found by the latest data on the growth of the international schools market published by ISC Research, part of The International Schools Consultancy (ISC).

The report also found out that the Middle East and Africa regions are known to have the second-highest number of English-medium international schools, which geographically is a total of 1,616.

Asia came first with 4,346 English-medium international schools.

The expat community in the UAE seems to be growing by leaps and bounds in the last few decades. People from all over the world including the UK, Canada, Australia, and the US, as well as other parts of Asia are seen to settle down in this part of the Middle East with their families. 

Moreover, many of them are choosing to educate their children within the country.

Apart from the fact that the population of expats is growing, there are several other factors that are increasing the popularity of international schools in the UAE. The following are mentioned below:

Language

English-medium schools all over the world have crossed the 8,000 mark. In the UAE, there has been an increase of 21 new English-medium international schools in just a given span of 2 years. The total number of students (between the ages of 3 and 18) attending such institutions is 545,074. Approximately 36% of all the international schools have a student population of more than 1000, by far the best!

Global recognition

A high demand for the National Curriculum of England has been seen among the local and expat student population in Dubai. Almost 50% of the international schools are hence known to offer the British curriculum. For a fact, in Dubai, it is a compulsion for all international schools to be accredited by at least one specific body. This gives the students and their parents the assurance that the school is meeting a high standard of quality. 

Diversity

Almost all the international schools in Dubai and Abu Dhabi are seen to have a healthy mix of students from various parts of the world also in addition to the local population. For a fact, it is also very common to see teachers from many different countries working in such schools.

Here’s a list of top international schools for your reference:

Abu Dhabi International Schoo

Mohammed Bin Zayed City Campus

Sector Z17-01, 
63rd Street, 
Near Al Ain University, 
Mohammed Bin Zayed City, 
Abu Dhabi, 
UAE, 
P.O Box: 133311 
Tel: +971 2 2057999 

 

Abu Dhabi City Campus

Al Karama Street, 

Near Al Rowda Clinic, 

Abu Dhabi, 

UAE, 

P.O Box: 25898

Tel: +971 2 4434433

Curriculum: American, British and IB 

Gender: Co-educational 

Email: support @ aisuae.com 

URL: http://aisschools.com/ 

 

Abu Dhabi Grammar School 

PO Box 27161, 

Abu Dhabi

Curriculum: Canadian 

Gender: Co-educational 

Tel: +971 2 644-4703

Fax: +971 2 645-4703

URL: http://www.agsgrmmr.sch.ae/ 

 

American School of Dubai 

Intersection of First Al Khail & Hessa Street, 

Opposite the Saudi German Hospital, 

Al Barsha Dubai, 

UAE

 

Mailing address: 

PO Box 71188 Dubai, 

United Arab Emirates

Curriculum: American 

Gender: Co-educational 

Tel: +971 4 395 0005 

Fax: +971 4 395 0008

Email: asdadmin @ asdubai.org 

URL: http://www.asdubai.org/ 

 

Brighton College, Abu Dhabi 

PO Box 129444, 

Abu Dhabi 

Curriculum: British and IB 

Gender: Co-educational & Girls only options 

Tel: +971 2 815 6500

URL: http://www.brightoncollege.ae/ 

 

The British School Al Khubairat, Abu Dhabi 

PO Box 4001, 

Abu Dhabi

Curriculum: British and IB 

Gender: Co-educational 

Tel: +971 2 446 2280

Fax: +971 2 446 1915 

URL: http://www.britishschool.sch.ae/ 

 

Dubai American Academy (A GEMS School) 

Curriculum: American and IB 

Gender: Co-educational 

Tel: +971 4 347 9222 

Fax: +971 4 347 6070 

URL: http://www.gemsaa-dubai.com/ 

 

Dubai College 

Curriculum: British 

Gender: Co-educational 

Tel: +971 4 399 9111 

Fax: +971 4 399 9175 

URL: http://www.dubaicollege.org/ 

 

GEMS Cambridge International School, Dubai 

Curriculum: British 

Gender: Co-educational 

Tel: +971 4 282 4646 

Fax: +971 4 282 4109 

URL: http://www.gemscis-dubai.com/ 

 

GEMS Cambridge High School, Abu Dhabi 

Curriculum: British 

Gender: Co-educational 

Tel: +971 2 552 1621

Fax: +971 2 552 1622

URL: http://www.gemscis-abudhabi.com/ 

 

GEMS Millennium School, Dubai 

Curriculum: Indian 

Gender: Co-educational 

Tel: +971 4 298 8567

Fax: +971 4 298 8606

URL: http://www.gemsmillenniumschool.com/ 

 

GEMS Modern Academy, Dubai 

Curriculum: Indian (ICSE) 

Gender: Co-educational 

Tel: +971 4 326 3339

Fax: +971 4 326 3402 

URL: http://www.gemsmhs.com/ 

 

GEMS Royal Dubai School (Primary Only) 

Curriculum: British 

Gender: Co-educational 

Tel: +971 4 288 6499 

Fax: +971 4 288 6490 

URL: http://www.royaldubaischool.com/ 

 

GEMS World Academy (Primary), Abu Dhabi 

Curriculum: IB

Gender: Co-educational 

Tel: +971 2 641 6333

Fax: +971 2 642 8803 

URL: http://www.gemsworldacademy-abudhabi.com/

 

Raffles International School and Raffles World Academy, Dubai

P O Box 122900, 

Dubai, 

United Arab Emirates

Curriculum: British 

Gender: Co-educational 

Tel: +971 4 427 1200/ 1300

Fax: +971 4 427 1201 

URL: http://www.rafflesis.com/

 

Swiss International Scientific School (Primary), Dubai 

Dubai Healthcare City, 

Phase 2 - Al Jaddaf, 

Dubai

Curriculum: IB 

Gender: Co-educational 

Tel: +971 4 375 0600

URL: http://sisd.ae/  

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