New schools and nearly 17,000 additional places in Dubai are expanding the UAE’s education sector as demand for school places continues to rise.
The first school bell of the 2026-27 academic year has already rung, but for thousands of students across the UAE, this year’s return to school has brought something new — a new campus, a new classroom or, for some, the experience of joining a school welcoming its first-ever cohort.
Across Dubai, 26 new private education institutions have opened or are being introduced during the 2026-27 academic year, including seven schools, 17 early childhood centres and two international higher education institutions, according to the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA).
The expansion comes as Dubai’s private education sector has recorded average annual growth of 4.6 per cent across early childhood education, schools and higher education over the past three academic years, despite the exceptional circumstances of the 2025-26 academic year.
The seven new schools alone are adding 16,846 places, while the new early childhood centres are providing more than 1,700 additional places.
The expansion comes amid strong demand. Some operators are seeing new schools fill faster than expected, while established campuses are already operating at or close to capacity.
For parents, that means the UAE’s education landscape is changing rapidly — with more schools, curricula and places available, but continued competition for sought-after campuses and year groups.
New schools open with strong first cohorts
The 2026-27 academic year has brought a particularly visible expansion in Dubai’s British and International Baccalaureate school sectors.
Of the seven new schools, four offer the UK curriculum and three offer the International Baccalaureate, adding capacity as families increasingly look beyond traditional school choices.
Among the new campuses are Harrow International School Dubai, Queen Elizabeth’s School in Dubai Sports City, Dubai International Academy Town Square, Ash Mount School in Mudon and Ambassador International Academy Mankhool.
Raffles World Academy Sharjah marks Innoventures Education’s first school in the emirate, while Rugby School Dubai has opened on the former Kent College Dubai campus.
For Taaleem, one of the biggest developments is the opening of Harrow International School Dubai, which began the academic year with approximately 400 founding pupils — exceeding its original business plan.
The school has capacity for up to 1,800 students, giving it significant room to grow as additional year groups are introduced.
Taaleem CEO Alan Williamson said demand was also being driven by families already living in the UAE.
“Demand for school places has strengthened and remains broad-based. It is being driven both by population growth and by families already living in the UAE choosing to move their children to our schools.”
That demand is reflected in Taaleem’s enrolment figures. The group’s private-school enrolment is expected to rise from around 18,300 to 19,500 pupils this academic year — an increase of about 7 per cent.
Its wider portfolio, including government-partnership schools, Dubai Schools and Kids First Group, is expected to grow by around 20 per cent.
New places — but waiting lists remain
The increase in supply does not mean every family is finding it easy to secure a place.
Williamson said nine of Taaleem’s 15 private schools have reached capacity, with places becoming increasingly limited across several parts of its portfolio.
“Waiting lists change daily, so a single group-wide figure would quickly become out of date; however, they show a strong continuing pipeline of families seeking places in our schools.”
The pressure is particularly evident at some rapidly growing campuses.
Dubai British School Mira, for example, has more than doubled its enrolment, from approximately 600 pupils last academic year to more than 1,200. Lycée Libanais Francophone Privé has also recorded growth of around 10 per cent.
For parents still searching for a school, the practical picture is therefore highly localised. A new campus may add thousands of places across the city, but availability can remain tight depending on the school, curriculum, location and year group.
Nurseries expand as demand starts earlier
The growth is not confined to compulsory school years. Demand for places is also rising among younger children, prompting further expansion across the UAE’s early childhood education sector.
Dubai is also adding 17 new early childhood centres, creating more than 1,700 places for younger children.
For families with toddlers and preschoolers, the expansion means more options closer to home and across a range of early-years approaches, including British EYFS, Montessori, French, Indian and Ontario provision.
Taaleem is adding to that capacity with three new Kids First Group nurseries, further expanding its presence in early childhood education.
The growth of the nursery sector also reflects how early parents are beginning to make education decisions, with some families seeking a pathway that can eventually lead from the early years into a particular school.
Schools need teachers as fast as they need classrooms
Behind every new classroom is another challenge for school operators: recruiting and retaining enough teachers.
GEMS Education has hired 1,550 new teachers for the 2026-27 academic year, bringing its educator community to more than 10,000.
GEMS Group CEO Dino Varkey said the group had focused on retaining its strongest performers through targeted rewards.
“We still try and ensure that we’re rotating our best and brightest, our highest performers by, again, rewarding them very specifically,” he said. “I think that’s the only way.”
The strategy appears to be having an impact, with GEMS reporting an overall attrition rate of about 17 per cent, down from 18 to 19 per cent last year.
Varkey said some individual schools had recorded turnover of just 1 to 3 per cent.
“Attrition rates have been at our lowest attrition level in our history,” he said.
Taaleem is reporting an attrition rate of around 9 per cent, having retained approximately 91 per cent of its staff.
Williamson said the group had begun international recruitment early, allowing it to secure teachers ahead of the new academic year. Additional hiring was largely driven by stronger-than-expected enrolment and the creation of extra classes.
What the numbers mean for UAE parents
For families, the most significant change this year may not simply be the number of schools opening, but the breadth of choice now available.
Dubai’s private education sector already offers 17 different curricula, with British, Indian, American and International Baccalaureate schools among the most established options.
The latest openings add further choice, but parents considering a move may need to look beyond a school’s availability in its first year. A campus with places to spare when it opens could become significantly more competitive as new year groups are added and enrolment grows.
The same applies to nurseries and early-years provision, where securing a place can be the first step towards a longer-term school pathway.
At Repton Al Barsha, Principal Chandini Misra said the school had begun the new academic year with waiting lists in several year groups, while also welcoming new families into its established community.
“We are beginning this year in an incredibly strong position, with waiting lists running in several year groups; and welcoming many new families alongside those who have been part of our community for years.”
For Misra, the return to school carried particular significance after the disruption of the previous academic year.
“It’s wonderful to welcome our students and families back to Repton Al Barsha. Following the exceptional circumstances of the previous academic year, there is something particularly meaningful about beginning this new chapter together.”
