Dubai’s Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) has announced the opening of 26 new private educational institutions for the 2026 - 2027 academic year, adding nearly 17,000 new school places and over 1,700 early childhood seats across the emirate.
The expansion comprises 17 private early childhood centres, seven private schools, and two international higher education institutions. The developments support Dubai's Education 33 Strategy, aimed at enhancing educational quality and choice while aligning with the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33.
The seven new private schools will deliver 16,846 new seats across British and International Baccalaureate (IB) curricula. Among the notable additions are Dubai campuses for prominent British institutions, including Harrow International School Dubai, Queen Elizabeth's School Dubai Sports City, and Rugby School Dubai.
Early learning options are also expanding significantly, with 17 new centres offering Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), Montessori, Ontario, French, and Indian curricula. Meanwhile, higher education options receive a boost as the American University of Beirut launches its Dubai campus in September 2026, followed by Peking University HSBC Business School offering its MBA and EMBA programmes in January 2027.
For parents in Dubai, the influx of top-tier schools and early learning centres provides greater choice closer to home, while expanding options for higher education allows families to plan long-term educational pathways within the emirate.