As the season for returning to schools approaches, healthcare specialists in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) strongly recommend that parents include seasonal flu vaccination in their plans while preparing for the academic year. It is emphasized that timely vaccination is critically important for protecting children and the entire community from the influenza virus.
Doctors note that the optimal time to receive the vaccine is September, as the body requires up to two weeks to develop immunity. Dr. Mansour Anwar Habib, a consultant in family medicine and occupational health, stressed that seasonal vaccination helps reduce the severity of the illness.
According to Dr. Habib, the vaccine does not guarantee complete prevention of the disease, but it significantly reduces the severity of symptoms if infection occurs. He explained that exposing the immune system to the viral strains included in the annual vaccine prepares the body to fight the virus. If the virus enters the body after vaccination, the immune system will recognize it immediately and be able to cope with it, leading to a much milder course of the illness.
Furthermore, reducing symptom severity plays an important role in slowing the spread of the infection. Dr. Habib added that because the vaccine weakens symptoms, it consequently decreases the likelihood of transmitting the infection from one person to another.
Timing is a crucial factor for the effectiveness of the flu vaccine. Dr. Habib strongly advised getting vaccinated in early or mid-September, or as soon as it becomes available in medical centers and hospitals. He emphasized that about two weeks are required for the vaccine's effect to take hold, and the earlier a person gets vaccinated, the better it will be regarding the start of the school year and the increased risk of infection spread.
Although the availability dates for the vaccine may vary—in early, mid, or late September depending on the healthcare facility—the main message is the need to act promptly. While parents focus on buying school uniforms and stationery, Dr. Habib urged families to add flu vaccination to their to-do list. He specifically noted that just as parents remember to buy school supplies for their children, they should remember to vaccinate themselves and their children.
Seasonal vaccination is suitable for all age groups, starting from six months, and is strongly recommended for all members of the community. Dr. Habib clarified that the vaccine will be available in medical centers and hospitals starting in September.
The call for early vaccination aligns with general recommendations in the UAE. The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHap) consistently advocates for annual flu vaccination, especially for high-risk groups, including young children, the elderly, pregnant women, and individuals with chronic diseases.
Recent studies have demonstrated the impact of pediatric flu vaccines. A study conducted by Harvard Medical School showed that vaccinating children aged two to five years can reduce the incidence rate by 14 percent. This highlights the role of children as primary carriers of the virus due to the time they spend in close contact settings such as kindergartens and schools.
By ensuring children are vaccinated, parents protect not only their families but also contribute to creating a healthier community, reducing missed school days and hospital visits during the peak flu season. Dr. Habib appealed to all residents with the call: 'We recommend that everyone in the community get vaccinated. The vaccine will be available in medical centers and hospitals starting in September.'
Parents in Dubai are gaining a clearer picture of educational opportunities for the upcoming 2026-27 academic year. Due to the freezing of private school fees, families are closely examining proposals from 'Outstanding' rated schools, considering aspects such as learning conditions, infrastructure, student opportunities, and value for money.
Starting from the 2026-27 academic year, the UAE will offer a wider selection of educational institutions with the opening of several new schools offering British and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses. These new facilities are planned to open in rapidly developing residential areas, particularly in Dubai and Sharjah. These changes reflect the ongoing expansion of the UAE's private education sector, bringing internationally recognized brands and IB candidate schools closer to where many families live.
This development is expected to increase the overall school capacity and help reduce daily commuting times for students. Nevertheless, parents should consider key factors such as curriculum alignment, leadership experience, location, fee structure, student support services, and long-term development plans.
One notable trend is the simultaneous arrival of several prestigious British schools in Dubai. Among them are the planned openings of Harrow International School Dubai, Queen Elizabeth's School Dubai, and Rugby School Dubai, marking a significant expansion of the premium British education segment.
Harrow International School Dubai will be located on Hessa Street in Dubai and will offer the British curriculum, emphasizing community life, extracurricular activities, sports, music, and student leadership alongside academics. The school is positioned as a modern day school inspired by traditional boarding values, with intake years from FS1 to Grade 6 and fees ranging from Dh80,000 to Dh100,000 and above.
Queen Elizabeth's School Dubai, situated in Dubai Sports City, offers the British curriculum for students from kindergarten to Grade 8, with fees between Dh70,000–Dh102,000. The school aims to combine academic success with character building, a culture of reading, and personalized learning, including plans to reduce class sizes in early years and focus on future-ready skills.
Rugby School Dubai, located in Nad Al Sheba, covers ages from FS to Grade 13, and its cost has not yet been announced. This school is considered one of the major British brands entering the UAE market in 2026.
Parallel to this, the IB sector is growing, with four new candidate schools planned to open in Dubai and Sharjah. These include Ambassador International Academy Mankhool, Ash Mount School, Dubai International Academy (DIA) Town Square, and Raffles World Academy Sharjah.
Ambassador International Academy Mankhool, located in Bur Dubai, will operate as an IB candidate school, offering a program for children from kindergarten to Grade 8 with fees from Dh45,000 to Dh65,000. The school plans to focus on well-being, reading, physical activity, and practical learning, minimizing screen time.
Ash Mount School, which will open in Mudon, is also an IB candidate school, accepting students from Pre-KG to Grade 8 for fees ranging from Dh52,000 to Dh85,000. This school focuses on inquiry-based learning and creativity, planning to utilize outdoor learning zones and theatrical spaces.
Dubai International Academy Town Square, located in Town Square, Dubai, is an IB candidate school for students from Pre-KG to Grade 8, with rates from Dh49,000 to Dh70,500. The new campus, building on the reputation of DIA Emirates Hills and DIA Al Barsha, will emphasize community engagement and child-centered learning.
Raffles World Academy Sharjah, located in Aljada, Sharjah, is Innoventures Education's first school in Sharjah offering an inquiry-based IB approach. It accepts students from Pre-KG to Grade 8, with costs ranging from Dh40,000 to Dh64,000. School leaders emphasize a balanced focus on academics, well-being, reading, sports, creativity, and life skills development.
Unlike previous years, many new campuses are opening in areas experiencing rapid population growth among young families. Locations such as Town Square, Mudon, Dubai Sports City, Bur Dubai, and Aljada are receiving new schools. This may provide parents with shorter commutes to school and easy access to sought-after curricula without having to travel across the entire city.
In addition to the campuses opening in the 2026-27 academic year, families have access to additional spots and expanded program options introduced in 2025 and earlier. These changes include new campuses from established educational groups, phased expansion of existing schools, and improved IB pathways, increasing parental choice in Dubai's growing communities.
Dubai British School Mira, the latest addition to the Dubai British School family, has expanded its Taaleem British curriculum offering, joining campuses in Emirates Hills and Jumeirah Park. Opened in August 2025, the school provides premium British education closer to home, with intake years from FS1 to Grade 6 (expanding to Grade 13) and fees from Dh51,443 to Dh58,836.
Victory Heights Primary School – City of Arabia, following the success model in Dubai Sports City, has opened a second campus in City of Arabia. This new school extends its primary education model to families in nearby areas, increasing the capacity of the British education sector in Dubai. It opened in August 2025 and accepts students from FS1 to Grade 6 for fees from Dh40,000 to Dh57,000.
Arcadia Global School continues its phased expansion, adding new student cohorts as initial students progress. This campus attracts families looking for a British program with a community focus and a more accessible fee structure. Expansion to Grade 10 is planned for 2026, with current intake years from FS to Grade 9, at a cost of Dh40,000 to Dh61,000.
Dwight School Dubai is strengthening its IB offering, providing the full spectrum of IB from early years through the Diploma Programme. Since 2025-26, the school has expanded its pathways by introducing the IB Career-related Programme, giving students additional options beyond the traditional Diploma route. The school accepts students from Pre-KG to Grade 12, offering the IB Primary Years Programme, Middle Years Programme, Diploma Programme, and Career-related Programme, with fees ranging from Dh65,117 to Dh110,755.
