2022-23 academic year: Number of private schools in Dubai rises to 216

The number of private schools in Dubai has increased to 216 in the 2022-23 academic year.

Accordingly to data issued by Dubai’s Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), the emirate offers a diversity of school syllabuses, with private schools offering 17 different curricula.

Four new private schools opened in Dubai in the new academic year.

Read: Four new private schools open in Dubai in 2022-23 academic year

Number of private schools in #Dubai increases to 216 in 2022-23 academic year according to the latest data released by @KHDA. Student enrolment grows 4.5% from end of last academic year to over 326,000 students, representing 187 nationalities. https://t.co/DT6LAN8NDo

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) November 14, 2022

UK curriculum schools continues to be the top choice for Dubai’s private school students, with 36 per cent of students opting for the curriculum. It was followed by the Indian curriculum, slated as the second most popular at 26 per cent, followed by the American curriculum (15 per cent). The International Baccalaureate (7 per cent) and UK/IB hybrid curriculum (4 per cent) round up the top five curriculum choices, official news agency WAM reported.

The American curriculum has gained traction with Emirati pupil enrolled in private schools, with the majority (60 per cent) attending a US curriculum school, followed by 24 per cent enrolled in UK curriculum schools.

This release of the latest data follows KHDA’s recent announcement, in which it revealed a student enrollment growth of 4.5 per cent from the end of the 2021-22 academic year in June, to the start of the current academic year in September. More than 326,000 students now attend Dubai’s private schools, representing a total of 187 nationalities.

“These student enrollment figures represent healthy, sustainable growth, and show the trust that parents have in the ability of Dubai private schools to give their children an education grounded in wellbeing that can meet the demands of the future,” said Dr Abdulla Al Karam, director general of KHDA.