Okay, so let me be honest. When we first moved to Dubai, I had no clue how indian school admission in dubai worked here. I just assumed I’d walk into a school, fill out a form, and we’d be good. Oh boy, was I wrong.
If you’re an Indian parent here (or planning to move soon), trust me—you need to know when to start looking for schools. Especially if you’re aiming for a good Indian school in Dubai, timing really matters.
When does the school year actually start?
This threw me off. Most Indian schools in Dubai (especially CBSE ones) begin their academic year around April, not September like many international schools. But here’s the thing – indian school admission in dubai start months before that. Some schools open registration as early as October or even late September.
I missed the early wave the first year. Big mistake.
When should you actually apply?
Honestly? As soon as applications open. That’s usually around October to December, and the earlier, the better. By January, many of the popular schools already have waitlists, especially for KG1 and KG2. If you’re looking at Grade 1, it’s competitive too.
A friend of mine waited till February… and ended up on a waiting list at three schools. She eventually got a seat somewhere, but it wasn’t her first choice.
What do they even ask for?
Here’s what we had to prepare:
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Passport copies (child and parents)
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Emirates IDs
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Birth certificate
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Some passport-sized photos
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Vaccination card
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Report cards from the previous school (if your child has already started schooling)
Tip: scan everything ahead of time. Makes life easier when you’re uploading stuff.
What’s the process like?
We applied online. Most Indian schools in Dubai now have a portal where you fill in details and submit documents. After that, we got an email for a short assessment—nothing scary, just to check basic skills. For kindergarten, it was more like a casual chat.
Once we got the confirmation, we had to pay the admission fee quickly to lock the seat. Then the school handled the KHDA approval part.
Easy? Kinda. But only because we applied early.
Not all Indian schools are the same
We toured three schools. All followed CBSE, but the vibe was totally different. One was super strict, another felt more balanced. So don’t just go by brochures or websites.
Ask around. Talk to parents. See how the teachers interact with students during your visit. That’ll tell you way more than any KHDA rating.
Some of the best Indian school Dubai aren’t flashy. But they care. And that’s what matters.
Final thought (speaking from experience)
If you’re reading this and thinking, “I still have time,” please—start now. Even if your kid’s school year begins in April, the real race starts in October. Especially if you’re hoping for specific schools.
Do your homework, talk to other parents, and apply early. It’s one less thing to stress about later.
And don’t worry if it all feels overwhelming. We’ve all been there. Just take it one step at a time.
