KHDA Opens Registration for Second Cycle of Dubai Distinguished Students Programme

Photo : Dubai Government Media Office

The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) has announced the opening of registration for the second cycle of the Dubai Distinguished Students Programme for the 2025-2026 academic year. This initiative, launched in partnership with the Knowledge Fund Establishment and private schools in Dubai, aims to provide high-achieving Emirati students with access to top-quality education.

The programme offers 415 scholarship seats at 28 private schools in Dubai. It provides a 50% tuition fee scholarship for Emirati students from Grade 1 to Grade 10 studying at schools that are rated Good or better.

This initiative was first introduced in 2024 to strengthen collaboration between the public and private education sectors. It aligns with Dubai’s Education 33 strategy, which focuses on improving education quality and investing in the future of Emirati youth.

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Compared to its first year, the programme has now expanded, offering families more choices in terms of curriculum, school location, and tuition fees. The participating schools include six rated Outstanding, 14 rated Very Good, and eight rated Good. These schools offer various curricula such as UK, US, IB, and combinations of UK/IB and US/IB. This ensures that students can choose the education system that best fits their needs and future goals.

Her Excellency Aisha Miran, Director General of KHDA, emphasized the importance of the programme, stating: "The Dubai Distinguished Students Programme reflects Dubai’s commitment to investing in its future by supporting high-achieving Emirati students with quality education. By expanding the number of participating schools, we are giving families more options to find the best education for their children. This initiative also highlights the importance of collaboration between the public and private sectors in strengthening Dubai’s education system."

His Excellency Abdulla Mohammed Al Awar, CEO of the Knowledge Fund Establishment, also expressed his support, saying: "We are dedicated to supporting educational initiatives like the Dubai Distinguished Students Programme. It strengthens Dubai’s position as a global hub for academic excellence. This expansion highlights our commitment to working with private schools to offer outstanding educational opportunities to Emirati students. We appreciate our education partners and encourage more schools to join this meaningful initiative."

Applications for the 2025-26 academic year will be open from 24 February to 10 March 2025. The scholarship is available to Emirati students with a family book issued by Dubai. It covers 50% of tuition fees for students from Grade 1 (Year 2) to Grade 10 (Year 11) who are either new or currently studying in public or private schools in the UAE. However, students who are already enrolled in participating schools are not eligible for the scholarship.

To qualify, students must have an average grade of 90% or above in the US or Ministry of Education curriculum, a score of at least 5 in the IB curriculum, or a B-grade average in the British curriculum. Additionally, students must pass assessments and interviews conducted by the schools.

Parents can apply for the scholarship through the KHDA website, where they can also find more details about the programme and eligibility criteria.

Several school leaders have expressed their enthusiasm for being part of this initiative.

His Excellency Sultan Bin Sulayem, Owner of Dubai Heights Academy, said: "Dubai Heights Academy is proud to be part of this prestigious programme. Our school is deeply connected to Emirati heritage and values, and we are honored to support the Dubai Social Agenda 33. We look forward to welcoming outstanding Emirati students."

Alan Williamson, CEO of Taaleem, shared: "Our schools, including the American Academy for Girls, Jumeira Baccalaureate School, and Uptown International School, are excited to offer scholarships to exceptional Emirati students through this initiative. This aligns with Dubai’s vision of education and innovation."

Dino Varkey, Group CEO of GEMS Education, stated: "GEMS Education is committed to supporting this programme. We are offering 100 new scholarships covering 50% of tuition fees at our schools. Our goal is to equip Emirati students with the best resources and education to prepare them for the future."

Poonam Bhojani, CEO of Innoventures Education, added: "We are proud to support this initiative and remain committed to academic excellence. We believe in nurturing young minds to become future leaders and changemakers."

Ibrahim Al Ghurair, Chairman of Dar Al Marefa, expressed his excitement: "Dar Al Marefa School is honored to participate in this programme for the second year. Our goal is to empower students with inquiry-based learning while upholding Emirati and Islamic values."

Dr. Farah Sarraj, Chief Corporate Officer of Al Futtaim Education Foundation, said: "This partnership reflects our commitment to developing the next generation of Emirati leaders. By aligning with Dubai’s Education 33 strategy, we aim to provide students with meaningful learning experiences."

Navin Valrani, CEO of Arcadia Education, shared: "We are delighted to be a part of this initiative and look forward to welcoming our first scholarship students in the secondary school in 2025-26. This programme provides students with valuable opportunities to grow in top-quality schools like Arcadia."

Ajay Rajendran, Chairman and CEO of North London Collegiate School Dubai, commented: "We are excited to participate in the Dubai Distinguished Students Programme. Although we are a young school in the UAE, we are eager to see our scholarship students achieve great things."

Sir Christopher Stone, Chief Academic Officer of Emirates International School, concluded: "As Dubai’s longest-standing IB school, we are proud to offer Emirati students access to world-class IB education through this programme. Our goal is to empower them to become future global leaders."

With its expansion and growing support from private schools, the Dubai Distinguished Students Programme is set to offer Emirati students more opportunities to excel academically and contribute to Dubai’s future success. For more details and to apply, parents can visit the KHDA website before the deadline on 10 March 2025.