The best new international schools in Dubai and Abu Dhabi

Another day, another notification about a new Middle East school in the inbox. The region is buzzing, with expat families from all over the world beginning to move to a place that is bursting with opportunity – with Dubai and Abu Dhabi particular educational hotspots. “Dubai is positioning itself as the go-to place for families to relocate,” says Victoria Garrett, head of global residential (excluding UK) at Savills. “Education is key, and Dubai has some of the top schools now located there. It’s clear to see why it is so popular.” 

For those families living overseas, there is a growing number of strong British- and American-curriculum schools in the United Arab Emirates. As of 2025, there are 227 private schools in Dubai – and with the emirate’s Education 33 (E33) strategy in full swing, a further 100 new private schools are expected to open by 2033. 

August 2026 will see the long-anticipated inauguration of Harrow International School Dubai, a name that needs little introduction in the world of British education. The campus on Hessa Street, between Jumeirah Village Circle and Al Barsha South, will launch as a co-educational school, opening its primary classes (Foundation Stage 1 to Year 6) before expanding into secondary. 

“I am excited by the opportunity to shape a school that is true to Harrow’s heritage while firmly focused on the future,” says founding headteacher Simon O’Connor. “Our pupils will enjoy an education that unites academic ambition, character and a broad, outward-looking global understanding.” 

Harrow isn’t the only big name to arrive in the emirate. Several other prestigious educational institutions have confirmed plans to launch schools in Dubai, including Rugby, Queen Elizabeth’s – the first state school to open a fee-paying affiliate abroad – and St Paul’s Girls’ (which will open as a co-ed branded as the SPGS International School). These are some of the leading academic schools in the UK, and their imminent presence in the region signals just how rapidly the UAE is reshaping itself as a global hub for top-tier education. 

Alongside the headline names, a new wave of schools is emerging with approaches to education that are less traditional, but no less compelling. The newly opened GEMS School of Research and Innovation, for example, has a focus on AI, research-led learning and future-ready skills – a model that reflects the region’s visionary ambitions. In response, long-established heavyweights such as Dubai College and Jumeirah English Speaking School (JESS) are investing in renovations, modernising facilities and expanding their academic and extracurricular programmes. 

With so many glossy new arrivals, are established schools feeling the pressure? “New schools enrich Dubai’s education landscape, and we welcome their contribution,” says Shane O’Brien, director of JESS. “As a not-for-profit, JESS has spent 50 years reinvesting every dirham into exceptional teachers and continuous school improvement. That commitment isn’t driven by pressure, it’s driven by purpose, and it remains at the heart of our vision. Our goal is simple – to keep raising the bar for our students while honouring the values that have shaped JESS since day one.” 

Abu Dhabi, too, is seeing a surge of big-ticket openings, with the announcement of Harrow International School Abu Dhabi and Gordonstoun, the Scottish school famed for its character-building ethos and royal alumni. Both will bring a distinctly different flavour to the city’s mix. 

Parents who previously had a shortlist of just three or four schools are now spoilt for choice, with a richer variety of education on offer than ever before. So what really drives families when choosing a school in a sea of options? 

Location, unsurprisingly, tops the list. Traffic can turn a short school run into a daily endurance test, so proximity is often just as important as curriculum. Yet schools aren’t just reacting to where families live – increasingly, they’re helping to shape new communities, anchoring neighbourhoods and driving demand for nearby property. 

For many relocating families, the school gate is the starting point for choosing a place to call home. Picking the right school has never been more central to relocating to the Middle East.

Louise Mamarbachi is a writer and consultant for The Good Schools Guide in the UAE

VICTORIA GARRETT, HEAD OF GLOBAL RESIDENTIAL AT SAVILLS
victoria.garrett@savills.com