The Only School in Town

Working in Dubai, I often seen just how much of a culture shock the school system can be for new arrivals. It was no different for me.

I grew up in a small rural town in New Zealand. There was one kindergarten in which you enrolled aged four—morning or afternoon session only. On your 5th birthday, you joined the local primary school. For most children, that meant the town’s only public primary school, catering to students aged 5 to 13.

There was also a small Catholic school, and a scattering of tiny country schools nearby. When I say tiny, I mean tiny. A friend of mine attended a country school with only 18 students!

High school was much the same—local, public, and modestly sized. Ours had around 460 students. A few families sent their children to boarding school, or bussed them to a larger school in the nearest city, but in general, your education was free, and determined by your home address.

My high school - single story, detached buildings, endless sports fields, and that view!

So when I meet families visiting Dubai who say, “We’ll just enrol in the local school,” I completely understand where they’re coming from. But the reality here is quite different.

In Dubai, most expatriate families will enrol their children in private schools. There is no one-size-fits-all approach. Schools here vary widely—by curriculum, language of instruction, cost, culture, and their provision for extracurricular activities and subject choices. While some reflect the demographics of the communities around them, this doesn’t always mean they’ll suit every family living nearby. And availability isn’t guaranteed—you can’t always assume the closest school will have a seat for your child.

It’s conversations like these that sparked the idea for Navigate.Ed.

At Navigate.Ed, we want to be the start of your Dubai schooling journey. You could spend hours online comparing websites, scrolling through forums, or getting caught up in a glossy marketing campaign. Or, you could let us help you cut through the noise.

We work with families to understand your values, preferences, and priorities—and use that to recommend schools that truly suit you.

Moving to a new country is a huge undertaking. And as a parent, few things are more comforting than knowing your child is happy, making friends, and excited about learning.

Let’s find the right school, together.