Dubai Schools With Spare Capacity 2026

90 Dubai schools below 95% of capacity. Where you have negotiating leverage on entry timing and, sometimes, fees.

90
Schools with spare seats
37
Under 80% full
32
Verified figures
Home › Best Schools › Schools With Spare Capacity

How we computed capacity. 32 Dubai schools publish a verified maximum-pupil capacity (column marked ✓). For the remaining ~170 schools, KHDA's open data doesn't include a licensed cap, so we use peak-ever enrollment as a lower-bound proxy (marked "est." in the table). A school that hit 2,000 students in any year demonstrably has space for at least 2,000 — actual licensed capacity may be higher.

Spare capacity matters for two reasons: you can usually start mid-year, and at the deeper end of the spectrum (under 80% full), some schools negotiate on registration fees, sibling discounts, or even tuition. Always ask.

#SchoolKHDAStudents / Capacity% FullSpare seatsCurriculumAvg Fee
1 Clarion School L.L.C Good 300 / 2,000 ✓ 15% 1,700 US AED 68,380
2 Himayah Kindergarten For Education- Karama Good 199 / 900 est. 22% 701 MOE AED 8,009
3 The National Charity School for Girls (Br of The National Charity School for Boys L.L.C) Acceptable 1,381 / 5,700 est. 24% 4,319 MOE AED 6,689
4 Iranian Towheed Girls School Acceptable 210 / 850 est. 25% 640 Other AED 11,912
5 BC Academy International School L.L.C Not Yet Inspected 15 / 50 est. 30% 35 UK AED 55,000
6 Dubai Heights Academy Very good 645 / 2,000 ✓ 32% 1,355 UK AED 69,921
7 Global Indian International School L.L.C Good 997 / 2,500 ✓ 40% 1,503 Indian AED 32,448
8 Lycee Francais International Georges Pompidou School Oud Metha Very good 399 / 850 est. 47% 451 French AED 31,276
9 Dubai National School AlTwar L.L.C Acceptable 1,080 / 2,150 est. 50% 1,070 US AED 29,354
10 Springdales School L.L.C Very good 1,527 / 3,000 ✓ 51% 1,473 UK AED 32,864
11 DEWA Academy Good 106 / 200 est. 53% 94 MOE AED 8,009
12 Queen International School Acceptable 689 / 1,300 est. 53% 611 UK AED 18,849
13 Dwight School L.L.C Very good 658 / 1,200 ✓ 55% 542 IB AED 87,936
14 Al Ghaf Private School L.L.C Acceptable 55 / 100 est. 55% 45 UK AED 45,000
15 Pace Springfield International School Not Yet Inspected 62 / 100 est. 62% 38 UK AED 23,342
16 Al Basateen Private Nursery Good 126 / 200 est. 63% 74 MOE AED 8,009
17 ST MARY HIGH SCHOOL MUHAISNAH L.L.C Acceptable 1,265 / 2,000 est. 63% 735 UK AED 16,498
18 Dubai English Speaking School Outstanding 1,017 / 1,600 ✓ 64% 583 UK AED 67,948
19 Philadelphia Private School Good 1,000 / 1,550 est. 65% 550 US AED 31,252
20 Al Eman Educational EST Acceptable 394 / 600 est. 66% 206 MOE AED 7,844
21 South View School L.L.C Good 1,315 / 2,000 ✓ 66% 685 UK AED 53,713
22 Islamic School for Training & Education Acceptable 734 / 1,100 est. 67% 366 MOE AED 11,357
23 GEMS Our Own Indian School Very good 3,687 / 5,500 ✓ 67% 1,813 Indian AED 10,952
24 The City School International Private Good 1,017 / 1,500 ✓ 68% 483 UK AED 19,881
25 Lycee Francais International Georges Pompidou School (Dubai Branch) Very good 2,045 / 3,000 ✓ 68% 955 French AED 43,810
26 Iranian Khadije Kobra School Acceptable 341 / 500 est. 68% 159 Other AED 5,895
27 The Indian High School Very good 5,500 / 8,000 ✓ 69% 2,500 Indian AED 7,995
28 Bilingual French International School L.L.C-FZ Very good 558 / 800 est. 70% 242 French AED 75,143
29 GEMS Royal Dubai School - Dubai Branch Outstanding 846 / 1,200 ✓ 71% 354 UK AED 51,272
30 Dubai Modern Education School Good 2,012 / 2,800 est. 72% 788 US AED 15,290
31 GEMS Wellington International School - Dubai Branch Outstanding 2,907 / 4,000 ✓ 73% 1,093 UK AED 73,782
32 The Sheffield Private School L.L.C Good 1,211 / 1,650 est. 73% 439 UK AED 31,885
33 Delhi Private School L.L.C Very good 3,840 / 5,000 ✓ 77% 1,160 Indian AED 13,191
34 Dubai Carmel School Acceptable 740 / 950 est. 78% 210 UK AED 14,784
35 Dubai Gem Private School Good 1,101 / 1,400 est. 79% 299 UK AED 24,344
36 Brighton College Dubai L.L.C Very good 1,194 / 1,500 ✓ 80% 306 UK AED 79,773
37 Iranian Salman Farsi Boys School Good 479 / 600 est. 80% 121 Other AED 3,355
38 Vernus International Primary School - FZCO Acceptable 282 / 350 est. 81% 68 US AED 39,061
39 Collegiate International School Good 730 / 900 est. 81% 170 US AED 55,054
40 Al Ittihad Private School Good 1,543 / 1,900 est. 81% 357 US AED 30,534
41 Al Maaref American School L.L.C Acceptable 1,422 / 1,750 est. 81% 328 US AED 17,321
42 American Academy for Girls Good 569 / 700 est. 81% 131 US AED 58,365
43 Raffles International School L.L.C (Umm Suqeim South Br) Very good 1,343 / 1,650 est. 81% 307 UK AED 55,778
44 Mirdif American School Good 774 / 950 est. 81% 176 US AED 36,512
45 Pristine Private School Very good 2,057 / 2,500 ✓ 82% 443 UK AED 21,034
46 GEMS World Academy Very good 2,066 / 2,500 ✓ 83% 434 IB AED 97,277
47 Kings School Dubai L.L.C Outstanding 1,157 / 1,400 ✓ 83% 243 UK AED 59,491
48 Al Basateen Private Nursery - Hatta Branch Good 124 / 150 est. 83% 26 MOE AED 5,540
49 United International Private School L.L.C Acceptable 1,902 / 2,300 est. 83% 398 Other AED 8,723
50 Dhruv Global school Not Yet Inspected 207 / 250 est. 83% 43 Indian AED 22,200
51 Dubai International Private School - Br Good 1,830 / 2,200 est. 83% 370 US AED 20,527
52 Al Nibras International Private School Good 1,665 / 2,000 ✓ 83% 335 US AED 37,818
53 Sunmarke School L.L.C Very good 2,085 / 2,500 ✓ 83% 415 UK AED 73,986
54 Dubai National School L.L.C Good 2,438 / 2,900 est. 84% 462 US AED 30,299
55 Dubai International Private School Acceptable 2,192 / 2,600 est. 84% 408 US AED 19,340
56 Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Islamic Institute Good 211 / 250 est. 84% 39 MOE AED 8,009
57 Hampton Heights International School Not Yet Inspected 255 / 300 est. 85% 45 UK AED 16,528
58 Dubai British School Jumeirah Park Outstanding 2,142 / 2,500 ✓ 86% 358 UK AED 75,598
59 Al Adab Iranian Private School for Girls Good 259 / 300 est. 86% 41 Other AED 14,007
60 Fairgreen International School L.L.C Very good 1,042 / 1,200 ✓ 87% 158 IB AED 73,153
61 Glendale International School LLC Not Yet Inspected 305 / 350 est. 87% 45 UK AED 40,407
62 Greenwood International School Good 1,265 / 1,450 est. 87% 185 US AED 25,492
63 Japanese School Acceptable 175 / 200 est. 88% 25 Other AED 35,400
64 GEMS Modern Academy Outstanding 3,941 / 4,500 ✓ 88% 559 Indian AED 52,429
65 H.H.Shaikh Rashid Al Maktoum Pakistani School Acceptable 1,404 / 1,600 est. 88% 196 Other AED 6,900
66 Amity English School Not Yet Inspected 44 / 50 est. 88% 6 UK AED 18,750
67 GEMS New Millennium School L.L.C Very good 2,654 / 3,000 ✓ 88% 346 UK AED 28,350
68 Al Shurooq Private School Good 1,948 / 2,200 est. 89% 252 MOE AED 10,422
69 Oak Tree Primary School Acceptable 620 / 700 est. 89% 80 UK AED 21,633
70 GEMS Albarsha National School - Dubai Branch Acceptable 1,020 / 1,150 est. 89% 130 UK AED 58,123
71 Lycee Francais Jean Mermoz South L.L.C Not Yet Inspected 134 / 150 est. 89% 16 French AED 59,500
72 National Charity School Primary (Br of The National Charity School for Boys L.L.C) Acceptable 715 / 800 est. 89% 85 MOE AED 5,049
73 Al Mawakeb School Al Garhoud L.L.C Good 2,345 / 2,600 est. 90% 255 US AED 20,609
74 Bright Learners Private School L.L.C Acceptable 317 / 350 est. 91% 33 US AED 28,662
75 Jumeirah College Outstanding 1,463 / 1,600 ✓ 91% 137 UK AED 87,404
76 GEMS Founders School DS DWC-LLC Not Yet Inspected 554 / 600 est. 92% 46 UK AED 42,000
77 The Millenium School Very good 2,777 / 3,000 est. 93% 223 Indian AED 22,577
78 Dubai College Outstanding 1,112 / 1,200 ✓ 93% 88 UK AED 101,098
79 Safa British School Outstanding 1,669 / 1,800 ✓ 93% 131 UK AED 60,859
80 Himayah School For Education Boys - Diera (Abu Hail) Acceptable 1,025 / 1,100 est. 93% 75 MOE AED 8,009
81 Russian International School Good 514 / 550 est. 93% 36 Other AED 20,451
82 Sabari Indian School L.L.C Good 749 / 800 est. 94% 51 Indian AED 18,623
83 Dove Green Private School L.L.C Good 657 / 700 est. 94% 43 UK AED 49,615
84 The International School of Choueifat (Branch) Acceptable 2,957 / 3,150 est. 94% 193 UK AED 38,038
85 Cedar School L.L.C Acceptable 376 / 400 est. 94% 24 UK AED 25,928
86 Uptown International School (Br. of Taaleem Management LLC) Outstanding 1,412 / 1,500 est. 94% 88 IB AED 62,391
87 Crescent English School Acceptable 1,601 / 1,700 est. 94% 99 Indian AED 6,616
88 Australian International School - Dubai L.L.C Good 424 / 450 est. 94% 26 Other AED 68,500
89 Jumeirah English Speaking School Outstanding 755 / 800 est. 94% 45 UK AED 59,614
90 New Academy School Good 1,370 / 1,450 est. 94% 80 US AED 16,931
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Frequently Asked Questions

Does spare capacity mean the school is bad?

No. Several schools on this list are KHDA Outstanding or Very Good and have spare seats simply because they expanded their physical campus faster than enrollment caught up. Newer premium schools commonly run at 60-75% utilization for their first 5-7 years. That's an opportunity for parents — same school, more attention, sometimes more flexible terms.

Why do most Dubai schools not publish capacity?

KHDA's licensing structure requires a maximum-pupil ceiling, but the figure isn't always made public in the inspection report. Many schools choose to report a ceiling that reflects the latest expansion phase rather than current physical limit. We only include schools where the ratio of students to a published capacity figure is verifiable.

Can I really negotiate fees at a school with spare seats?

Sometimes — especially on registration and uniform/transport bundles, and especially mid-year. Tuition itself is capped by KHDA's fee framework so don't expect a discount on the headline number. But sibling discount tiers, friend referral schemes, and one-off "settling-in" fees are often softer than the website suggests when there are seats to fill.

What about waitlists?

A school can be 80% full overall and still have a waitlist for specific year groups (especially FS1, Year 7, Year 12). Always ask about the year group you actually need.