logo
Harrow's UAE schools to charge up to Dh100,000 for primary years

Harrow's UAE schools to charge up to Dh100,000 for primary years

The National22-04-2025
The two Harrow-branded schools set to open in the UAE next year will have a fee structure of Dh80,000 to Dh100,000 ($21,780 to $27,230) for pupils in Early Years to Year 6, The National can reveal. The schools, one in Dubai and the other in Abu Dhabi – will each have a development cost of Dh300 million – are designed to blend heritage with future-facing education. Both schools will initially cater to pupils up to Year 6 before gradually expanding to serve older age groups in the coming years. "You're looking at state-of-the-art facilities, you're looking at an incredible performing arts auditorium and dance studios," Alan Williamson, chief executive of Taaleem, the education provider behind the project, told The National in an exclusive interview. "You're looking at robotics facilities and also a beautiful learning environment." The openings come at a time of unprecedented population growth and record private school demand. Dubai's private school sector alone recorded a 6 per cent enrolment increase this academic year, reaching a total of 387,441 pupils across 227 schools, Dubai's Knowledge and Human Development Authority found. With such rapid growth, Mr Williamson highlighted pressure from investors to open more schools and said Taaleem "committed to four schools and one acquisition in five years" but "delivered that in three". The group opened Dubai British School Jumeirah last year and Dubai British School Mira is set to open in August, while Taaleem also acquired Lycee Libanais Francophone Prive Meydan in November. Harrow is one of Britain's most famous educational intuitions, with alma mater include several UK prime ministers including Winston Churchill, poets, scientists and statesmen. "If you walk around the streets of the UK and asked what are the two biggest schools, undoubtedly the majority of the population would mention Eton and Harrow," Mr Williamson said. Each Harrow campus – 50,000 square metres in Dubai and 70,000 on Saadiyat Island – will eventually accommodate about 1,800 pupils, starting with early years and primary enrolment. The schools are classed as "super premium". While Mr Williamson did not disclose when admission will open, he said fees will be from Dh80,000 to Dh100,000. The Harrow developments represent Taaleem's largest capital investment to date, he added. In the UAE's hypercompetitive education sector, prestige alone is no longer enough. More than 200 private schools operate in Dubai, with 23 rated "outstanding". Parents, especially newly arrived expats, are faced with an array of choices. But for Mr Williamson, the Harrow schools will offer a bespoke level of care for each pupil. "We find their gifts, we find their talents, we find their interests," he said. "Of course, we challenge them to try this and try that other subject, but we really do develop them as individuals." He highlighted Harrow's "super curriculum" as a key factor. Alongside standard English national curriculum offerings, pupils will be immersed in a house system and extended learning through sports, drama, design, and education in artificial intelligence (AI). "One of the unique things about Harrow is their house system," said Mr Williamson. "In Harrow, you divide the school so it becomes very small, so that the students have this loyalty to their house and their house master and house mistress, and we're going to create that as part of Harrow Dubai and Harrow Abu Dhabi." Mr Williamson emphasised the aim is not to drive children to pass exams. "We are teaching children today for jobs that don't exist but will exist tomorrow," he said. "Our life is transformational at the moment, it's fast paced and, almost before a technology is learnt, a new technology has come in. Schools need to be quite careful about planning their curriculum." Taaleem's plan is one of measured ambition. "Schools are sacred intuitions," Mr Williamson said. "We have always believed we don't want to open 50 new schools in one year and get it wrong. It's too important for that, and so we have set out this strategy to grow year by year and make sure we're getting it right for every child in the school." Still, the numbers speak volumes. Dubai British School Jumeirah opened last year with 500 pupils – well above the forecast. DBS Mira is expected to start out with 600 pupils in attendance when doors open in August – double the initial target. As for Harrow's imminent arrival, early indicators suggest the demand is already there. "We're inundated," Mr Williamson said. "Parents are calling us, WhatsApping our principals. Harrow is a global name." While Taaleem has the rights to the Harrow brand in the Gulf, Mr Williamson said his focus is solely on the UAE and there is no plan yet to open other schools in the region.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

How the climate crisis is creating millions of refugees in the Middle East
How the climate crisis is creating millions of refugees in the Middle East

The National

time7 hours ago

  • The National

How the climate crisis is creating millions of refugees in the Middle East

• Remittance charges will be tackled by blockchain • UAE's monumental and risky Mars Mission to inspire future generations, says minister • Could the UAE drive India's economy? • News has a bright future and the UAE is at the heart of it • Architecture is over - here's cybertecture • The National announces Future of News journalism competition • Round up: Experts share their visions of the world to come

Invest in Dubai real estate from just Dhs500: Know how
Invest in Dubai real estate from just Dhs500: Know how

Gulf Business

time17 hours ago

  • Gulf Business

Invest in Dubai real estate from just Dhs500: Know how

Image: Getty Images Traditionally, entering Dubai's real estate market required significant capital, extensive paperwork, and often a physical presence. Deed eliminates these barriers through a fully digital platform. Users can register, verify their identity, and begin investing in curated, professionally managed properties within minutes. Investors receive monthly rental income based on their ownership share and are entitled to capital gains upon the sale of the property, which are distributed among shareholders. The end-to-end investment journey—from browsing listings to completing a transaction—is entirely online and accessible from anywhere in the world. Read: 'Real estate shouldn't be reserved for the few,' said Bashar Khdair, CEO and co-founder of Deed. 'At Deed, we've made it simple for anyone to start owning real property in Dubai, from anywhere in the world. Whether you're looking to grow your income or build long-term wealth, we've built a platform that brings the opportunity to your fingertips, fully digital, fully transparent, and fully regulated.' Dubai's property market Whether investing Dhs500 or Dhs50,000, users gain access to Dubai's dynamic property market without borders or the burden of traditional entry costs. The platform has seen strong interest since its soft launch, with thousands joining the waitlist—highlighting growing demand for accessible, technology-driven investment tools. Long regarded as a cornerstone of wealth-building, real estate in Dubai remains one of the most attractive markets globally. Deed's model combines smart technology, regulated infrastructure, and professional property management to open new avenues for investors previously excluded from this asset class.

Emirati housing and education funds launched
Emirati housing and education funds launched

The National

time18 hours ago

  • The National

Emirati housing and education funds launched

Two allowance funding schemes have been launched, one for housing and the other for education, by the Ministry of Community and Empowerment. The allowances have been set up to support the nation's Social Support and Empowerment Programme, a federal initiative providing monthly support to Emirati families with limited income. The housing allowance is intended for families enrolled in the programme who do not receive any form of government housing assistance. The amount is determined based on the family's size and living conditions, distinguished between those living independently and those sharing accommodation with other households. The allowance also includes flexible terms for orphans and children of individuals serving jail terms. What about the education allowance? The education, or academic excellence, allowance is aimed at high-achieving university students. Students enrolled in accredited higher education institutions in the UAE who maintain a cumulative GPA (the grade given per term) of 3.3 or higher are eligible to receive up to Dh3,200 per month. Students enrolled in accredited UAE institutions through remote learning are also eligible. How to apply Applications can be submitted through the ministry's official digital platform via the social subsidy service. All applications are processed within 21 days of submission. Stepping up support The employment programme is the latest step by the government to provide additional assistance to its citizens. In 2022, President Sheikh Mohamed announced a Dh28 billion ($7.6 billion) social support package to provide lower-income Emirati families with subsidies to pay for essentials including fuel, food and utilities. Under the move, annual financial support for eligible families was raised from Dh2.7 billion to Dh5 billion, with the total social support budget doubling from Dh14 billion. The UAE's social welfare programme for low-income citizens is available to Emirati families whose income is less than Dh25,000 ($6,800) a month. The programme offers Dh5,000 aid a month for citizens over the age of 45, housing allowance up to Dh2,500 a month, university education allowance of Dh3,200 a month to outstanding students and Dh5,000 a month for six months to those who are unemployed. In addition, the government offers an inflation allowance, which covers food, electricity, water and fuel costs.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store