Country & territory guide
Compare schools across the United Arab Emirates.
A UAE school shortlist should distinguish the emirate, city and named campus before comparing curricula. The reviewed collection spans Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah. It includes secondary-only schools and schools with changing qualification routes across phases, so a national curriculum filter is only the first step.
22 included profiles · 7 destination collections · 14 dated tuition schedules
This is a selected directory, with different levels of evidence in each collection. Open the named campus profile to check its curriculum phases, review date and sources before contacting admissions.
Planning a school search in the United Arab Emirates
JESS campus information and the KHDA fee-sheet resource were checked against official indexed pages; their full pages were unavailable during this review. Ajman Academy's current school-owned profile and authoriser record support the phase distinctions used here. No new tuition amount or individual placement is inferred from those summaries.
Keep city collections and school campuses distinct
Abu Dhabi city and Al Ain are separate school destinations within the same emirate. Likewise, a Dubai school-group name cannot stand in for a Sharjah or Ras Al Khaimah campus. The JESS Arabian Ranches record includes secondary and Sixth Form, while its Jumeirah site is separate primary provision. Dubai College's reviewed offer is secondary and senior study. Identify the division serving each child, obtain its teaching address and compare the actual journey. Sibling applications need their own year and campus confirmations even when the schools share a brand.
Sources: JESS: primary campuses and Arabian Ranches secondary scope · Dubai College: secondary and senior curriculum · Brighton Al Ain: campus-specific senior programme
Read the transition between programmes
Ajman Academy's school-owned profile identifies PYP, MYP in Grades 6–8, then IGCSE and AS/A-level study across Grades 9–12. Its earlier IB programmes do not establish a senior Diploma route. VISS Al Taawun in Sharjah uses Victorian/Australian study before separate senior IB and Global Citizen Diploma options. Those examples make phase evidence more useful than a whole-school label. Ask for the curriculum in the joining year, available senior subjects and the route into the intended award. An international qualification can cover only the final phase of an otherwise different programme.
Sources: Ajman Academy: school-owned phase and qualification profile · IB authoriser: Ajman Academy PYP and MYP programmes · VISS Al Taawun: senior diploma options · VISS Al Taawun: primary curriculum
Apply the current entry scope before comparing fees
The UAE Ministry's 2026/27 announcement changes the first-entry early-years and Grade 1 cutoff to 31 December for August/September-start schools; April-start schools retain 31 March. It separately describes transfers in terms of the last successfully completed grade and progression. Do not extend the early-entry calculation to every older pupil. Ask admissions to confirm the applicable calendar and placement. For Dubai, compare the school's KHDA fee fact sheet with its complete AED quotation; elsewhere request the corresponding current campus schedule. Include registration, transport, examinations and required support without estimating missing fees from another emirate.
Sources: UAE Ministry: scoped 2026/27 entry announcement · KHDA: fee fact sheet guidance
Curriculum pathways recorded across the collection
Each row combines evidence from several profiles. Its phases may be offered at different schools; it does not mean every school provides every phase. Online delivery is listed separately. Open the school profile for its exact route and eligibility.
| Route and delivery | Recorded phases across profiles | Included profiles and source examples |
|---|---|---|
| BritishOn campus | Early years, Primary, Secondary, Sixth form | 18 profiles |
| IBOn campus | Early years, Primary, Secondary, Sixth form | 10 profiles |
| AmericanOn campus | Early years, Primary, Secondary, Sixth form | 2 profiles |
| AustralianOn campus | Early years, Primary, Secondary | 1 profile |
Parent questions about United Arab Emirates schools
Does IB primary provision guarantee an IB Diploma option in the UAE?
No. Ajman Academy's school-owned profile moves from PYP and MYP to IGCSE and A levels. Other schools publish a separate senior Diploma option. Match the desired qualification to the named campus and phase, and request current subject and entry requirements rather than extending an earlier authorisation into all later years.
Sources: Ajman Academy: school-owned phase and qualification profile · VISS Al Taawun: senior diploma options
Should an overseas transfer be placed using the early-entry cutoff alone?
No. The Ministry announcement separates transfers from the new early-entry calculation and refers to completed grade and progression. Supply reports and academic-calendar dates to the receiving school. Confirm the offered year and any assessment requirements before using a published year-group tuition amount as the family's expected bill.
Start with a destination collection
The following collections have the most included profiles. Counts describe directory coverage, rather than local market size or school quality.
Build a shortlist and plan a school visit · Compare the complete school bill