Oct
10
2026
Choosing a school in Dubai can feel like an exciting opportunity – but also an increasingly complex decision.
Dubai’s private education sector is expanding rapidly. In the 2025-26 academic year alone, six new schools opened their doors, following ten new schools in the previous academic year. And for 2026-27, a further 26 new educational institutions are set to open across the emirate. Dubai now has more than 230 private schools, offering a diverse range of curricula and educational approaches.
For families, greater choice is undoubtedly valuable. But it can also make knowing where to begin considerably more difficult. Which curriculum is right for your child? Which school offers the right balance of academic challenge and pastoral support? And beyond a school’s reputation, will your child genuinely thrive in that environment? This is where an experienced international school consultant Dubai can help bring structure and clarity to what can otherwise feel like an overwhelming process.
The most effective school search begins with the child.
Every student learns differently. Some flourish in highly academic environments, while others benefit from a more creative, collaborative or individualised approach. Consider your child’s academic strengths, interests, personality and areas where they may need additional support.
It is equally important to think about the environment in which your child will develop confidence, independence and resilience. The right school should support far more than academic achievement.
Dubai offers an impressive range of international curricula, including British, American and International Baccalaureate programmes, alongside a number of other pathways.
The right choice will depend not only on your child’s current needs, but also on your family’s longer-term plans. If your child may eventually apply to universities in the UK, US or elsewhere, understanding how different curricula support those pathways is an important part of the decision.
A school’s academic results, facilities and inspection rating can provide useful information, but they do not tell the whole story.
School culture, class sizes, teaching approach, extracurricular opportunities, pastoral care and the way a school supports different learners can have a profound impact on a child’s experience.
Visiting schools, speaking with staff and asking thoughtful questions can help families understand what life at each school is really like. A good international school consultant Dubai will look beyond the information presented in a prospectus, helping families assess the less tangible aspects of school life and how well they align with their child.
For families navigating such a broad and constantly evolving landscape, the right guidance can make the process significantly more considered and personal.
The role of an international school consultant in Dubai should not simply be to provide a list of schools. It should be about understanding the child and family first, then identifying environments that genuinely align with their needs, aspirations and future pathway.
At XellED, we believe the right school is not necessarily the most prestigious or the most popular. It is the school where a child can feel challenged, supported and confident enough to become the best version of themselves.
With the right fit, a school can shape far more than academic outcomes. It can influence a child’s confidence, friendships, interests and sense of what they are capable of achieving. Choosing carefully, therefore, is not simply about finding a good school. It is about finding the right one.
BackOct
02
2026
Why premium boarding schools are shaping the next generation of confident, self-directed global citizens
The most important lessons rarely happen in a classroom – how a child navigates a challenge, asks for help, manages disappointment, or even how to be comfortable in a room full of strangers. Soft skills, emotional intelligence, the art of being a decent human being are the skills that shape a life. Yet for all the hours spent on curriculum, how many are spent actually preparing a child for this? And does our system – at home or at school, truly support it?
Aanchal Kotibhaskar, Founder and Lead Education Advisor at XellED in Dubai, has spent her career guiding families through some of the most significant educational decisions of their lives. She points to the boarding school environment as one of the most powerful frameworks for developing exactly these qualities.
“Students are not just educated, they are immersed in an environment that shapes how they think, interact, and see the world,” she says. The structured rhythm of boarding life, balancing academics, sport, creative pursuits and genuine downtime, creates habits and a sense of purpose that become second nature over time. Independence, she is quick to note, is never forced. It is cultivated gradually, within a supportive framework that allows children to understand the consequences of their choices without being left to figure it out alone.
For families considering the investment, Kotibhaskar’s advice is to look beyond prestige. Cultural fit, pastoral care and how well a school nurtures individuality matter as much as facilities and rankings. And crucially, involve your child. When they feel aligned with the choice, the experience becomes transformative rather than simply expensive.
For those beginning the search, institutions across the UK – including Eton College, Wellington College and Cheltenham Ladies’ College, and Switzerland’s Le Rosey and Aiglon College remain among the most respected names globally.
BackSep
08
2026
RIYADH: Educational technology and public-private partnerships are key scaling tools in Saudi Arabia’s human capital transformation, helping close the gap between academic output and labor-market needs, experts told Arab News.
Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 Human Capability Development Program forms the core of this goal, as the initiative aims to make the Kingdom’s citizens globally competitive across the full life cycle: early childhood, general education, higher education, technical and vocational training, and lifelong learning.
Alessandro Lanteri, teaching professor and executive director at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business in Dubai, told Arab News that PPPs in the Kingdom are increasingly used beyond physical infrastructure financing into core curriculum design and delivery.
He said: “This integration ensures that educational outputs are tied to employers’ demand.”
Partnerships move from financing to co-producing talent
Amitabh Jhingan, EY-Parthenon strategy partner for MENA and EY Global Education Sector Leader, echoed similar views and said that PPPs are playing an important role in helping the government expand capacity, bring in specialized capabilities, enhance internationalization and create stronger linkages between industry and academia.
“Saudi Arabia is making significant strides in strengthening its education and skills development ecosystem. Recent efforts to establish university hospitals in collaboration with specialized healthcare providers are expanding opportunities for clinical training, research, and health care education for students,” said Jhingan.
He further said that collaborations with leading international academic institutions are bringing global best practices and world-class educational models to the Kingdom at scale.
Continued expansion of industry-aligned vocational and technical training programs is helping bridge the gap between education outcomes and workforce needs, ensuring graduates are better equipped with skills demanded by a rapidly evolving economy.
Yigit Saf, principal in the Public Sector Practice at Arthur D. Little, Middle East, said that public-private partnerships are increasingly treated as a way to co-produce talent rather than merely finance education.
According to Saf, the strongest PPP models bring government, training institutions and employers together so that companies help design curricula, provide equipment and instructors, offer workplace experience and, ideally, create a pathway into employment.
He said: “We are also seeing greater private and international participation in higher education.
“The Ministry of Education has explicitly opened opportunities for foreign university branches, while the Human Capability Development Program reported approvals for new university branches in the Kingdom.”
The vitality of ed tech
Lanteri said that ed tech is one of the key scaling mechanisms to bridge the gap between academic output and labor-market realities.
“Unlike conventional delivery models, educational technology can offer faster iteration cycles, allowing training content and pathways to be updated more quickly as labor-market needs change,” said Lanteri.
Jhingan added that ed tech will also help the Kingdom develop world-class content, access best-in-class international material and deliver it to learners quickly, accelerating the broader transformation of education and human capital.
Aanchal Kotibhaskar, founder of school admissions guidance firm XellED, opined that technology is making Saudi Arabia’s human capital formation more powerful and effective.
“Personalized learning, adaptive assessment and AI allow educators to understand aptitude and learning patterns with far greater precision,” she said, adding: “Yet their greatest value, in my view, is not replacing human judgment, but giving educators better insight into where an individual might thrive.”
Local ed tech startups differentiating themselves from global platforms
According to Arthur D. Little’s Saf, global ed tech firms enjoy advantages in content and scale, and language is becoming a less pronounced barrier.
Saf said that the strongest path is co-development that combines international academic expertise with Saudi economic priorities and direct employer involvement.
“In this context, local companies are more likely to thrive by being more relevant, integrated and available. Obviously it starts with Arabic. But then, successful local platforms can design around the cultural norms, national curriculum, local assessment systems, classroom practices, teacher workflows and the expectations of students and parents. They can also integrate more effectively with Saudi regulatory requirements and institutional systems,” said Saf.
He added: “Several platforms, including Noon Education, SQORI, ALW among others promote themselves as Arabic-first AI providers and anchor their offering in alignment with the Saudi curriculum.”
Skills gaps remain acute in key sectors
According to Jhnigan, sectors including healthcare, engineering and technology continue to see the greatest skills gaps.
“New sectors such as culture, tourism, hospitality and arts will also require a large number of trained professionals over the next 10-12 years,” said Jhingan.
The most important test for the next stage of the human capital agenda, Saf argued, is whether training produces durable employment and progression rather than temporary or subsidized roles.
“HRDF already supports private-sector recruitment and training, including salary support mechanisms that can extend for up to two years, while programs such as Tamheer provide structured on-the-job experience,” said Saf.
He added: “Going forward, the model should become even more outcome-based.
“Training providers should increasingly be measured on employment at six, 12 and 24 months, salary progression, occupation-to-training match and retention after subsidies expire.
“Employers should also have skin in the game through co-funding, apprenticeships or hiring commitments.”
Kotibhaskar noted that Saudi Arabia’s human capital transformation will succeed only if it is measured by how far individuals can progress — not merely by how many Saudis enter the workforce.
According to her, Saudization may ultimately be reflected in employment, but its foundations are built much earlier — through education, exposure and the ability to recognize and develop potential.
“The meaningful outcome is progression. When education enables young Saudis not simply to enter the workforce, but to keep developing, specialize, innovate and lead, human capital investment becomes something much bigger,” said Kotibhaskar.
She added: “Technology may help us understand potential earlier; education develops it; and the strength of the wider ecosystem determines how far that potential can ultimately travel.”
BackAug
22
2026
A new school year is more than new books, uniforms and timetables. It is an opportunity for children to build confidence, develop positive habits and prepare for a successful year ahead.
The first few weeks can shape a child’s attitude towards learning, friendships and personal growth. With a little preparation and support, parents can help make the transition smoother and more enjoyable.
Gradually return to school-time sleep schedules, meal times and morning routines. Consistency can help children feel prepared and reduce first-week anxiety.
Help your child set a few realistic goals for the year. These could include reading more, improving organisation, trying a new activity or making new friends.
Ask your child what they are excited or concerned about. Open conversations can help children express their feelings and feel supported before school begins.
Prepare school bags, study spaces, books and stationery together. Involving children in these tasks helps them develop organisation and responsibility.
Give your child ownership of small responsibilities, such as packing their bag, checking their timetable and organising homework. These habits can build confidence and self-management skills.
As the year progresses, students take on more challenging academics, co-curricular activities and opportunities to develop confidence, leadership and independence.
For families in the UAE following the British curriculum, assessments such as CAT4 can also be an important part of understanding how students think and learn.
CAT4 assesses four areas:
Understanding these areas can give parents a broader view of their child’s learning profile and help them provide the right support.
A successful school year is not only about academic results. Confidence, friendships, resilience and independence are equally important.
Stay engaged with teachers, celebrate progress and encourage your child to talk about both achievements and challenges. Small, consistent support can make a meaningful difference.
The goal is not to make everything perfect. It is to give children the routines, encouragement and independence they need to approach the year with confidence.
For parents looking to understand their child’s CAT4 results or explore the right educational pathway, the right guidance can make the journey clearer and more informed.
BackAug
18
2026
We speak often about growth.
About progress. Achievement. Resilience. Success.
But somewhere along the way, we have started to treat failure as the opposite of all of these things.
As though progress is a straight line – and failure is evidence that we have somehow stepped off the path.
I think we need to rethink that.
Failure is not mutually exclusive with growth. In many cases, it is part of the process.
A child who struggles with a difficult concept is not necessarily falling behind. They may be learning how to persist. A student who does not get the result they hoped for is not necessarily moving backwards. They may be learning how to reflect, adapt and try again.
The problem is that we often celebrate the outcome without acknowledging the process that made it possible.
We celebrate the student who succeeds – but not always the attempts, mistakes and setbacks that came before.
Yet real development rarely happens when everything goes according to plan.
It happens when we are given the space to try something difficult, get it wrong, understand why, and try again.
This is particularly important in education. If we want young people to become independent thinkers, confident decision-makers and resilient individuals, we cannot create environments where avoiding failure becomes the primary measure of success.
We have to make room for it.
Not to glorify failure. Not to lower expectations.
But to understand that failure can be information.
It can tell us what needs to change. Where we need support. Which approach is not working. What we might try differently next time.
The goal is not to protect children from every experience of failure.
It is to ensure that failure does not become a definition of who they are.
Because a failed attempt is not a failed child.
And progress is not the absence of failure.
Often, it is what happens because we were willing to keep going after it.
BackApr
15
2026
In an increasingly competitive global education landscape, families are moving beyond conventional decision-making when it comes to their children’s schooling. A recent study by The Association of Boarding Schools, conducted by the Art and Science Group, highlights a growing preference for boarding education — not just for academic outcomes, but for long-term personal development.
The findings are compelling. Nearly 87 percent of boarding school graduates report being very well prepared for college, compared to 71 percent of private day and 39 percent of public school alumni. Around 70 percent of boarders say their schools helped them develop self-discipline, independence, and critical thinking skills, while 77 percent cite access to leadership opportunities — significantly higher than their day school counterparts.
Boarding schools, by design, create an environment where students must engage with responsibility far earlier than their day-school counterparts. Removed from the daily scaffolding of home, children begin to make decisions for themselves – how they manage their time, balance priorities, and respond to challenges. This shift from dependence to ownership is, in many ways, the starting point of business thinking.
At its core, business is about accountability. It is about making choices and understanding their consequences. In a boarding setting, this plays out daily. Whether it is meeting academic expectations, participating in activities, or simply navigating interpersonal dynamics, students quickly learn that outcomes are closely tied to their own actions. Financial awareness, another critical yet underdeveloped life skill, is often introduced organically in these environments. Many boarding schools encourage students to manage personal allowances, budget expenses, and make trade-offs. These early interactions with money instil a level of financial discipline and awareness that formal education systems frequently overlook.
Beyond structure and exposure, boarding schools also provide platforms for experimentation. Entrepreneurship clubs, student-led initiatives, leadership councils, and project-based learning opportunities allow students to test ideas, take initiative, and experience both success and failure. Crucially, they do so in a relatively low-risk environment – where failure becomes a learning tool rather than a setback.
Against this backdrop, XellED is emerging as a key player in helping families navigate these high-stakes decisions with greater clarity and precision. Positioned as a boutique education advisory firm, XellED works closely with families across the UAE and beyond, supporting placements in leading boarding schools in the UAE, UK and Switzerland, as well as top-tier day schools locally.
“What differentiates XellED is its emphasis on depth over process. The firm invests significant time in understanding each student, their personality, readiness, and learning style, before recommending pathways,” said Aanchal Kotibhaskar, Founder and Lead Education Advisor, XellED, Dubai.
Equally notable is how families are introduced to schools. Moving away from traditional open days, XellED facilitates private, one-on-one engagements with admissions teams, senior leadership, and academic staff. This allows for more meaningful conversations and better-informed decisions, grounded in substance rather than presentation.
Preparation plays a central role. Students receive targeted support for CAT4 and school-specific entrance assessments, alongside interview coaching that focuses on clarity of thought and authentic communication rather than rehearsed responses. Written components, including personal statements, are also carefully developed to align with school expectations.
Importantly, the firm’s involvement does not end with placement. Ongoing support during the transition phase helps students adjust academically and socially, addressing what can often be a challenging first year.
“While the UAE and UK remains a dominant choice for its academic rigour and established university pathways, Switzerland is gaining traction for many families too. The appeal lies in its international environment, smaller cohorts, and a more balanced, experience-led approach to education,” Kotibhaskar said.
Over the next five years, XellED aims to deepen its role as an advisor in the education space. A key focus will be expanding its preparation services, not as traditional tutoring, but as a more holistic approach to academic and interview readiness.
BackApr
01
2026
As global perspectives on education continue to evolve, boarding schools are increasingly being recognised not just as academic institutions, but as environments that shape well-rounded, future-ready individuals. For many families, particularly those with international lifestyles, the decision to invest in boarding education is driven by a desire for consistency, personal development, and access to world-class opportunities that extend far beyond the classroom.
In this interview with Bizpreneur, Aanchal Kotibhaskar, Founder and Lead Education Advisor at XellED, Dubai, shares her insights on the rising demand for boarding schools, the priorities guiding high-net-worth parents, and the key trends redefining premium education. She also explores how global uncertainty is influencing decision-making and offers practical advice for families navigating this important long-term investment.
What is driving the growing demand for boarding schools globally?
The demand is being driven by a shift in how parents define education itself. Increasingly, it’s not just about academic outcomes, but about shaping independent, globally aware young adults. Boarding schools offer a uniquely immersive environment where structure, discipline, and exposure to diverse peer groups come together in a way day schools often cannot replicate. For globally mobile families – especially in markets like the UAE – boarding also provides continuity and stability in an otherwise transient lifestyle.
What key factors do parents prioritise when investing in high-end boarding education?
Today’s parents are highly discerning. Beyond academic excellence, they look for depth in pastoral care, strong university placement records, and a school’s ability to nurture individuality. There is also increasing emphasis on co-curricular distinction – whether in sports, arts, or leadership – as well as future-readiness through entrepreneurship, technology, and global exposure. Importantly, parents want alignment: a school that understands their child, not just one that ranks well.
What markets are seeing the strongest growth in outbound boarding school placements?
We are seeing strong outbound movement from the Middle East, particularly the UAE and Saudi Arabia, alongside sustained demand from India and Southeast Asia. These regions have a growing base of globally minded, high-net-worth families who view boarding education as a strategic long-term investment. There is also a noticeable rise in interest from Africa, especially among families seeking access to established British and Swiss institutions.
What impact has global uncertainty had on enrolment patterns and parent behavior?
Global uncertainty has made parents more intentional and risk-aware. There is greater emphasis on safety, pastoral infrastructure, and a school’s ability to provide continuity during disruption. At the same time, we’ve seen earlier planning cycles – families are starting conversations 2–3 years in advance rather than making last-minute decisions. Interestingly, uncertainty has also reinforced the appeal of boarding schools as stable, well-managed ecosystems where children can continue to thrive despite external volatility.
What trends are shaping the future of luxury education and student experience?
Luxury in education is being redefined. It is less about facilities alone and more about personalisation, access, and outcomes. We’re seeing a move towards highly tailored academic pathways, mentorship-driven learning, and integration of real-world experiences – be it entrepreneurship labs, global internships, or interdisciplinary projects. Wellbeing is also central, with schools investing deeply in mental health, balance, and emotional resilience. Ultimately, the future lies in creating confident, adaptable individuals – not just high achievers.
What advice would you give parents making a significant financial commitment to boarding education?
Treat it as a long-term developmental decision, not just a financial one. The right school is not necessarily the most prestigious, but the one where your child will be known, supported, and stretched in equal measure. Visit if you can, engage deeply with the school’s ethos, and look beyond rankings to understand culture and fit. Most importantly, involve your child in the process – when they feel a sense of ownership, the transition is far more meaningful and successful.
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