Ten new schools set to open in Dubai

Dubai will see 10 new schools open in September, according to the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA).

They include four British curriculum schools, two Indian, one International Baccalaureate (IB), one American, one Canadian and one French school. The new schools are expected to meet growing demand in the emirate, official news agency WAM reported.

The average rate of enrollment in Dubai’s private schools sector has increased by 6.6 per cent annually over the last 10 years, with 72 new schools opening since 2007, the report said.

According to the KHDA, new schools typically fill 60 per cent of their capacity after four years in operation, and 80 per cent after seven years.

A report by Colliers International in 2015 showed that Dubai would require a total of 51 new schools by 2020 to meet existing demand. A total investment of $2bn will be required over the five-year period to build these schools, the report added.

Abdulla Al Karam, director-general of KHDA said: “Every new school that opens in Dubai gives parents more choice for their children’s education.

“That Dubai continues to attract high numbers of new schools and new residents speaks to the growth of our economy, and to the trust that parents and school operators have in the quality of education offered here.”

Last week, it was revealed that 62 per cent of Dubai schools will be able to increase fees by at least 3.6 per cent this year after being rated good and above by the KHDA.

In its inspections report covering 159 schools with 263,051 students from early years to grade 12, KHDA rated 16 as outstanding, 14 as very good, 69 as good, 50 as acceptable and 10 as weak. None were rated very weak.

Read more: Nearly two thirds of Dubai schools can increase fees by 3.6% or more

Also read: Revealed: Best private schools in Dubai

The UAE currently has the highest number of English-medium international schools worldwide, according to a report last year by research firm International Schools Consultancy.

The Emirates has seen a 15.2 per cent year-on-year rise in the number of schools to reach 589, it stated.

Read more: UAE has the highest number of international schools globally