Dubai is a home to various cultures with more than 80 percent of the population composed of expats living and working in this Emirate. With offers of relocation packages including subsidized costs on education for their children, parents tend to bring their family to for the benefits. But what is the set-up of education in Dubai?
To blurt it out in simple words, Dubai today is a magical city, with words falling short to express the immense potential it withholds in its bosom. Right from the best entertainment facilities for tourists flocking from various corners of the world, to people finding lucrative career avenues that quenches their thirst for a professional life hopeful of ample growth. On one hand marvels like Burj Khalifa stand tall to signify the growth witnessed in Dubai real estate and on the other, Palm Jumeirah continues to entice investors and tourists in heaps. Seriously, there’s no denying that Dubai is the most diverse land on the globe, in true sense.
Building on the same line of thought, not only numerous career opportunities, but the country has ample options for one to get his children educated, following a relocation. With responsible bodies like the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) governing the education sector in the emirate, development seems to hit a new figure at every instance.
Education Facilities in the Emirate (Schools)
With the KHDA being responsible for the accreditation of schools and colleges in the emirate, primary and secondary education has been made free of cost for all Emiratis and compulsory for boys and girls, for all the grades. The medium of instruction is primarily Arabic, with due emphasis being laid on English as the second language.
Plus, with 16% of the expats’ employers vouching for the school fees of their kids, the prospects of your kids availing the best education facilities are quite high in Dubai. For instance, primary schools like American School of Dubai provides education based on American curriculum, from pre-kindergarten to 12th grade. The tuition fee in such schools vary from AED 52,730 in kindergarten to 72,400 during grade 1st to 12th. Cambridge International School provides high standard, un-interrupted education based on the British national curriculum, which charges school fees on the basis of several criteria like tuition fee, computer fee, registration fee etc. Other prominent ones include Deira International School, Dubai American Academy and Dubai British School.
Universities in Dubai
Dubai is home to nearly five public and 58 private colleges and universities. These serve both the Emiratis and the expatriates, having an independent internal governance done by their respective management teams. Most of these differ in terms of the subjects being taught and kind of degree courses they offer, with some providing only undergraduate and post-graduate courses. Moreover, a multitude of these are divided on the basis of local universities (founded and based in the emirate) or a branch campus with some international affiliation. Universities like University of Wollogong, Hult International Business School and International Horizons College rank amongst the top-notch private institutes for higher education, in the UAE.
In addition to these, local ones like University of Dubai are also internationally acclaimed and accredited to provide bachelor’s programs in fields like business administration, marketing, finance, HR management, economics, supply chain management etc. The next one in the queue is Zayed University, which is entirely sponsored by the Dubai regime and comprises of six discrete colleges that provide globally recognized bachelor’s and master’s courses in media sciences, sustainable sciences and humanities, business, communication and engineering. Other prominent names in the list include the Dubai Medical College for girls, Hamdan Bin Mohammed e-University and branch campuses like Strathclyde Business School and the renowned Murdoch University from Perth.
Probably the best amongst the seven that make up the UAE, Dubai has a plethora of options when it comes to finding the right education avenue for your children. So, it’s not only an ideal professional life you lead, but Dubai also offers you to come in cognizance with the latest global trends pertaining to qualification, in any field.
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Author Bio: Anshuman Kukreti is a professional writer and a keen follower of the emirate job market. An engineer by qualification and an artist at heart, he writes on various topics related to employment across the gulf. Reach him @ LinkedIn, Twitter and Google+.