Independent Schools Show, Dubai 2026

Saturday 21st November 2026 | 09:30 - 14:30 - Sheraton Hotel, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai

We're returning to Dubai to showcase leading schools and renowned UK boarding schools, giving parents a unique opportunity to explore the best education options for their children - all in one place.

As an expat parent in Dubai you’re navigating unfamiliar systems, high fees, competitive admissions and long-term decisions, often without the networks or local knowledge you’d rely on back home. British, IB, international, boarding or day? Stay in Dubai or look to the UK? And how do today’s choices affect university options later on?

At this exclusive event, you'll have the chance to:

• Compare top Dubai schools and prestigious UK boarding schools side by side.
• Engage directly with school representatives to ask questions and understand how each school can meet your child’s educational needs.
• Discover each school’s unique approach, from curriculum offerings to extracurricular activities, ensuring the best fit for your child.
• Gain valuable insights to make informed decisions about your child’s future, whether you’re considering local options or looking abroad.

This is your chance to explore the best pathways for your child's education, all within a trusted and well-established platform.

Family Tickets FREE This ticket (for 2 parents + children) is valid for full day entry and includes first-come first-served seats at the talks.

Premium Tickets £75 This ticket includes a 20-minute consultation with a Bonas MacFarlane consultant to discuss school options, transition and strategies to optimise the mo

Info: This panel brings together parents at different stages of the boarding journey to share what the prospectus doesn't tell you: how they chose a school, what the first term was really like, how they've managed the distance, and what they'd do differently. If you're weighing up boarding for your own child, this is a chance to hear about it from those who've lived it.

Info: This session breaks down the real differences between the IB, A Levels and BTECs, how each is taught and assessed, which universities and careers they suit best, and how to match the curriculum to your child's strengths and ambitions, not just the school's reputation.

Info: When is the right time to send a child, and how does that decision change by age. We consider every transition stage with expert guidance from the schools who know.

Info: An honest, balanced conversation between Heads from leading Dubai schools and UK boarding schools, exploring the trade-offs between educating your child locally and sending them to board abroad. From academic outcomes and pastoral care to cost, culture, university pathways and the emotional side of the decision, this session gives parents the full picture from both sides of the debate.

Event venue & nearby stays

Sheraton Mall of the Emirates Hotel, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

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