In fact, the price of education can lead families with children to pack up and move home. But a new study shows that the range in price between Dubai international schools is vast, with the cheapest English-language international school in the emirate more than Dhs103,000 cheaper than the most expensive one.
Sure, not all of these private schools teach in an English-language curriculum, but there are cheaper English options out there – for Dhs5,287 per annum a student can complete their final year of school – Year 12 – at Emirates English Speaking School.
2022 Top 10 least expensive international schools in Dubai
*Note: These schools are taught in a range of languages, but predominantly in English (and the prices are just estimates)
(Based on fees for Grade 12/Year 13. Stats from Edarabia, based on KHDA data)
10. Crescent School Dubai, Al Qusais
Fees (per annum): Dhs8,994
Curriculum: CBSE (primarily English language)
9. Pakistan Education Academy, Oud Metha
Fees (per annum): Dhs8,210
Curriculum: Pakistani
8. National Charity School Dubai, Garhoud
Fees (per annum): Dhs7,841
Curriculum: MOE (aka, the UAE Ministry of Education’s official curriculum)
7. New Indian Model School, Garhoud
Fees (per annum): Dhs6,517
Curriculum: CBSE (Kerala syllabus, English-language)
6. Gulf Indian High School (GIHS), Garhoud
Fees (per annum): Dhs6,368
Curriculum: CBSE (English – learning Arabic is compulsory, while Hindi, Urdu and other languages are optional)
5. Central School Dubai, Al Nahda
Fees (per annum): Dhs6,262
Curriculum: CBSE (English – learning Arabic is compulsory and there’s a strong Islamic education, while Hindi, Urdu and other languages are optional)
4. Gulf Model School, Musainah
Fees (per annum): Dhs6,198
Curriculum: CBSE (English-language primarily, following the Kerala-board academics)
3. H. H. Shaikh Rashid Al Maktoum Pakistani School-Dubai, Al Qusais
Fees (per annum): Dhs6,112
Curriculum: Pakistani
2. Emirates English Speaking School, Al Safa
Fees (per annum): Dhs5,287
Curriculum: CBSE (English – learning Arabic is compulsory, while Hindi, Urdu and other languages are optional)
1. Khadija Kobra Iranian School For Girls, Al Karama
Fees (per annum): Dhs4,167
Curriculum: Iranian (Farsi-language)