Prepare for your next chapter
Schools in Dubai: choosing and preparing enrolment
For a family, choosing a school and a home go together. Start with your child’s learning needs and actual available places, then compare neighbourhoods that work for daily life.
Build an initial shortlist
The KHDA directory lists curricula, grades, locations, fee information and reports for private schools. Use it to shortlist several schools suited to your desired curriculum. A rating or reputation alone is not enough: prepare questions about languages, learning support, activities and continuity if you may later return to France or move elsewhere.
Read the fee sheet for the right grade
The School Fees Fact Sheet sets out mandatory and optional charges for the academic year and forms part of the parent-school contract. Read the sheet for your child’s grade and intended year. Then request a payment schedule and a summary of the costs relevant to you, including transport, meals, uniforms, materials and activities.
Check entry age and grade for 2026–2027
For first-time entry at the relevant levels, the 2026–2027 academic year uses 31 December as the age cut-off for schools and early childhood centres starting in August or September. Entry ages are 3 for PS / FS1, 4 for MS / FS2, 5 for GS / Year 1 and 6 for CP / Year 2. April-start institutions retain 31 March. The change does not automatically reassign children already enrolled in a school or early childhood centre at these levels. For transfers or arrivals from abroad, ask the school to confirm placement from completed schooling and applicable equivalency rules. Meeting the age requirement guarantees neither a place nor admission: obtain written confirmation from the school. Sources checked on 7 October 2026.
Get admission requirements in writing
Contact each admissions team to confirm availability, any assessments and the exact documents required. Gather your existing identity and school records, then check translation, attestation or transfer-certificate requirements for your country of departure and your child’s schooling history. A generic application is not an accepted place: request a written offer and read payment, cancellation and refund terms.
Test real life around the school
Visit the school and travel from two or three prospective homes at drop-off and pick-up times. Ask the school transport provider whether it serves the exact address and what journey time it quotes. Also plan after-school activities, childcare and days without classes. Our area guides help locate schools; they do not guarantee places or journey times.
A common question
Should I choose the home or school first?
Work on both together. Reduce the risk of an unsuitable commute by confirming admission options before committing to a home.
