The UAE has more private schools than anywhere else in the world. However securing school places for children is potentially one of the most stressful parts of moving to the UAE, especially as parents try to choose and apply to schools from afar. The first decision that parents have to make is which curriculum that they are going to opt for. Traditionally many expats have gone down the British school route but more and more are turning to the International Baccalaureate programme as an alternative, especially if the UAE is only the first stop in their expatriate journey. Once you have chosen your curriculum, then it is time to navigate through the plethora of information on websites, forums, government rating agencies and in brochures. New arrivals in the UAE must be aware that depending on the year or grade applied for, there may be limited choice, as the popular schools usually have waiting lists, especially in the Early Years programmes and Primary School.
The one universal piece of advice is to start looking at schools in the UAE as early as possible. If your company uses a relocation agency then they will usually have someone who specializes in education who should be a valuable source of advice on the current situation on the ground.
They will often have good relationships with admissions personnel in the schools and steer their clients in the right direction and arrange tours for their clients.
So what sort of factors do parents need to consider carefully when choosing a school or their children? After the decision has been made on the curriculum, then people usually start looking for schools around an area that they might potentially be living in, however this need not be a limiting factor as both Dubai and Abu Dhabi are extremely commutable and schools usually run a fleet of buses into the large catchment areas. The location of the school and the facilities available are often important factors in the choice of school for parents as are the level of school fees. In the past most expatriate packages included school fees for at least two children, however there is an increasing trend towards an allencompassing package where benefits are lumped together. Some parents are initially shocked at the level of school fees charged in the UAE for premium schools however they are in line with their counterparts throughout the world offering similar curricula. Most schools publish their fee schedules on their web sites, check them carefully to make sure that the school will fit your package and your budget. What else should you be looking for in a school? To decide this you should be that sitting down as a family to look at your specific needs.
