Education in Dubai
| Knowledge and Human Development Authority (Private) Ministry of Education (Public) | |
|---|---|
| KHDA Director General Minister of Education | Dr. Abdulla Al Karam Ahmed Belhoul Al Falasi |
| National education budget (2017) | |
| Budget | AED 5.35 billion (private sector revenue, 2017) |
| Per student | Not publicly disclosed |
| General details | |
| Primary languages | Arabic (public), English & others (private) |
| System type | Dual: centralized (public) and independent (private) |
| Formation of KHDA | 2006 |
| Literacy (2021) | |
| Total | 95%+ |
| Enrollment (2017/18) | |
| Total | 282,000+ |
| Primary | 42% |
| Secondary | 25% |
| Post secondary | 30,000+ students at 26 branch campuses |
| KHDA reports and UAE Government statistics | |
Education in Dubai is regulated through a dual system comprising both public and private sectors. The Ministry of Education manages public education, while the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) oversees the private education sector. As of the 2017/18 academic year, over 90% of students in Dubai were enrolled in private schools, representing more than 280,000 students from 182 nationalities, across 194 schools offering 17 different curricula.
Dubai has also emerged as a significant hub for international higher education in the region, hosting 26 international branch campuses from 12 countries, including the UK, Australia, USA, and India. These institutions collectively serve over 30,000 students primarily studying business, engineering, and media-related disciplines.