United Arab Emirates (AE)

The United Arab Emirates is a federation of seven emirates — Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah — that has transformed from a pearl-diving and fishing economy into one of the world's most modern and cosmopolitan nations within a single generation.

Capital: Abu Dhabi

Region: Middle East

Language: Arabic

Currency: AED (د.إ)

Cost of living: Expensive (index 78)

Emergency: 999

Education & Schools

Schools, universities, and language courses in United Arab Emirates.

👶 Childcare & Kindergarten

Private Nursery (International Curriculum) AED 2,000–5,000/month (full-time). Premium British/American nurseries up to AED 7,000/month.

Age: 45 days – 4 years

No government childcare subsidy for expatriate families. Some employers offer nursery allowance as part of compensation packages.

Contact nursery directly. Submit registration form, birth certificate, vaccination records, passport copies of child and parents. Pay registration fee (AED 500–1,000). Place confirmed upon payment of term fees.

⏱️ Top nurseries (British Orchard, Raffles, Blossom) have waiting lists — apply 6–12 months before your target start date. Many nurseries admit from 45 days to allow mothers to return to work.

UAE Government Nursery (Nationals Only) Free / heavily subsidised for UAE nationals

Age: 2–4 years

Not available to expatriate children.

Available to UAE nationals only via Ministry of Education enrolment.

🏫 Schools

Private International School (expats) / Government School (nationals only) Paid

KHDA-rated Private School (Dubai) / ADEK-rated School (Abu Dhabi)

Ages: 4–11 years (Years 1–6, British curriculum) or Grades K–5 (US curriculum) · Language: English (most international schools). Arabic taught as a compulsory subject in all KHDA/ADEK-approved schools.

Apply directly to school. Required: previous school reports, birth certificate, passport copies, vaccination records, entry assessment for older children. Fees paid in advance (1–4 instalments, often by post-dated cheques). Most schools require KHDA registration and Emirates ID for the child.

UAE nationals attend free government Arabic-medium schools or pay for private schools. Expatriate children are not eligible for government school enrolment. Most expat families choose British (National Curriculum), American (US Common Core), IB (International Baccalaureate), or Indian (CBSE/ICSE) curriculum schools. British schools are most abundant in Dubai. KHDA (Dubai) and ADEK (Abu Dhabi) inspect and rate schools annually.

Private International School Paid

KHDA-rated Private School (Secondary) / ADEK-rated School

Ages: 11–18 years (Years 7–13, British GCSE/A-Level) or Grades 6–12 (US High School) · Language: English, with compulsory Arabic and Islamic Studies (for all students including non-Muslims in most schools)

Same as primary. Entry assessments standard for mid-year admissions. A-Level and IB courses: places limited — apply early. Many schools prioritise internal applicants for A-Level.

A-Level results are well-recognised globally. IB Diploma accepted at universities worldwide. UAE school leavers typically apply to UK, US, Australian, Canadian, or UAE universities. UAE has campuses of NYU, Sorbonne, BITS Pilani, Heriot-Watt, Middlesex, and many other international institutions.

International Schools

Dubai and Abu Dhabi have hundreds of international schools across 14+ curricula (British, American, IB, Indian CBSE/ICSE, French, German, Japanese, Australian, Pakistani, etc.). Fee ranges (2025/26): Indian curriculum budget schools AED 15,000–40,000/year; British Good-rated primary AED 25,000–75,000/year; British/American premium (Outstanding, A-level, IB Diploma) AED 80,000–130,000+/year for secondary. KHDA annual inspection rates schools: Outstanding, Good, Acceptable, Weak, Very Weak. Only Outstanding and Good schools are permitted to raise fees by 3–6%/year. Always check latest KHDA/ADEK inspection report before choosing a school. Waiting lists are common for popular schools — apply as early as possible.

University

Tuition fee

AED 40,000–100,000+/year for UAE-based international university campuses (NYU Abu Dhabi is full-scholarship based). UAE University and Zayed University: free for UAE nationals, not available for expat students. American University of Sharjah (AUS), American University in Dubai (AUD): AED 60,000–90,000/year.

Semester fee

No unified semester fee — varies by institution. Most UAE universities charge per credit hour or per semester. Student union fees: AED 200–500/year at some campuses.

Student visa

Student residence visa required for expatriates studying at UAE universities. Typically sponsored by the university. Cost: AED 2,000–4,000 including Emirates ID. Annual renewal while enrolled.

Health insurance

Health insurance mandatory for all UAE residents including students. Universities typically arrange group health insurance for enrolled students (included in fees or charged separately at AED 500–1,500/year).

Application process

Apply directly to UAE campuses or home-country universities. UAE university entry: high school transcripts, English proficiency (IELTS/TOEFL), personal statement, recommendation letters. International universities (UK, US, Australia) widely applied to by UAE secondary school graduates.

🗣️ Language Courses

Arabic Language Courses — Private Institutes

Provider: ALCS (Arabic Language Centre), Berlitz UAE, AMIDEAST, British Council UAE · Duration: 8–20 weeks per level · Levels: Beginner (Modern Standard Arabic) to Advanced. Some institutes offer Gulf Arabic (Khaleeji dialect) for everyday use.

AED 1,500–4,000 per 10-week course (group class). AED 200–500/hour (private tutoring).

Arabic is the official language but English is the business language. Most expats manage without Arabic. However, basic Arabic is greatly appreciated by Emirati colleagues and locals, and is essential for reading signs in older areas.

IELTS / Cambridge English Preparation

Provider: British Council UAE, IDP UAE, Cambridge Assessment centres · Duration: 4–12 weeks preparation · Levels: All CEFR levels from A2 to C2

AED 700–2,000 per preparation course. IELTS exam: AED 850.

IELTS required for UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canadian immigration. TOEFL available at Prometric centres.

Professional Language Training (Corporate)

Provider: Berlitz UAE, inlingua Dubai, Global Language Services · Duration: 2–6 months depending on programme · Levels: Business English, Arabic for business, cross-cultural communication

Corporate rates: AED 3,000–8,000 per participant per programme. Negotiated by employers.

Many larger UAE employers fund language training for professional development. Check your HR/L&D policy.

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