Dubai has long been one of the world’s most attractive relocation destinations, particularly for families seeking a high quality of life, safety and economic opportunity. But one of the clearest indicators of its growing appeal is its growing number of international schools.
For this week’s chart, we combined Savills data with the latest figures from the government of Dubai, revealing that the city now far outpaces every other major global centre in the number of international schools. And Dubai leads the ranking by a wide margin, highlighting how central education is to the country's growth strategy, its broader economic ambitions.
International schools also become part of the economic infrastructure, allowing the mobility of high-skilled labour and global talent. In offering British, American, IB or other curriculums, they signal that a city is open to global flows of global families.
Abu Dhabi also features in the global top ten, coming in sixth after Mumbai. Together, the UAE’s two largest emirates highlight a regional trend: a fast-growing, increasingly diverse population is driving sustained demand for schools that follow British, American, International Baccalaureate and other globally recognised curriculums.
But it isn't just quantity. Dubai and the UAE overall have attracted many of the world's top schools. Earlier this year it was announced that Harrow School will open in Dubai by 2026. That will add another global high-brand, “super-premium” schooling option into the education ecosystem.
With more schools opening every year, th
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