RickJames

Hello all

I have two small children who will just be starting kindergarten around the time frame we are looking at if I interview successfully at Emirates and am fortunate to be offered employment there. My questions deal with the education system there for your children.

What is your general opinion on the education system there?
Does the Emirate reimubursement realistically cover the cost of schooling?
Are the schools typically 9 months or 12 months?
Is Dubai a relatively safe environment to raise children?
What is the transportation available to bring children back and forth to school?
Are there extracurricular activities for them after school?

Thank you kindly in advance for any insight or information any of you have on this aspect of working at Emirates.

Best Regards.

Typhoonpilot

There are three American Schools in Dubai at present, although it looked like a 4th with an American curriculum was starting out by the Green Community. You can check their websites for info. They are called 1) American School of Dubai, 2) Dubai American Academy, and 3) Universal American School. You need to apply for their entrance yesterday to have any hope of getting them in for the next school year. The UAS is the closet school to the new Villas in Mirdif. Actually, it's quite convenient at only about a 10 minute drive. Most people drive (carpool) their own children, but some use bus services (which you must pay extra for).

Emirates' reimbusrment doesn't come close to covering the cost of the American Schools. It's based on two specific British schools, which are much cheaper. Figure something around $7000/year/child out of pocket for grades K2 through 5. From Grade 6 onwards the EK reimbursement is more so it's probably only around $2000-$3000. Those are rough figures as they change from year to year and depend on which school you select.

There are numerous activities for children in Dubai and the surrounding areas. The UAE is very kid friendly with children's musuems, discovery centers, indoor play areas, kid's pools, etc. There is baseball, cub scouts, ice hockey, basketball, etc, etc, etc.

My son isn't in school just yet, but talking to my friends they seem quite happy with the level of education that they are paying for. Certainly better than most public schools in the USA with possible exception of the better ones in the Northeast.

School terms are generally the same as the States with summer off. The British schools only seem to have two months off in the summer with a longer 3 week break in April.


Hope that helps,


TP

RickJames

Appreciate the information. Sounds very positive. Thanks.