Dubai as a destination has grown at an astonishing speed, from beginning to grow as a tourist destination a couple of decades ago to establishing its roots as a business hub and now its gain in popularity for expats as their dream destination to emigrate to. Due to these factors (as well as many more), the emirate has also gained popularity as an education destination for international families to board and educate their children whether the family is also in situ or living further afield. Boarding in a foreign country has long been a desirable option for parents looking for not only the best education their child can expect, but also for the additional benefits of independence, self-belief and cultural immersion that come hand in hand when living and learning in a place that is not one’s home nation.

There are many factors that make Dubai a fantastic choice for boarding including world-class education, accommodation, safety, and the variety of things to do in such a diverse city.

1. Safety

Dubai has one of the world’s lowest crime rates, for both violent and non-violent crimes. It’s also ranked as one of the best cities in the world for personal safety. It can be nerve-racking to send your child to a boarding school outside your home country, but you can rest assured that Dubai is one of the safest cities in the world. In a 2020 survey from Numbeo, Dubai ranked number 6 for safety and is regularly praised for its low crime rates, especially for young people both in terms of perpetuating and being the victim of crime.

2. Welcoming

Dubai is a hugely multicultural city with over 85% of its residents living as expats. This makes the city incredibly welcoming for people of all backgrounds and cultures. The city is well equipped for nationalities across the world and the schools follow suit. From languages and food to religion, Dubai is extremely welcoming of all. At SISD, we’re proud of our diverse student body comprising over 100 different nationalities. Our staff faculty is also diverse and as a school we have over 40 mother languages spoken. Our boarding students can make lifelong friendships with people from all over the world, which is a global a network that can become invaluable in later life!

3. Quality accommodation

Dubai has become synonymous with luxury and boarding schools also offer a world-class experience. SISD are proud to offer state-of-the-art boarding houses with a world-class campus. The accommodation houses at SISD are all en-suites with climate control and WiFi available throughout. The unique campus experience at SISD provides basketball courts, an athletics track, gyms, sports halls and even an Olympic-sized swimming pool for use both during and after school hours. The accommodation houses also have communal social spaces, pantries, and access to the library, music and art rooms. Alongside the accommodation and facilities, every boarding house at SISD is allocated a specific team who cares for the welfare and practical needs of all students.

4. World-Class Education & Facilities

Dubai is also well-known for its quality of education. Students from across the world come to Dubai to benefit from the teaching standards and curriculums offered. The teaching staff at SISD is comprised of highly qualified professionals focused on delivering the best quality of education to all children. The IB curriculum has been growing as the global gold standard in a world where borders are increasingly being expanded for young people as they enter the workplace. SISD is ranked as one of the top 100 private schools in the world and we strive to only improve.

5. Lifestyle

One thing Dubai is not short of is entertainment for all ages. Our boarding students of all ages have a range of activities to choose from on their weekends or evenings. From indoor ski slopes and IMG worlds of adventure theme park through to cinemas and amazing food chains, there is no shortage of entertainment in Dubai. The city is also constantly changing and evolving, allowing for new experiences to shape our student’s growth. Whether it is relaxing on the beach, enjoying the hustle and bustle of the city, shopping in the many malls or simply relaxing with friends, Dubai has a wealth of opportunities to enhance the lifestyle of all ages.

6. Location

Dubai is primely located and after significant investment and improvements made to the travel network is now a major international hub, making it easy to get to and a perfect point to visit family and friends abroad from or welcome them to the city itself. Not to mention, Dubai also acts as a perfect ‘jump off point’ when our student’s get older and wish to explore and travel on their own or with friends during holidays on gap years before starting university.

7. Weather

The weather may seem like a rather trivial inclusion, however its importance should not be diminished. Dubai’s climate is warm and sunny all year round, encouraging activities in the open air, which is great for all round health and wellness as well as enabling outdoor learning programme and a whole host of extra-curricular activities to take advantage of the favourable climes. At SISD we also offer a range of after school and evening activities where our students can socially mix and make new friends.

If the above hasn’t convinced you that boarding in Dubai is an excellent choice for your child then why not get in touch with our admissions team for a free tour? Our boarding houses cater for students from ages 11 to 18 and offer an exceptionally welcome and friendly atmosphere. Our four underpinning values at SISD are Bilingualism, Excellence, Sustainability and Together as we believe in being the BEST school for students.