When you emigrate to Dubai as a family, you naturally ask yourself the question: 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
If you are looking for a suitable school for your child or children, then you should inform yourself and think about this in advance. In addition to the rankings, there are other factors that can or should determine the choice of school.
Location One factor that is often neglected is the location of the school. People think that going to school in the same city as them is not an issue. However, you will find that Dubai is big and the traffic is even bigger. It can take over an hour to get to school twice a day. That's why you should choose your place of residence and school location carefully.
Costs Schools in Dubai are pretty much all private, which is why you have to pay for them. The exact costs vary from school to school and what is on offer. However, you can expect to pay several hundred euros per month at elementary school and over a thousand euros per month thereafter.
Languages Depending on which language you speak yourself and which languages you want to teach your child, you should also take this into account when making your decision. Some schools are very internationally oriented, while others have a clear language focus.
Offer A school is not just a place to learn, but also a place where children develop in other areas such as sport. Accordingly, it is also important to consider the overall offer.
KHDA Ranking The Dubai government has its own institution that evaluates schools every year and compiles a ranking list. The Knowledge and Human Development Authority, or KHDA for short, ranks schools based on the following factors:
- Student achievements and awards
- Quality of teaching and learning
- Curriculum quality and resources
- School environment and safety
- Leadership and management
- Personal and social development of the children
The best schools in Dubai
There are numerous schools in Dubai. Some are public, but most are private. Here is an overview of the best international and German-language schools for expats in Dubai. The order is not necessarily a strict ranking.
GEMS Wellington International School
One of the schools that is sometimes mentioned very often is the GEMS Wellington School. It is currently rated Outstanding in the KHDA ranking and is one of the most prestigious schools in Dubai. GEMS offers a British school program from the age of 1 to 13.
The school offers a large campus with numerous sports facilities such as tennis, soccer, basketball, swimming and much more. It is also one of the largest schools in Dubai.
In total, GEMS Wellington also offers over 90 clubs, which enables students to receive individual training in various areas.
Die Kosten sind im Vergleich auch hoch. Je nach Alter liegen die Kosten bei 10.000 – 25.000€ pro Jahr.
Zur Schule: https://www.wellingtoninternationalschool.com/
Dubai American Academy
The American counterpart to GEMS is the Dubai American Academy. This school is based on the American system and educates children up to high school and IB level. The KHDA has once again given it an "Outstanding" rating.
The school offers a high standard of education with a focus on science subjects such as mathematics, physics, chemistry and engineering. In addition, the school has often been recognized for inclusion and student wellbeing.
Once again, the campus has a lot to offer and the sports facilities are also very diverse. It also costs quite a bit because the annual fee is AED 70,000-90,000.
Zur Schule: https://www.gemsaa-dubai.com/.
Swiss International Scientific School in Dubai (SISD)
The Swiss International School Dubai (SISD) is another excellent school that offers education in Dubai from the age of 3 to 18. Here you can choose between a day school and a full boarding school format.
As the name suggests, the Swiss school system is combined with the Arabic school system. Lessons are taught in English, German and French, with Arabic also being a compulsory subject.
The focus here is also on natural sciences, technology, innovation and entrepreneurship.
In addition to excellent Swiss schooling, there are also great facilities for sport and leisure. These include tennis courts, an Olympic swimming pool, a soccer pitch with real grass and much more.
Zur Schule: https://www.nordangliaeducation.com/sisd-dubai
German International School Dubai (DISD)
The German International School is the only purely German-speaking school. German is the language of instruction and English, French and Arabic are sometimes used as second languages. Teaching is based on the Thuringian curriculum and is internationally recognized. According to the KHDA rating, the school is rated "Very Good".
As the name suggests, the school is primarily aimed at German-speaking children. Accordingly, the school is only 1/3 the size of the other schools and is relatively small with around 950 pupils.
The school's focus is on STEM, short for mathematics, information, natural sciences and technology. Modern laboratories, IT infrastructure and other facilities support this.
Here, too, there is a wide range of support that goes beyond academic achievements. Areas such as sport, art and music are supported.
School fees here range from AED 38,760 (pre-kindergarten) to AED 73,227 (grades 11-12).
Zur Schule: https://germanschool.ae/en/
Costs
The costs for the schools vary, but for very good schools you generally have to calculate between €1,000 and €2,000 per month. More, of course, in the case of boarding schools. On the other hand, these are high-quality private schools with international standards and awards that cannot be compared with normal public schools.
Experience
In our experience, schooling and choice of school is always an individual choice, based on the above criteria you should make a decision that is best for your own future and that of your child. The KHDA ranking should not be considered exclusively or strictly. It can play a part in the decision, but should not be the sole factor.
Summary
There are excellent international schools in Dubai, including (purely) German-speaking schools. All of these schools offer internationally recognized degrees and specialize in different fields. Ultimately, the choice has to be made individually and the costs for good schools in Dubai are between €1,000-2,000 per month.
