When emigrating to Dubai as a family, the question naturally arises: Which schools are there in Dubai and which international or German school is the best for my children.
The school system in Dubai is quite different from that in Germany, Austria, or the rest of Europe, although there are exceptions. Therefore, here is a comprehensive guide to schools in Dubai, both international and German-speaking.
School Choice: Decisive Factors
When you are looking for a suitable school for your child or children, you should inform yourself and think about it beforehand. Besides rankings, there are other factors that can or should influence your choice of school.
Location One often-neglected factor is the school's location. People tend to think that as you go to school in the same city, it's not an issue. However, you'll realise that Dubai is large and the traffic is even larger. A school run can also take over an hour, and that's twice a day. Therefore, your place of residence and the school's location should be chosen consciously.
Costs Schools in Dubai are almost entirely private, which is why you have to pay for them. The exact costs vary from school to school and depending on what services you use. However, you can expect to pay several hundred euros per month for primary school, and over a thousand euros per month thereafter.
Languages Depending on the language you speak yourself and the languages you want to teach your child, you should also take this into account when making your decision. Certain schools are very internationally oriented, while others have a clear language focus.
Offer A school is not just a place for learning, but also a place where children can develop further in other areas, such as sport. Therefore, it is also important to consider the overall offering.
KHDA Ranking The Dubai government has its own agency that assesses schools each year and compiles a ranking. The so-called Knowledge and Human Development Authority, or KHDA for short, ranks schools based on the following factors:
- Pupil achievements and awards
- Quality of teaching and learning
- Curriculum Quality and Resources
- School environment and safety
- Leadership and Management
- Personal and social development of children
The best schools in Dubai
Dubai has numerous schools. Some are public, but most are private. Here is an overview of the best international and German-speaking schools for expats in Dubai. The order does not represent a strict ranking.
GEMS Wellington International School
One of the schools that is occasionally mentioned very often is GEMS Wellington School. In the KHDA ranking, it is currently rated Outstanding and is one of the most respected schools in Dubai. GEMS offers a British curriculum from Year 1 to Year 13.
The school offers a large campus with numerous sports facilities such as tennis, football, basketball, swimming, and much more. It is also one of the largest schools in Dubai.
Overall, GEMS Wellington also offers over 90 clubs, allowing students to develop individually in various areas.
The costs are also high in comparison. Depending on the age, the costs are €10,000 – €25,000 per year.
Dubai American Academy
The American equivalent of GEMS is the Dubai American Academy. This school is based on the American system and educates children up to high school degree and IB. The KHDA has once again given an “Outstanding” rating here.
The school impresses with a high standard of education, focusing on scientific areas such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, and engineering. Furthermore, the school has often received accolades for its inclusivity and student well-being.
The campus offers quite a lot here as well, and the sports facilities are also very diverse. This comes at a considerable cost, as the annual fee ranges from 70,000-90,000 AED.
To school https://www.gemsaa-dubai.com/.
Swiss International Scientific School, Dubai (SISD)
The Swiss International School Dubai, or SISD, is another excellent school offering education for ages 3 to 18 in Dubai. Here, you can choose between a day school and a full boarding format.
As the name suggests, the Swiss school system is combined with the Arabic one here. Teaching is conducted in English, German, and French, with Arabic also being a compulsory subject.
The focus here is also on science, technology, innovation, but also entrepreneurship.
Here, too, alongside excellent Swiss schooling, you get a fantastic facility for sports and leisure. This includes tennis courts, an Olympic swimming pool, a football pitch with real grass, and much more.
German International School Dubai (DISD)
The German International School is the only purely German-speaking school. The language of instruction is German, with English, French, and Arabic sometimes used as second languages. The curriculum is based on the Thuringian curriculum and is internationally recognised. According to the KHDA rating, the school is rated “Very Good”.
As the name suggests, the school is primarily aimed at German-speaking children. Consequently, the school is only a third of the size of other schools by comparison and is relatively small with around 950 pupils.
The school's focus is on STEM, an abbreviation for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. Modern laboratories, IT infrastructure, and other facilities support this.
Here too, there is a wide range of support that extends beyond academic achievement. Areas such as sport, art and music are promoted.
School fees here range from AED 38,760 (Pre-Kindergarten) to AED 73,227 (Grades 11–12).
To school https://germanschool.ae/en/
Costs
The costs for schools vary, but for very good schools, you usually have to expect between €1,000 and €2,000 per month. In the case of boarding schools, of course, more. However, these are high-quality private schools with international standards and awards, which cannot be compared to normal public schools by any means.
Experience
In our experience, schooling and the choice of school should always be a personal decision. Based on the criteria mentioned above, a decision should be made that is best suited for one's own future and that of the child. The KHDA ranking should not be viewed exclusively or strictly. It can be taken into consideration when making a decision, but it should not be the sole factor.
Summary
Dubai has excellent international schools, including (entirely) German-speaking ones. All these schools offer internationally recognised qualifications and specialise in various fields. The choice ultimately has to be made individually, and the costs for good schools in Dubai are between €1,000-€2,000 per month.
