Growth beyond the classroom – Popular British schools in Dubai
Dubai welcomes expats from across the globe, making it a vibrant mix of cultures. Its rapid growth and promising future continue to draw both families and professionals from around the world. For those relocating with children, the city is home to several top-tier British schools that provide well-rounded education led by experienced educators. If you’ve recently arrived, this guide highlights some of the top British curriculum schools in Dubai.
WHY CHOOSE BRITISH CURRICULUM SCHOOLS IN DUBAI?
Also known as the National Curriculum of England, the carefully curated UK curriculum is taught in over 150 countries. All top-rated British curriculum schools in Dubai cover arts, science and humanities subjects allowing students to identify their areas of interest and develop their full potential.
Take a look at this list of British curriculum schools in Dubai and decide which is the best option for your child!
LIST OF UK CURRICULUM SCHOOLS IN DUBAI
Over the years, many British schools have opened in Dubai, and each school strives to provide the best education to students. Here’s an overview of the UK curriculum schools in Dubai that are approved and rated Outstanding by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA).
KINGS’ SCHOOL AL BARSHA
Rated Outstanding by the KHDA, Kings’ School Al Barsha caters to students from FS1 to Year 13. There are almost 2,400+ students belonging to 70+ nationalities. Experienced and highly qualified teachers attend to students’ educational needs. The school’s broad range of extracurricular activities includes football, karate, music, netball and more. Students can pursue fun extracurricular activities, including chess, Zumba, ballet, photography and origami.
The school’s sister branch in Umm Suqeim 3, Kings School Dubai, is also rated Outstanding by the KHDA. It offers classes from FS1 to Year 6.
- Address: Al Barsha |Umm Suqeim 3
- Fees: Al Barsha: AED 57,999 – AED 105,873 |Umm Suqeim 3: AED 47,179 – AED 71,801
- Curriculum: British
- KHDA Rating: Outstanding
- Contact Number: Al Barsha: +971-4-356-6900 |Umm Suqeim 3: +971-4-348-3939
DUBAI COLLEGE
A school with an indisputable reputation for excellence, Dubai College is one of the oldest British schools in Dubai, offering classes from Year 7 to Year 13. Established in the late 1970s, DC has achieved the cult status of an “Ivy League” school in Dubai and is on every ambitious parent’s wishlist. With a well-rounded program and excellent teacher-to-student ratio, every child at Dubai College receives the attention and guidance they require.
- Address: Al Sufouh 2
- Fees: AED 97,415 – AED 110,305
- Curriculum: British
- KHDA Rating: Outstanding
- Contact Number: +971-4-399-9111
JUMEIRAH ENGLISH SPEAKING SCHOOL
The primary goal at JESS is to enable students to think independently, as education is all about imagination, pure thoughts and intuition. Students of today will shape the world of tomorrow. Hence, teachers focus on guiding them and offering help where required. The school currently has two branches in the city, perfect for parents residing in Jumeirah and Arabian Ranches.
Thanks to its academic and non-academic programs, the school has successfully secured an Outstanding rating. You can read more about both institutes in our JESS Al Safa guide and JESS Arabian Ranches guide.
- Address: Al Safa | Arabian Ranches
- Fees: AED 54,131 – AED 65,098 (Al Safa) | AED 54,130 – AED 105,607 (Arabian ranches)
- Curriculum: UK/IB
- KHDA Rating: Outstanding
- Contact Number: +971-4-361-9019
DUBAI ENGLISH SPEAKING SCHOOL
Dubai English Speaking School provides quality education to more than 1,000 children from FS1 to Year 6. Established in 1963, it is now one of the finest British syllabus schools in Dubai. The school has four main principles: dare, excel, share and create, offering students academic knowledge and letting them develop creative and essential life skills.
- Address: Oud Metha
- Fees: AED 43,084 – AED 53,320
- Curriculum: British
- KHDA Rating: Outstanding
- Contact Number: +971-4-337-1457
JUMEIRAH COLLEGE
Jumeirah College, rated Outstanding by KHDA, stands out on the list of British curriculum schools in Dubai for its excellent teaching standards and experienced staff. The school offers a wide range of facilities, including science labs, video conferencing suites, tech centres, dedicated art and music rooms, a drama studio, a gym, a swimming pool and extensive recreational spaces. It caters to students from Year 7 to Year 13.
- Address: Al Wasl Road
- Fees: AED 78,946 – AED 98,681
- Curriculum: British
- KHDA Rating: Outstanding
- Contact Number: +971-4-395-5524
DUBAI BRITISH SCHOOL EMIRATES HILLS
Founded in 2005, Dubai British School Emirates Hills is part of Taaleem Education and ranks among the best British schools in Dubai. Catering to students from FS1 to Year 13, the school blends academic excellence with creativity, supported by modern teaching tools. It also focuses on extracurriculars, offering facilities like swimming pools, racket sports courts and a well-stocked library. DBS Emirates Hills is an ideal choice for families living in The Meadows, The Springs and The Lakes.
- Address: The Springs 3, Emirates Hills
- Fees: AED 53,027 – AED 79,541
- Curriculum: British
- KHDA Rating: Outstanding
- Contact Number: +971-4-361-9361
DUBAI ENGLISH SPEAKING COLLEGE
DESC is one of the leading UK curriculum schools in the city, offering classes from Year 7 to Year 13. The school follows the National Curriculum of England and Wales across Key Stages 3, 4 and 5. Sports facilities include rugby pitches, badminton courts, high-performance gyms and cricket nets. Educational facilities at DESC include recording studios, science labs, a Technology studio and the David May Desert Garden.
- Address: Academic City
- Fees: AED 84,325 – AED 90,633
- Curriculum: British
- KHDA Rating: Outstanding
- Contact Number: +971-4-360-4866
GEMS WELLINGTON INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
GEMS Wellington International School is a co-educational campus known for its excellent facilities and strong academic standards. Spread over 8 acres, it features music and dance studios, sports pitches, swimming pools, tennis courts, a library, and an observatory. The school also has well-equipped science and computer labs, along with a fitness studio. Offering the IB curriculum in Years 12 and 13, it boasts a team of highly trained educators and stands out as one of the top UK curriculum GEMS schools in Dubai.
- Address: Al Sufouh
- Fees: AED 47,527 – AED 103,399
- Curriculum: UK/IB
- KHDA Rating: Outstanding
- Contact Number: +971-4-307-3000
HORIZON ENGLISH SCHOOL (HES)
Horizon English School caters to students aged 3 to 11. The teachers focus on providing equal opportunities for all learners from FS1 to Year 6. Individual attention is paid to every child. Hence, the teaching staff caters to learners of all abilities. The school’s philosophy provides a challenging, innovative and fun classroom environment. The medium of instruction is English. However, students who aren’t fluent in the language are given additional support.
- Address: Street 30B, off Al Wasl Road
- Fees: AED 43,849 – AED 58,825
- Curriculum: British
- KHDA Rating: Outstanding
- Contact Number: +971-4-342-2891
DEIRA INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
Deira International School (DIS) is a not-for-profit institution offering the National Curriculum for England and Wales to students aged 3 to 18. Recognised by COBIS, BSO and IBO, it provides IGCSEs in Year 11 and the IB Diploma and Career-Related Programme in Years 12 and 13. Known for its well-rounded education, DIS combines academics with sports, arts and tech, making it a great choice for families seeking affordable British schools in Dubai.
- Address: Dubai Festival City
- Fees: AED 44,616 – AED 89,889
- Curriculum: UK/IB
- KHDA Rating: Outstanding
- Contact Number: +971-4-232-5552
REPTON SCHOOL DUBAI
Repton School is undoubtedly in the league of the best British schools in Dubai. Students in secondary school appear for their IGCSE exams in Years 10 and 11, followed by the IB Diploma Program in the Sixth Form. The school opened in 2007 with the Repton School in England as an exclusive international partner.
Besides standard facilities, Repton is one of the few Dubai-based schools with boarding facilities. Admissions are competitive as it is currently one of the most popular schools in the emirate.
- Address: Nad Al Sheba 3
- Fees: AED 57,178 – AED 102,753
- Curriculum: UK/IB
- KHDA Rating: Outstanding
- Contact Number: +971-4-426-9393
SAFA COMMUNITY SCHOOL
Safa Community School (SCS), a sister institution of the renowned Safa British School, was established in 2014 and follows the National Curriculum of England. Located in Al Barsha South, it caters to students from the Foundation Stage through to Sixth Form. With over 2,000 students and a strong team of teachers and support staff, SCS is among the top choices for families looking for affordable British curriculum schools in Dubai.
- Address: Al Barsha South
- Fees: AED 54,437 – AED 89,440
- Curriculum: British
- KHDA Rating: Outstanding
- Contact Number: +971-4-385-1810 | +971-4-385-1820
NORD ANGLIA INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
Nord Anglia International School Dubai is a part of the globally recognised Nord Anglia Education Group with over 80 schools worldwide. Since its opening in 2014, the school has offered the British curriculum, with the IB diploma available in the sixth form. Supported by a dedicated team of teachers and assistants, NAS Dubai continues to invest in its teaching standards and campus facilities. It’s widely considered one of the top schools in Dubai, with an ‘Outstanding’ KHDA rating.
- Address: Al Barsha 3
- Fees: AED 69,625 – AED 105,288
- Curriculum: UK/IB
- KHDA Rating: Outstanding
- Contact Number: +971-4-219-9999
VICTORY HEIGHTS PRIMARY SCHOOL
Victory Heights Primary School (VHPS) is an independent school offering the National Curriculum of England. As one of the notable British curriculum primary schools in Dubai, VHPS focuses on an application-based learning approach that encourages students to understand and apply concepts rather than rely on rote memorisation. Catering to children from Foundation 1 to Year 6, the school is home to a diverse student body and holds accreditations from BSME, COBIS and British Schools Overseas.
- Address: Dubai Sports City
- Fees: AED 40,138 – AED 54,733
- Curriculum: British
- KHDA Rating: Outstanding
- Contact Number: +971-4-560-2000
SUNMARKE SCHOOL
Sunmarke School is a passionately character-building and innovative school in the Middle East, offering a range of post-16 academic pathways, including A-Levels, the IB Diploma Programme and BTEC qualifications.
The purpose-built campus, catering to students until Year 13, features state-of-the-art STEAM labs, an IB Centre, Olympic-standard sports facilities, AI-powered learning tools, Three Fine Arts Labs, a 400-seat auditorium, Four Music Labs, TV & Radio Production Studios, Nine World-Class Science Labs, Five Design Technology Labs and Three Libraries with Media Centres.
- Address: Jumeirah Village Triangle
- Fees: Starting from AED 53,040 to AED 88,538
- Curriculum: British National Curriculum
- KHDA Rating: Very Good
- Contact: +971-4-423-8900
REGENT INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
Regent International School is a warm, inclusive British curriculum school where every child is empowered to thrive. Delivering the National Curriculum for England from FS1 to Year 13, Regent blends academic rigour with innovation, wellbeing, and holistic development. Students follow IGCSEs and A-Levels in the senior years.
The purpose-built campus has libraries, science labs, design studios and performing arts spaces.
- Address: The Greens
- Fees: Starting from AED 45,373 per year
- Curriculum: British National Curriculum
- KHDA Rating: Very Good
- Contact: +971-4-360-8830
FAQS ABOUT BRITISH CURRICULUM SCHOOLS IN DUBAI
ARE THERE ANY OTHER BRITISH SCHOOLS IN DUBAI?
Here’s a list of top British schools in Dubai, offering British or a mix of UK/IB curriculum with ‘Outstanding’ to ‘Very Good’ ratings:
- Dubai British School Jumeirah Park
- GEMS Jumeirah Primary School
- Hartland International School
- GEMS Royal Dubai School
- Arcadia British School
- Ranches Primary School
- Royal Grammar School Guildford
- The Winchester School
- Dubai Heights Academy
- Brighton College Dubai
Looking to move from Britain to the UAE first? Explore your options in relocating from the UK to Dubai.
WHAT IS THE TYPICAL FEE RANGE FOR TOP BRITISH SCHOOLS IN DUBAI?
The leading UK curriculum schools in Dubai typically charge annual fees ranging from AED 40,000 to around AED 110,000.
WHAT EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES ARE AVAILABLE?
Students at British curriculum schools in Dubai can enjoy a wide range of extracurricular activities. These often include sports like football, swimming and tennis, along with music, drama, coding, debate and arts clubs. Many schools also offer community service programmes and academic enrichment activities such as STEM or language clubs.
So that’s a wrap to our list of British schools in Dubai. Each of these Dubai schools will prepare your child for the next step in their educational journey. If you’re searching for quality international schools in the city, here are the best American schools in Dubai to consider.
Like Dubai, there are excellent schooling options in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. These include the British schools in Abu Dhabi that offer quality education. The same could be said about British schools in Sharjah, which are a preferred choice of families living in the emirate.
