News Desk
The News Desk provides timely and factual coverage of national and international events, with an emphasis on accuracy and clarity.
The school is being built on a 50,000-square-metre site along Hessa Street in Dubai.
Dubai Media Office
Harrow International School Dubai, operated by UAE education group Taaleem, is on track to open in September 2026, with construction now approximately 85% complete, according to the Dubai Media Office.
The campus on Hessa Street will mark the first Harrow presence in the Middle East, bringing the 450-year-old British institution to the Gulf's premium education market.
The campus will initially accommodate around 400 male and female students, starting from Early Years through Year 6, before scaling up to a full capacity of between 1,800 and 2,000 students over time.
Where is Harrow Dubai located and what are the fees?
The school is being built on a 50,000-square-metre site along Hessa Street in Dubai. It is classified as a super-premium institution, with annual tuition fees expected to start between AED 80,000 and AED 100,000, according to Gulf News.
The campus has been designed using neuro-architecture principles and will include a Centre for Performing Arts, STEAM labs, and sports fields.
Simon O'Connor has been appointed as founding headmaster, tasked with establishing Harrow's academic traditions in the UAE. Taaleem is also developing a second Harrow-branded campus on Abu Dhabi's Saadiyat Island, also scheduled to open in August 2026. Each campus carries a reported development cost of AED 300 million.
How does Harrow Dubai fit into the UAE's premium school market?
The opening comes amid intensifying competition in the UAE's high-end K-12 education sector, where several international providers are expanding. Education group GEMS has confirmed plans for a comparable premium facility, with annual fees starting at around AED 116,000.
Taaleem CEO Alan Williamson said the addition of Harrow Dubai would strengthen the group's portfolio and improve long-term resilience through greater diversification. He said the project was expected to deliver sustained value for stakeholders while broadening access to premium British-style education across the region.
Comments
See what people are discussing