UAE school guides for parents
Choosing a school, understanding fees and inspection ratings, planning around term dates, and making sense of the British curriculum. Written for families in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and across the UAE, using public sources you can check yourself.
Decifer Learning is a UK curriculum practice app for Years 1 to 11, and it is completely free while in beta. Create a free account.
Schools, ratings and fees
Dubai school fees in 2026-27: what parents actually pay
Real annual fee ranges for British curriculum schools in Dubai, from about AED 25,000 to over AED 110,000, plus the 2026-27 fee freeze, how KHDA regulates increases, and what the extras cost.
KHDA school ratings explained for parents
What the KHDA inspection ratings actually measure, how many Dubai schools hold each rating, why most ratings currently date from 2023-24, and how to use them when choosing a school.
Choosing a British school in Dubai: a practical checklist
A step-by-step way to shortlist British curriculum schools in Dubai: how to weigh KHDA ratings against fees, what to check in the inspection report, and the questions worth asking on a tour.
Abu Dhabi school fees and ADEK ratings, explained
How ADEK’s Irtiqa’a inspections rate Abu Dhabi private schools, the latest results, real fee ranges at British curriculum schools from about AED 25,000 to AED 106,000, and how fee rises are controlled.
The British curriculum, explained
The British curriculum in the UAE, explained
How the English National Curriculum works in UAE schools: what each key stage covers, when children sit assessments, what BSO accreditation means, and how KHDA inspections fit in.
Year groups and ages in the UAE: the full conversion table
Which year group your child belongs in under UAE rules: the official age table from FS1 to Year 13, British years versus American grades versus IB, and the new 31 December cut-off explained.
GCSEs in the UAE: a parent’s guide
How GCSEs and IGCSEs work at British schools in the UAE: the exam boards schools use, what the 9-1 grades mean, what happened to the 2026 exam series, and how to help in Years 10 and 11.
Term dates and planning
UAE school term dates for 2026-27
Official 2026-27 term dates for schools in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and across the UAE: the 31 August start, October half term, winter and spring breaks, and the new three-year calendar.
Moving to the UAE: getting your child into school
How school admissions work for families arriving in Dubai and the UAE: when you can join mid-year, the transfer certificate and attestation rules, what to prepare before you fly, and how placement is decided.