Seven new schools were announced for Dubai for 2026-27, and it is a strong intake. Two well-known English schools are arriving, Rugby and Harrow. A UK state grammar is opening its first campus outside Britain. And there are several new IB schools. Six of the seven open this August and September; the last, The Scholars School, has since moved to August 2027. Here is each one, with who runs it, where it is, the curriculum, and what it costs.
1. Rugby School Dubai
Rugby School's first campus outside the UK, run by Aldar Education, on the old Kent College site in Nad Al Sheba. Most new schools open with the early years and add a grade a year. Rugby is opening the whole school at once, FS1 to Year 13. British curriculum to GCSE and A-Level, with the sport and pastoral care the school is known for. Scholarships start in Year 7, and Emirati students can apply for a 50% scholarship from Year 4.
Rugby School DubaiAED 70,000 - 120,000 / yearView on Talem →
2. Harrow International School Dubai
Harrow comes to Dubai through Taaleem, on a new campus on Hessa Street in Al Barsha South. It starts with FS1 to Year 6 and about 400 children, and will grow toward 2,000 over time. British curriculum to GCSE and A-Level. It is a day school, but it runs on Harrow's boarding-school habits: a House system, lunch together at the Harrow Table, and supervised prep after lessons. The Head Master is Simon O'Connor.
Harrow International School DubaiAED 80,000 - 106,000 / yearView on Talem →
3. Queen Elizabeth's School, Dubai Sports City
The first campus outside Britain for Queen Elizabeth's School, Barnet, a state grammar rated Outstanding by Ofsted, run here by GEDU. The London school is boys-only and selective. The Dubai one is co-ed and takes all abilities, with small classes and a strong sports side through Dubai Sports City. It opens Nursery to Year 8 and adds years up to A-Level. For the first year there is a 25% founding-family discount and 25 scholarships.
Queen Elizabeth's School, Dubai Sports CityAED 93,500 - 136,604 / yearView on Talem →
4. Dubai International Academy Town Square
The third Dubai International Academy, run by Innoventures, in Nshama's Town Square. It opens with the IB Primary and Middle Years programmes, Pre-KG to Grade 8, and will build up to the full IB. The campus is large: a 50-metre pool with a movable floor, four sports halls, a STEAM hub and a theatre. Founding-family fees start at AED 49,000.
Dubai International Academy Town SquareAED 68,000 - 95,000 / yearView on Talem →
5. Ash Mount School
A new IB school in Mudon from Interstar Education, the group behind Victory Heights Primary, rated Outstanding by KHDA, and South View, rated Good. It runs from age 3 to 18, starting Pre-KG to Grade 8 and adding a year each September. Founding-family fees start at AED 44,200, which is on the lower end for a new school of this kind.
Ash Mount SchoolAED 52,000 - 75,000 / yearView on Talem →
6. Ambassador International Academy, Mankhool
A new IB school in Al Mankhool, in Bur Dubai, from the Bridge Education group, on a large purpose-built campus. It runs the full IB and puts real weight on wellbeing, inclusion, and stretching more able pupils. The founding principal is Ruth Burke.
Ambassador International Academy, MankhoolAED 65,000 - 85,000 / yearView on Talem →
7. The Scholars School
A new British school in Al Quoz from Scholars International, the group that runs Dubai Scholars, taking over the campus Clarion School is leaving. English curriculum to IGCSE and A-Level, opening Foundation Stage to Year 6 and adding a phase each year. Founding-family fees start at AED 42,700 and are held for three years. The opening has moved to August 2027, so this one is a year further out than the other six.
The Scholars SchoolAED 61,000 - 72,000 / yearView on Talem →
Applying for 2026-27
Where a school quotes both, the figure on the card is the standard published range and the founding-family figure in the text is the discounted rate for the first intake, so they will not match. Founding places tend to fill fast, and those discounts lock in lower fees for the first few years, so it is worth applying early if one suits you. You can open any of them on Talem to compare fees, curriculum, and location.
Written by
Talem Team
The Talem team helps families across the UAE find, compare and apply to schools in one place.
