Dubai: 25 new private educational institutions opening in 2025-26, with over 14,000 seats

As students gear up for their first day back to school, Dubai's private education sector will see 25 new institutions opening during the 2025-2026 academic year.

These include 16 new early childhood centres (ECCs), six schools, and three international universities in the 2025-26 academic year.

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While the schools and universities will add 11,700 seats, the emirates’ education sector will also welcome more than 2,400 early learners. The new additions will offer families greater choice and reinforce Dubai’s position as a global hub for high-quality education.

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The new schools include five UK curriculum institutions — GEMS School of Research and Innovation in Sports City, Victory Heights Primary School in City of Arabia, Dubai British School Mira, Dubai English Speaking School in Academic City, and Al Fanar School in Nad Al Sheba — alongside one French curriculum school, Lycée Français International School in Mudon.

Read the Khaleej Times report for a detailed admission cheat sheet to the 6 new schools.

The new ECCs will offer a variety of curriculum options, reflecting Dubai’s growing demand for early learning. Eleven centres will follow the UK’s Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), three will offer the Creative Curriculum, one will use the Montessori approach, and one will follow the Maple Bear curriculum.

Higher education choices will also expand with the arrival of the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) – with its Business and Management programme currently ranked 27th globally in the QS World University Rankings by subject, the American University of Beirut from Lebanon, ranked 237th globally in the QS World University Rankings, and Fakeeh College for Medical Sciences from Saudi Arabia.

Dubai’s private education sector currently comprises of 331 early childhood centres, 233 schools, and 44 higher education institutions.

Aisha Miran, Director General of KHDA said, “Dubai’s private education sector continues to grow in scale, quality, and diversity. The new schools, early childhood centres, and international universities opening this year demonstrate strong investor confidence in our city and align with the Education 33 Strategy (E33) to ensure high-quality education for every learner at every stage.”

• Dubai

Written by

Nandini Sircar

Nandini Sircar has a penchant for education, space, and women's narratives. She views the world through a prism of learning: whether it's the earthly pursuit of wisdom or the unearthly mysteries of space. In her written universe, women and children take centre stage.