There are many expats who are moving to Dubai with their families. The reason for that is the fact that Dubai is one of the most comfortable and safest cities in the world. It has a strong economy and a business-friendly policy towards foreign entrepreneurs. In addition, it offers a great variety of cultural sites and entertainment venues as well as high-quality healthcare and education services.
In this article, we offer tips on how to move to Dubai for permanent residence with children and the top list of local nurseries and schools.
Table of contents:
- How to move to Dubai with children
- Obtaining visas for all family members
- How to make relocation to Dubai more child-friendly
- Preschool education
- Top nurseries in Dubai
- School education
- Top schools in Dubai
- Ax Capital will help you find an ideal home in Dubai near a nursery and school
How to move to Dubai with children
Moving to UAE with children can be a great idea. The government encourages foreigners who are looking for moving to UAE to do so and provides great opportunities for that. Although it is almost impossible to obtain citizenship there, the country provides unlimited opportunities for expats.
There are 3 affordable ways to move to the Emirates with children:
- Buy property in Dubai that costs at least USD 204,187 (AED 750,000).
- Apply for a job in one of the companies in UAE with a salary of at least USD 2,720 (AED 10,000).
- Launch your own business.
You should keep in mind that Dubai is one of the world's most developed cities and a popular tourist destination, hence the cost of living there is quite high. You must have a decent income to cover your daily expenses. If one of the spouses is the sole wage earner and their wage is not more than USD 2,720 (AED 10,000), another spouse will have to look for an additional source of income.
Obtaining visas for all family members
After the main applicant has a visa, the expat has 60 days to apply for their children and spouse. At the same time, the applicant must earn between 3,000 and 4,000 AED and have additional sources of income. Only close relatives can obtain a family member visa. To do so, you will need to confirm the kinship.
What papers do you need to provide when applying for a residence visa:
- Certificates confirming relationship: a marriage certificate + birth certificates of children.
- Confirmation of financial solvency: certificates of wages and other income.
- Proof of residency in the UAE: this can be a lease agreement or a title deed if you have a property in UAE.
Each paper must be notarized.
If you apply for a visa for your parents, your income must be at least USD 5,400 (AED 20,000), and the apartment must have at least 2 bedrooms.
How to make relocation to Dubai more child-friendly
To make the adaptation period for children in the new country as smooth as possible, you should consider the following recommendations:
- Plan to move to UAE in the winter. The summer temperatures in Dubai can reach from +40 to +45 degrees Celsius. Such heat may be extremely difficult for an adult, especially for children. The winter in Dubai is very comfortable. The average day temperatures are + 20-25 degrees Celsius, at night the average temperatures are around + 15-17 degrees Celsius. In a few months, the child will be able to adapt to a new climate and it will be easier to cope with the coming summer heat.
- Use sunscreen and sun protection - this will protect the baby's sensitive skin and prevent overheating.
- Allow children to visit relatives. At first, children may miss their grandparents. If possible, arrange holidays in your home country.
- Train the younger generation to respect local laws and the multiculturalism that prevails in the UAE and Dubai, in particular. The indigenous people of the emirate are a minority of the country's population and most of the country's population are foreigners from all over the world. Children of different sexes should be provided with separate rooms.
Preschool education
Preschool education in Dubai, UAE is divided into two stages:
- Nurseries - babies from 3 to 6 months can attend nurseries. You can take the baby to the nursery both for a full week - 5-6 days as well as for several days, depending on your workload. Many nurseries are located in spacious villas with lush gardens. When children reach the age of 4-5 years old, they go from the nursery to the next stage of preschool education.
- Kindergartens - school for children 4-6 years old. While you can do without a nursery, you should not neglect a kindergarten. Here, children are introduced to the educational process: they are taught to read, write, prepare for school and learn discipline. Most kindergartens in Dubai are open till noon. If both parents are busy with work, they will have to hire a nanny, or look for a kindergarten with an after-school group, where children study during the first half of the day, and the rest of the time they play under the strict supervision of educators.
Many kindergartens provide a shuttle service to your home, but keep in mind that there can be traffic jams on the roads especially in the evening. One can use the subway. It is modern and comfortable, and you can get to any part of the city on it. Thus, parents can save their time and money without compromising the comfort of themselves and their children. Therefore, it makes sense to look for kindergartens close to home. It is also worth noting that most of the kindergartens are English speaking which is very useful for the child’s development.
Top nurseries in Dubai
Preschools in Dubai are not audited by United Arab Emirates Ministry of Education, so there is no official ranking of nurseries and kindergartens. However, foreigners distinguish "the best of the best" among the variety of kindergartens. Here is detailed information on them.
№5 British Orchard Nursery
One of the most popular nurseries in Dubai. Communication is in English. Children are admitted from the age of 6 months till 4 years old. The main emphasis is on educational games, sports and development of creativity. The nursery has a spacious area with its own artificial pond and a ballet hall.
№4 Apple Nursery
This is an Indian kindergarten for children from 6 months to 4 years old. It is relatively inexpensive - about AED 16,000 per year, but the service here is top notch. Unfortunately, the working hours of the kindergarten are not very convenient as Thursday and Friday are days off.
№3 Ambassador Kindergarten
This kindergarten features a great variety of extra activities which ensure ample opportunities for the development of children. There is a music studio, dance hall and yoga room. To encourage children to do sports, various sports events are held in a special indoor arena. Each classroom has a private bathroom and many interactive features for the all-round development of toddlers.
№2 Canadian Montressori Preschool Dubai
A Canadian kindergarten was opened in 2012. Children are accepted exclusively from one and a half years old till the age of 5 when they are almost ready for school. All lessons are conducted in English. Children of any nationality attend the kindergarten.
№1 Alphabet Street Nursey
The nursery accepts children from 14 months. Education is carried out until the age of 6, that is, until the age when children can already go to school. The kindergarten has 3 age groups. The educational program is built based on the age of the children. The main emphasis is on the development of creative potential. Alphabet Street Nursery provides a shuttle service from the kindergarten to your home.
School education
There are several curriculum programs in Dubai. They include:
- American (US curriculum);
- British (UK curriculum);
- International (IB curriculum).
Education in the US and UK curriculum is carried out in accordance with the national programs of the UK and USA.
IB (International Baccalaureate) is a Swiss program created for international schools around the world.
Some schools combine curriculum programs. The choice of a specific curriculum depends on the plans of the parents and student for further education.
The next criterion for selecting a school is the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) rating. This is a rating compiled by a special government body in charge of inspecting private educational institutions in Dubai. Depending on professional indicators, quality of education and some other factors, a school can receive one of 6 marks: outstanding, very good, good, acceptable, weak and very weak.
Top schools in Dubai
Dubai's top schools teach British, Indian, American and French curricula. The top-best schools include:
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (JESS);
- Arabian Ranches;
- Dubai English Speaking College;
- Kings’ School Al Barsha;
- Nord Anglia International School Dubai;
- Jebel Ali School;
- Dubai College.
Ax Capital will help you find an ideal home in Dubai near a nursery and school
Are you looking for a buy-to-live or buy-to-invest property in Dubai? The Emirates.Estate team will help you find the best solution and buy an apartment in Dubai close to a nursery or a school. We offer an extensive property database with the best deals from verified developers in the most popular communities in Dubai. The company's experts have extensive experience in concluding sales transactions. You can contact the manager to get more detailed information.