Dubai School Application Checklist
Everything you need to apply to Dubai schools: KHDA ratings, required documents, application fees, transport, and uniform preparation.
Signed by: Sarah Al Qasimi (Lead Editor). Fact-checked by the full editorial team.
Applying to Dubai schools is considerably more document-intensive than in most countries. Each school has its own specific requirements, but there is a core set of documents that virtually every KHDA-rated private school requires. Having this checklist ready before you start contacting schools will save you weeks of back-and-forth.
The most important advice: start early. Outstanding-rated schools (British, American, and IB curriculum schools in popular areas) routinely have waiting lists stretching six to eighteen months. If you are moving to Dubai with school-age children, begin enquiries before you arrive — or even before you accept the job offer.
This checklist covers the application phase through to first day of school. Tick off each item as it is completed. Keep a folder (physical or digital) for each child with copies of all their documents.
Dubai School Application Checklist
25 items — tick as you go. Progress is saved in your browser.