Dubai’s private schools are full: What surging enrolment says about the emirate's global appeal

Dubai: Dubai welcomed the new academic year with positive momentum, reflecting renewed confidence in the emirate and its success in maintaining its position as one of the world's leading destinations for residence and education, as hundreds of thousands of students returned to their classrooms amid strong enrolment rates in international schools. This data is an early indication of the emirate's ability to continue attracting foreign families, according to a report by the Financial Times. The newspaper confirmed that the international private education sector in Dubai has witnessed significant expansion in recent years, with the opening of branches of prestigious international schools such as Harrow International School and Queen Elizabeth’s School, based on expectations of continued population and economic growth that has attracted professionals and families from around the world. Leading educational institutions have confirmed that demand for private education in Dubai remains high, with a number of distinguished schools reaching full capacity, while new international schools have exceeded expectations in their first academic year. The Taaleem Group announced that nine of its distinguished schools have reached full enrolment, while Harrow International School exceeded its targets by welcoming nearly 400 new students. The GEMS Education Group also confirmed that it is close to achieving its enrolment targets for the current year, in a clear indication of Dubai’s continued appeal to international families. Dino Varkey, the group's chief executive, said that the education sector is still growing, but the exceptional growth rates the market has seen in the three years following the coronavirus pandemic may not be repeated at the same pace. At GEMS Research and Innovation School, which opened last year, with tuition fees of around £40,000 (Dh198,421) a year, the number of new students has risen to 650, compared to 450 last year. For his part, Alan Williamson, CEO of the Education Group, announced that Harrow International School had welcomed nearly 400 new students, exceeding its target of 350 students, while the total number of students returning to the group’s distinguished schools reached approximately 19,500 students. The continued growth of the education sector reflects the great confidence that Dubai enjoys, thanks to its advanced infrastructure, the quality of its educational services, and the integrated living environment it provides for residents of different nationalities. Experts believe that the return of full school activity and the rise in enrolment rates represent a positive indicator of the strength of the local economy and Dubai’s ability to maintain its global position as a major centre for business and education, attracting talent and families from around the world. As the academic year begins, Dubai reaffirms its ability to continue its path of growth and development, relying on a stable environment and world-class educational institutions that continue to attract students from different continents, thus enhancing the emirate’s position as a regional capital of distinguished education and future opportunities.