Blog citizensschool Jul 8, 2025

A Parent’s Guide to School Admission in Dubai

Choosing a school in Dubai isn’t just an academic decision; it’s a deeply personal one. For many families, it’s a journey filled with hope, questions, and aspirations for their child’s future. With over 200 private schools and 17+ curricula to choose from, the Dubai school admission process can feel a little overwhelming. But know this: you’re not alone.

This guide is here to walk beside you, step by step, helping you make a decision rooted in what truly matters to your family.

Understanding the Dubai School Landscape

Dubai offers a diverse education ecosystem, each school telling its own story, each curriculum supporting a different path. Public schools are primarily designed for UAE nationals, while expat families often choose from a variety of private schools that align with international standards.

You’ll find options like:

• British Curriculum (UK National Curriculum)
• Indian Curriculum (CBSE, ICSE)
• American and IB Curricula
• French, German, and other European boards

Choosing a curriculum often depends on where your family is from, how your child learns best, and future educational goals. But beyond the academics, what truly makes a school right is whether your child feels known, encouraged, and inspired to grow.

KHDA-Regulated Schools: What Parents Need to Know

Every private school in Dubai is licensed and monitored by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA). This ensures a consistent level of quality and safety for all learners, no matter where they come from or what curriculum they choose.

KHDA ratings help you compare schools based on transparent criteria: teaching quality, learners’s outcomes, well-being, and leadership. Reports are published publicly, so you can feel confident and informed. Schools rated ‘Good’ or higher usually have strong support systems and a focus on holistic development and not just academics.

Citizens School is one such KHDA-compliant institution that not only meets these standards but also expands the vision of what schooling can be. Through its five core pillars- entrepreneurship, transdisciplinary project-based learning, everyone known & known well, inquiry-based learning, and digital literacy, Citizens nurtures children to grow with empathy, curiosity, and resilience.

Age Criteria for Admission in Citizens School

To ensure developmental readiness, the Citizens sets strict guidelines for the Dubai school admission process in the 2024–25 academic year:

• Age Requirements
  Citizens School accepts learners based on age-appropriate year levels as determined by the Dubai Ministry of Education guidelines.

• Parent/Guardian Commitment
  The commitment of parents or guardians to support their child’s education and collaborate with the school is an important element to ensure every learner thrives.

• Potty Training Policy for FS Classes
  Mandatory Potty Training – Parents and guardians are expected to have their children fully potty trained before the commencement of FS classes.

Admissions Procedure

• Application Submission
  Parents or guardians are required to complete and submit the official application form along with all necessary documents, including previous academic records, a copy of the child’s passport and residence visa, a recent passport-sized photograph, and any relevant medical information.

• Entrance Observations
  Depending on the year level, applicants are required to participate in an entrance observation with the Citizens academic team. This process allows us to assess each child’s baseline skills and development, enabling us to identify the appropriate support they may need upon joining the school.

Priority Considerations

• Siblings
  Priority is given to siblings of our current learners and to ensure they have the right criteria to be supported during their admissions process.

• Diversity and Inclusivity
  Citizens School values diversity, and we accept everyone from all nationalities, backgrounds and abilities to promote a fully inclusive learning environment.

Notification and Acceptance

• Notification
  Once the application process is complete, the school will notify parents or guardians of the admission decision via email or official correspondence.

• Acceptance and Enrolment
  Parents or guardians of accepted learners must confirm acceptance within the specified period and complete the enrolment process, including payment of applicable fees, submission of required documents, and signing of the enrolment agreement.

• Uniform Policy
  At Citizens, our uniform policy balances individuality with a sense of community. All learners are required to wear items from our Citizens clothing line, which can be purchased online.

Citizens School is committed to providing a high-quality educational experience to its learners

KHDA Registration and Final Confirmation

Once accepted, the school submits the learner’s data to KHDA. Parents must then verify details via the KHDA Parent Portal, and they are required to sign the KHDA parent contract. Final admission is confirmed only after this step.

Fees, Scholarships, and Financial Considerations

Education is an investment, and one that parents rightly consider carefully. Tuition varies across schools and curricula, but other costs may include:

• Transportation fees (ranging between AED 8,000 and 12,000/year)
• Uniforms (ranging between AED 300 to 800/year)
• Meals (ranging between AED 200 to 500/month)
• Learning materials and technology fees (ranging between AED 200 to 500/year)
• Optional extracurriculars (ranging between AED 80 to 200/per class)
• iPad (if the parent paid)

Given that Education is an investment, many schools offer installment plans and discount options, such as the following:

• Term-wise or monthly payment plans
• Early-bird, bank discount or sibling discounts (5–15%)
• Corporate tie-ups offering fee subsidies

If parents are worried about yearly incremental increases in the fee, you can relax. The increasing fees are tightly regulated based on the Education Cost Index (ECI) and school rating. For 2025–26, only schools rated ‘Good’ and above may apply for incremental hikes.

Settling In: Supporting Your Child’s First Weeks at School

Transitions take time. Whether it’s a new classroom, a new mentor, or a new group of friends, your child may feel a little unsure in the beginning, and that’s completely normal. Schools across Dubai create welcoming spaces through:

• Orientation sessions
• Classroom walkthroughs
• ‘Meet the Mentor’ days
• Buddy systems and parental support groups

At Citizens, every child is truly known and known well. This philosophy ensures learners feel seen, heard, and valued from day one.

1. Building Parent-School Partnerships

Strong collaboration between schools and families benefits everyone. KHDA encourages schools to maintain open, ongoing communication. You’ll often find:

1. Parent portals and apps
2. Weekly updates
3. Workshops and feedback channels

Citizens takes it a step further, such as engaging parents in curriculum conversations, community projects, and school-wide decision-making.

2. Retention and Progression in KHDA-Licensed Schools

KHDA requires schools to track academic and emotional progress. Promotion to the next grade not only includes marks, it includes overall growth. If your family relocates to another emirate or abroad, most Dubai schools issue globally accepted transcripts and learning assessments, making transitions smoother.

3. Transferring to Other Emirates or Countries

Most schools provide globally recognized transcripts and standardized assessments, easing future relocations. It’s important to ensure curriculum continuity if a transfer is anticipated.

We, at Citizens School, foster critical thinking, resilience, and real-world competencies. Its curriculum blends academics with future-ready skills, an essential edge in today’s dynamic world.

Final Thoughts

School admissions in Dubai are more than just a formality; they’re a pathway to your child’s academic and personal growth. Parents can make well-informed decisions with the right research, an understanding of school registration requirements in the UAE, clarity on how to apply for schools in Dubai, and engagement with the school community. Institutions like Citizens School exemplify how modern education in Dubai is evolving, not just complying with regulations but redefining them to meet the needs of tomorrow’s learners.