11 new schools ready to open in Dubai

There’s light at the end of the tunnel for parents in Dubai scrambling around for school admissions.

According to the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), 11 new schools – 4 Indian curriculum schools and 7 British/IB schools – are expected to open in Dubai in the academic year 2013-14.

The total physical capacity stands at 28,730 students, with first-year enrollment projection at around 5,000 students.

The school numbers may change depending on the readiness of the building, approvals from the relevant government authorities and the final approval from KHDA.

Of the four Indian schools, the admission process for their April intake is already underway, with the schools claiming the seats are filling up fast.

Located on Al Khail Road, Gems New Millennium School offers day-boarding CBSE curriculum.

A call to the admission officer revealed that the process is almost closed, with an official claiming there are “very few seats left”.

The newspaper advert reads; “(We) offer the highest quality CBSE education to students from kindergarten to Grade 6.”

The school management, which plans to start classes up to Grade 12 in the successive years, also focuses on a child’s overall development with adequate importance given to “IT, music, languages and sport”.

The annual tuition fee starts at Dh20,000 for KG 1 and Dh27,000 for Grade 6.

The school website also announces discounted rates for the first year.
“During the first year of school operations, tuition fees charged will be less, but will return to the approved fee levels in the following academic years,” it proclaims.

The said discount will see tuition fees go down to Dh16,000 for KG1 and Dh21,600 for Grade 6.

Another leading Indian school that will open its doors to Dubai is Springdales.

Ranked among the top 10 schools in India, this is their first international school. Located off Sheikh Zayed Road and spread across 10-acres, Springdales follows CBSE curriculum.

The school will initially admit students to kindergarten up to grade 5, with classes commencing in April.

Annual fees at Springdales start at Dh17,000 for kindergarten and goes up to Dh23,000 for grade 5.

“The admission is open, but the seats are fast filling up,” informed an officer at the school, adding that the school could start on the first Sunday of April.

The third new entry is Sabari Indian School (SIS), which follows the CBSE-i curriculum.

Spread over 10,000 acres of land, the new school will open near Century Mall in Al Wuheida and offer classes from kindergarten to Grade 5, with the school administrators claiming higher grades will be added in the future.

The annual school fees for kindergarten is Dh11,630 and for Grade 5 is Dh13,430.

Union International Indian School (UIIS) will be the fourth. It will kick-start with classes from kindergarten classes to grade five, with a capacity of almost 2,000 students.

Built in Dubai Academic City, it will be run by DPS Society that operates the Delhi Private School in Dubai and Sharjah.

Their website announces that the admission is still open, with annual fees ranging from Dh21,000 for KG and Dh30,000 for Grade 5.

Spread across four-hectares, the school will have an amphitheatre, sports grounds, indoor multipurpose hall, covered pool and nine science labs.

“The admission is open but there are very few seats left,” informed a school official, adding that the school is set to open in the first week of April.

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