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Dubai Schools With Spare Capacity 2026

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

97
Schools with spare seats
45
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 267 / 2,000 ✓ 13% 1,733 US AED 71,590
2 Iranian Towheed Girls School Acceptable 158 / 850 est. 19% 692 Other AED 11,912
3 Himayah Kindergarten For Education- Karama Good 199 / 900 est. 22% 701 MOE AED 8,009
4 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 6,197
5 BC Academy International School L.L.C Not Yet Inspected 15 / 50 est. 30% 35 UK AED 58,000
6 Dubai Heights Academy Very good 645 / 2,000 ✓ 32% 1,355 UK AED 70,324
7 Global Indian International School L.L.C Good 837 / 2,500 ✓ 33% 1,663 Indian AED 32,070
8 Dubai International Private School Acceptable 953 / 2,600 est. 37% 1,647 US AED 17,412
9 Lycee Francais International Georges Pompidou School Oud Metha Outstanding 399 / 850 est. 47% 451 French AED 31,276
10 Queen International School Acceptable 633 / 1,300 est. 49% 667 UK AED 19,292
11 Dubai National School AlTwar L.L.C Good 1,080 / 2,150 est. 50% 1,070 US AED 28,863
12 Springdales School L.L.C Good 1,527 / 3,000 ✓ 51% 1,473 UK AED 26,254
13 DEWA Academy Good 106 / 200 est. 53% 94 MOE AED 8,009
14 Dwight School L.L.C Good 658 / 1,200 ✓ 55% 542 IB AED 91,684
15 Al Ghaf Private School L.L.C Acceptable 55 / 100 est. 55% 45 UK AED 45,150
16 Al Eman Educational EST Acceptable 371 / 600 est. 62% 229 MOE AED 7,559
17 Pace Springfield International School Not Yet Inspected 62 / 100 est. 62% 38 UK AED 29,760
18 Al Basateen Private Nursery Good 126 / 200 est. 63% 74 MOE AED 8,009
19 Dubai English Speaking School Outstanding 1,011 / 1,600 ✓ 63% 589 UK AED 52,040
20 ST MARY HIGH SCHOOL MUHAISNAH L.L.C Good 1,265 / 2,000 est. 63% 735 UK AED 15,636
21 Philadelphia Private School Good 1,000 / 1,550 est. 65% 550 US AED 27,151
22 Iranian Khadije Kobra School Acceptable 328 / 500 est. 66% 172 Other AED 5,895
23 South View School L.L.C Good 1,315 / 2,000 ✓ 66% 685 UK AED 53,498
24 Islamic School for Training & Education Acceptable 734 / 1,100 est. 67% 366 MOE AED 12,902
25 GEMS Royal Dubai School - Dubai Branch Very good 801 / 1,200 ✓ 67% 399 UK AED 55,484
26 GEMS Our Own Indian School Very good 3,687 / 5,500 ✓ 67% 1,813 Indian AED 9,756
27 The City School International Private Good 1,017 / 1,500 ✓ 68% 483 UK AED 17,988
28 Lycee Francais International Georges Pompidou School (Dubai Branch) Very good 2,045 / 3,000 ✓ 68% 955 French AED 43,623
29 The Indian High School Very good 5,500 / 8,000 ✓ 69% 2,500 Indian AED 7,911
30 Al Basateen Private Nursery - Hatta Branch Good 104 / 150 est. 69% 46 MOE AED 5,540
31 Bilingual French International School L.L.C-FZ Very good 558 / 800 est. 70% 242 French AED 79,144
32 Dubai Modern Education School Acceptable 2,012 / 2,800 est. 72% 788 US AED 15,065
33 GEMS Wellington International School - Dubai Branch Outstanding 2,907 / 4,000 ✓ 73% 1,093 UK AED 73,782
34 The Sheffield Private School L.L.C Good 1,211 / 1,650 est. 73% 439 UK AED 31,885
35 Renaissance School L.L.C Acceptable 449 / 600 est. 75% 151 US AED 45,567
36 Al Ittihad Private School Good 1,434 / 1,900 est. 75% 466 US AED 25,878
37 Collegiate International School Good 683 / 900 est. 76% 217 US AED 53,681
38 Delhi Private School L.L.C Very good 3,808 / 5,000 ✓ 76% 1,192 Indian AED 13,191
39 Dubai Carmel School Acceptable 740 / 950 est. 78% 210 UK AED 11,052
40 Dubai International Private School - Br Good 1,725 / 2,200 est. 78% 475 US AED 18,482
41 Dubai Gem Private School Good 1,101 / 1,400 est. 79% 299 UK AED 17,820
42 Raffles International School L.L.C (Umm Suqeim South Br) Very good 1,308 / 1,650 est. 79% 342 UK AED 61,918
43 Oak Tree Primary School Acceptable 556 / 700 est. 79% 144 UK AED 21,430
44 Brighton College Dubai L.L.C Very good 1,194 / 1,500 ✓ 80% 306 UK AED 101,547
45 Iranian Salman Farsi Boys School Good 479 / 600 est. 80% 121 Other AED 3,355
46 Vernus International Primary School - FZCO Acceptable 282 / 350 est. 81% 68 US AED 39,320
47 GEMS Albarsha National School - Dubai Branch Acceptable 933 / 1,150 est. 81% 217 UK AED 59,489
48 Al Maaref American School L.L.C Acceptable 1,422 / 1,750 est. 81% 328 US AED 19,715
49 American Academy for Girls Good 569 / 700 est. 81% 131 US AED 59,216
50 Mirdif American School Good 774 / 950 est. 81% 176 US AED 34,536
51 Russian International School Good 449 / 550 est. 82% 101 Other AED 22,017
52 Pristine Private School Good 2,057 / 2,500 ✓ 82% 443 UK AED 18,926
53 GEMS World Academy Very good 2,066 / 2,500 ✓ 83% 434 IB AED 97,923
54 Kings School Dubai L.L.C Outstanding 1,157 / 1,400 ✓ 83% 243 UK AED 59,490
55 United International Private School L.L.C Acceptable 1,902 / 2,300 est. 83% 398 Other AED 7,557
56 Dhruv Global school Acceptable 207 / 250 est. 83% 43 Indian AED 21,000
57 Al Nibras International Private School Good 1,665 / 2,000 ✓ 83% 335 US AED 37,127
58 Sunmarke School L.L.C Very good 2,085 / 2,500 ✓ 83% 415 UK AED 84,433
59 Dubai National School L.L.C Good 2,438 / 2,900 est. 84% 462 US AED 29,890
60 Al Shurooq Private School Good 1,856 / 2,200 est. 84% 344 MOE AED 9,298
61 Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Islamic Institute Good 211 / 250 est. 84% 39 MOE AED 8,009
62 The School of Research Science US High School L.L.C Acceptable 720 / 850 est. 85% 130 US AED 63,535
63 Hampton Heights International School Not Yet Inspected 255 / 300 est. 85% 45 UK AED 22,970
64 Dubai British School Jumeirah Park Outstanding 2,142 / 2,500 ✓ 86% 358 UK AED 88,301
65 Smart Vision School Good 387 / 450 est. 86% 63 UK AED 57,597
66 The National Charity School for Boys L.L.C Acceptable 1,379 / 1,600 est. 86% 221 MOE AED 6,853
67 Greenwood International School Good 1,251 / 1,450 est. 86% 199 US AED 25,876
68 Al Adab Iranian Private School for Girls Good 259 / 300 est. 86% 41 Other AED 14,007
69 Japanese School Good 173 / 200 est. 87% 27 Other AED 34,350
70 Fairgreen International School L.L.C Good 1,042 / 1,200 ✓ 87% 158 IB AED 78,482
71 Glendale International School LLC Acceptable 305 / 350 est. 87% 45 UK AED 50,509
72 GEMS Modern Academy Outstanding 3,941 / 4,500 ✓ 88% 559 Indian AED 48,571
73 H.H.Shaikh Rashid Al Maktoum Pakistani School Acceptable 1,404 / 1,600 est. 88% 196 Other AED 5,832
74 Amity English School Not Yet Inspected 44 / 50 est. 88% 6 UK AED 26,800
75 Iranian Towheed Boys School Good 796 / 900 est. 88% 104 IB AED 14,737
76 GEMS New Millennium School L.L.C Very good 2,654 / 3,000 ✓ 88% 346 UK AED 28,235
77 The International School of Choueifat (Branch) Acceptable 2,797 / 3,150 est. 89% 353 UK AED 35,814
78 Lycee Francais Jean Mermoz South L.L.C Not Yet Inspected 134 / 150 est. 89% 16 French AED 57,143
79 National Charity School Primary (Br of The National Charity School for Boys L.L.C) Acceptable 715 / 800 est. 89% 85 MOE AED 4,886
80 Al Mawakeb School Al Garhoud L.L.C Good 2,345 / 2,600 est. 90% 255 US AED 18,760
81 Bright Learners Private School L.L.C Acceptable 317 / 350 est. 91% 33 US AED 30,239
82 Al Adab Iranian Private School for Boys Good 272 / 300 est. 91% 28 IB AED 14,297
83 Jumeirah College Outstanding 1,463 / 1,600 ✓ 91% 137 UK AED 87,404
84 GEMS Founders School DS DWC-LLC Not Yet Inspected 554 / 600 est. 92% 46 UK AED 44,508
85 Uptown International School (Br. of Taaleem Management LLC) Very good 1,385 / 1,500 est. 92% 115 IB AED 73,145
86 Himayah School For Education Boys - Diera (Abu Hail) Acceptable 1,016 / 1,100 est. 92% 84 MOE AED 8,009
87 The Millenium School Very good 2,777 / 3,000 est. 93% 223 Indian AED 22,878
88 Dubai College Outstanding 1,112 / 1,200 ✓ 93% 88 UK AED 101,098
89 Safa British School Very good 1,669 / 1,800 ✓ 93% 131 UK AED 58,906
90 Dove Green Private School L.L.C Good 650 / 700 est. 93% 50 UK AED 50,714
91 Australian International School - Dubai L.L.C Good 418 / 450 est. 93% 32 Other AED 66,000
92 Sabari Indian School L.L.C Good 749 / 800 est. 94% 51 Indian AED 17,551
93 Cedar School L.L.C Acceptable 376 / 400 est. 94% 24 UK AED 34,042
94 Crescent English School Acceptable 1,601 / 1,700 est. 94% 99 Indian AED 4,098
95 Durham School L.L.C Acceptable 424 / 450 est. 94% 26 UK AED 80,105
96 Jumeirah English Speaking School Outstanding 755 / 800 est. 94% 45 UK AED 63,727
97 New Academy School Good 1,370 / 1,450 est. 94% 80 US AED 14,456
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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.