Location
Dubai
Focus
Educating tomorrow’s leaders
Day fees 2024/25
$25,400–$28,700
Pupils
1,110
Ages
11–18
Spear’s Review
One of Dubai’s oldest English schools, Dubai College is well thought of throughout the region for the quality of its education. With 90 per cent of students securing their first-choice universities, it has cultivated a reputation for quite literally being the best in class.
The non-profit school champions children to become well-rounded individuals through its four central pillars: academics, sports, creativity and philanthropy. Its facilities, which are frequently refurbished and renovated, include drama studios, a swimming pool, a sports hall, fitness studios, tennis and netball courts, cricket pitches and a multi-use games area.
Dubai College alumni have gone to study at Cambridge, Oxford, Stanford, Juilliard and Columbia.
Academics
95 per cent of GCSE results are grades 7–9.
76 per cent of results at A-Level are A* or A.
University and college destinations
Graduates of Dubai College are regularly accepted into some of the world’s leading universities. Many students go on to study at prestigious UK institutions such as Oxbridge and Imperial College London, while others secure places at Ivy League universities such as Harvard, Yale and Columbia. The school’s robust university preparation programme helps students navigate the competitive application process, allowing them to pursue a wide range of academic disciplines at some of the best universities globally.
Head teacher
Tomas Duckling is the headmaster of Dubai College, bringing extensive leadership experience from various international schools. Before joining Dubai College, he was deputy head at Aiglon College in Switzerland and assistant head at Jerudong International School in Brunei. His background includes significant involvement in academic development and school management, with a particular focus on the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme.
Admissions
The admissions process at Dubai College is highly selective, aiming to admit students who demonstrate academic potential and personal commitment to the school’s values. Prospective students typically apply for entry into Year 7, with assessments conducted to evaluate their academic ability in areas such as mathematics, English and reasoning. The school places a strong emphasis on academic performance, but also considers other factors such as extracurricular involvement and personal character. Following the assessment, successful candidates are invited for an interview.
Accessibility
Dubai International Airport: 30 minutes
Location
Click for more information about the research process and expert insight behind the Spear’s Schools Index.
Rank: Top 100
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Top 100 2024, Middle East Schools