Dubai’s Executive Council has approved plans for 60 new affordable private schools by 2033 as part of KHDA’s long-term Education 33 Strategy
It’s official — Dubai will build 60 new affordable schools over the next decade, creating places for around 120,000 pupils.
The decision was confirmed at a meeting of the Dubai Executive Council, chaired by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, and forms part of the emirate’s long-term Education 33 (E33) Strategy.
Under the plan, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) will encourage investors to establish lower-cost schools by reducing government fees and land-leasing costs.
In return, schools will commit to providing “good education at affordable prices” for families, a much-needed step in a city where top private-school fees often exceed AED 100,000 a year.
Dubai’s private schools
Dubai’s population has been climbing steadily, fuelled by families choosing to make the UAE their long-term home. According to the KHDA, there are now:
- 227 private schools serving 387,441 students across the emirate;
- 331 early-childhood centres and 44 higher-education institutions, reflecting Dubai’s full learning ecosystem.
Enrolment rose 6% in 2024–25 alone, and the city’s private schools now educate students from 185 nationalities.
Yet, as enrolment surges, school fees have climbed, particularly at the premium end. The recently opened GEMS School of Research and Innovation (SRI) in Dubai Sports City is currently the most expensive school in the UAE, with fees ranging from AED 116,000 to 206,000 a year.
At the Mohammed bin Rashid Leadership Forum in September, KHDA leaders acknowledged that affordability remains a pressing concern for families, especially those with multiple children.
Education 33 (E33): The vision behind the announcement
Launched in October 2024, Education 33 is the KHDA’s 10-year strategy to strengthen Dubai’s learning ecosystem by 2033.
Its five key goals focus on:
- Equitable access to high-quality education for all learners.
- Empowering Emiratis while attracting and supporting international talent.
- Engaging parents and educators as true partners in the learning journey.
- Encouraging innovation across schools, curricula and governance.
- Positioning Dubai among the world’s top 10 cities for quality of education.
The 60-school initiative sits at the heart of that vision, ensuring that as Dubai’s economy and population grow, families at every income level can access quality education close to home.
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Premium vs. affordable
Dubai today is home to over 81,000 millionaires, according to the 2025 Henley & Partners’ World’s Wealthiest Cities Report, and the city now ranks 18th globally for millionaires. A figure that helps explain the recent boom in ultra-premium schools.
- Schools such as GEMS SRI and Repton Dubai cater to high-net-worth families seeking cutting-edge facilities and elite university pathways.
- New entrants like Harrow International School Dubai, opening in 2026, will join that upper-tier.
- Yet for many families, the need is for sustainable quality: schools that balance strong academics with fees that won’t escalate beyond reach.
The KHDA’s affordable-school programme aims to bridge that gap: increasing capacity, easing fee pressure, and ensuring choice for all families staying in the city for longer periods.
New Dubai schools planned in 2026-27
Dubai’s education landscape continues to expand at every level — from mid-tier to premium.
Over the next two years, a number of new international schools will open across family communities, adding capacity and curriculum choice city-wide.
- Harrow International School Dubai (2026) – The renowned British school brand will open on Hessa Street, offering the UK curriculum from FS to Year 6, with later expansion to Year 13. Expected fees: c.AED 80,000 – 100,000+
- Ash Mount School, Mudon (2026) – A new international inquiry-based school centred on wellbeing and community. Opening KG to Grade 8 (expanding to Grade 12). Opening-phase fees c.AED 52,000 – 85,000.
- Dubai International Academy Town Square (2026) – The newest DIA campus will follow the IB curriculum, opening Pre-KG to Grade 8, later to Grade 12. Fees from AED 49,000 to 70,500.
- Queen Elizabeth’s School, Dubai Sports City (2026) – UK-curriculum school welcoming pupils from Nursery to Year 8 (initially), expanding to Year 13. Fees c.AED 70,000 – 100,000+
- Horizon English School, Town Square (2027) – Expansion of a well-known British primary. Opens FS1 – Year 8 (initially). Fees TBC.
- Reigate Grammar School Dubai (TBC) – A new British independent-school branch for KG to Year 12, bringing the ethos of the UK’s Reigate Grammar School to Dubai. Fees TBC.
Alongside the KHDA’s new affordable schools drive, these schools reflect the emirate’s wider ambition to ensure diversity and long-term access for all families.
What it means for parents
- More choice – 60 new schools by 2033 means greater diversity in curricula, location and price.
- More balance – Affordable models could stabilise fee inflation across the private-school sector.
- Quality assurance – KHDA oversight ensures that “affordable” does not mean lower standards.
- Planning ahead – Families can now factor long-term schooling into their Dubai life plans without fear of unaffordable escalation.
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