For several days I have been waking up from the same nightmare: I am back at school, the teacher is asking for my homework — and of course, I haven’t done it. I can already see the “D” written in my notebook and hear my mum’s disappointment. Then I wake up, so relieved to remember that all I really need to do today is my job. No homework, no surprise tests at the end of the lesson.

Last week, the new school season began in Dubai — and even if you don’t have kids, you gave probably noticed it: morning traffic jams, children with backpacks appearing around lunchtime, and streets that suddenly feel noisier and busier. But how does school life here actually work? How much homework do students get? And perhaps the most delicate question of all — how much does it cost?

With the help of parents around me, we decided to find out.

When it comes to education in the UAE, much depends on whether the student is Emirati or not. Broadly speaking, schools are divided into two categories: public (government) schools and private schools.

Public (government) schools

These schools are primarily for Emirati students and are free of charge. Teaching follows the UAE Ministry of Education curriculum, with Arabic as the main language.

In theory, non-Emirati students may also apply, but they must do so through the Ministry and achieve high academic standards in three core subjects: Arabic, English, and Mathematics. Even then, non-Emirati enrollment cannot exceed 20% of the total student body. For non-Emirati students, tuition fees are around 6,000 AED per year — still significantly lower than in private schools.

Private (international) schools

Private schools in the UAE are highly diverse, offering a wide range of international curricula such as British, American, Indian, French and others. Here the differences lie not only in the teaching style but also in the tuition fees.

Enrollment usually requires basic documentation (such as an Emirates ID) and previous academic records to ensure the child is placed in the appropriate grade. Some schools also conduct entrance exams — mainly to assess language skills and determine whether additional language support is needed.

Broadly speaking, each curriculum tends to prepare students for a particular higher education pathway: for example, British A-Levels for UK universities, the IB Diploma for global admissions, or CBSE for Indian universities. That said, the reality is more nuanced — even two schools following the same curriculum can feel quite different, as much depends on the quality of teaching and school leadership. Another key difference is the language of instruction: French schools require fluency in French, Japanese schools in Japanese, and so on. For many international families, this becomes a decisive factor when choosing a school.

Here are the main distinctions:

Private schools in Dubai can be expensive, with fees depending largely on the type of school, the curriculum, and the overall quality. The most budget-friendly are generally Indian private schools.

Another key factor is the student’s grade level — the higher the grade, the higher the tuition. Senior years usually cost the most, as schools justify the fees with specialised teachers, laboratories, and exam preparation.

Fees at Indian schools typically start at around 12,000 AED per year and can rise to about 35,000 AED, depending on the grade. British schools average 50,000-70,000 AED per year for primary and lower secondary, with fees increasing further in the upper years.

In addition to tuition, families should also budget for other expenses such as learning materials, uniforms, and school transport. School bus services are common, and usually cost 3,000-5,000 AED per year.

If you ask a hundred parents to name the one standout feature of their child’s school, most will say the same thing: cultural diversity. For many families, this is the biggest advantage — children grow up surrounded by different cultures and nationalities, and almost unconsciously become more open-minded and tolerant.

A big part of this comes from the schools themselves. They regularly celebrate both local and international festivals — from UAE National Day and Eid to Diwali, Christmas and Easter — ensuring that traditions from all communities are acknowledged and shared.

For many children, the language barrier is a very real challenge. Most arrive from schools where they studied in their native language, so entering an environment where everything is taught in English can feel overwhelming at first. Schools in the UAE are well aware of this and provide support in several ways:

In the UAE, regardless of the type of school, studying Arabic is mandatory. All students, whatever their nationality, must learn Arabic up to at least 9th grade. The programme differs depending on the student’s background:

KHDA regulations require private schools to provide around 2–4 Arabic lessons per week for non-native speakers. By the end of 9th grade, the expected level for non-Arab expat students is roughly beginner to lower-intermediate — enough to read and write simple texts and hold very basic conversations.