"As one of the foremost independent schools globally, it is with great pride that I welcome you to our community of inspirational educators and aspirational students. Our young people are equipped to make a major impact in the world as they grow into adaptable, flexible, and globally aware individuals, defined by our core values of excellence, hard work, kindness, and integrity.

We aim to provide a rich holistic education and academic excellence for our students. We exist to equip young people with the deep learning and good character that they will need to flourish in their lives."

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"However, our commitment extends beyond academics to the holistic development of all our students. Our reputation is built on consistent and sustained excellence across four key pillars: academic, sporting, creative, and philanthropic endeavours. While we place great importance on classroom success, we believe in fostering students’ growth through the richness of the diverse experiences our school offers. Our goal is for them to flourish as individuals, developing their character in an inspiring environment designed to promote intellectual, social, and personal growth in the areas of scholarship, entrepreneurship, innovation and sustainability.

I firmly believe that education breeds confidence, confidence breeds hope, and hope breeds peace. This remains our goal as educators: to sculpt a future generation able to lead positive change to shape a better tomorrow. I remain humbled and inspired by the outstanding members of our community and welcome you to come and experience their enthusiasm and joy for learning first hand."

Tomas Duckling, Headmaster

Our Purpose

We aim to provide a rich holistic education and academic excellence for our students. We exist to equip young people with the deep learning and good character that they will need to flourish in their lives. 

With Values

Excellence, Hard Work, Kindness and Integrity

Through Pillars

Academic, Sporting, Creative and Philanthropic

For Futures

Scholarship, Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Sustainability

By the gracious consent of His Highness Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, the Ruler of Dubai from 1958 until 1990, Dubai College was formally constituted on 4th May 1978 to provide, within the Emirate of Dubai, a modern secondary education in the British style, to the highest academic standards for those families who are on short or long term contracts, and for those UAE children whose parents wish them to experience this kind of education.

In 1977 Tim Charlton, the founder of Dubai College, was teaching in Choueifat, Sharjah. DESS had already been established to cater for the primary curriculum needs of the children of a growing expatriate population.

However, the only option for secondary education was boarding school. Was a new secondary school in Dubai a viable alternative? Tim Charlton thought so. Resigning his post in Sharjah he returned to England, sold his house, bought a Land Rover and prepared for the overland return trip to Dubai. At some time during this period, he even managed to get married!

Tim and his new wife Gay spent the next four months living in and out of their sturdy four-wheel mobile home, sheltering from blizzards in Italy, enjoying oranges in Turkey and guarding a limited, but no less valuable amount of ‘new school’ equipment from floating away during floods in Saudi! Arriving back in Dubai in time for Christmas carols, Tim and Gay found support and sponsorship from one AJ Foulger, who was to become the first College Bursar. With such support Tim quickly gained the attention of several local businessmen. However, he recalls that the message was not optimistic.

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In addition to our 1110 students on roll, we have over 2000 current parents, 247 staff members and some 3000 alumni with whom we are in touch. Annually our community association, the Friends of Dubai College, lay on events for staff and students and raise funds for special projects on campus. Our alumni from across four decades meet annually in London every November and in Dubai every January to reminiscence and reconnect with the school. We also have a registered charity in England and Wales, the Dubai College Foundation, which is responsible for raising money for charitable projects overseas.