Special Needs Schools in Dubai: Full Directory

Why Dubai is a strong choice for SEN families

Dubai’s private school sector now supports over 4,000 students with diagnosed additional needs. The KHDA’s Inclusive Education Policy requires every school to accept and support students with mild to moderate needs, while a smaller group of specialist centres focus on complex requirements.

Annual fees for dedicated SEN schools range from AED 85,000 to AED 195,000, with some offering sibling discounts of 5 to 10 percent. Most programmes include speech therapy, occupational therapy, and applied behaviour analysis within the school day.

Dedicated SEN schools in Dubai

• The Developing Child Centre (Al Sufouh), AED 110,000 to 165,000. Full-time ABA, speech and occupational therapy. KHDA rated Good.
• Dubai Centre for Special Needs (Al Qusais), AED 95,000 to 145,000. Focus on moderate to severe needs, on-site physiotherapy, transport available.
• Special Needs Education Centre (Al Barsha), AED 85,000 to 130,000. Early intervention from age 3 plus vocational training for ages 16 plus.
• Cambridgeshire Learning Centre (Jumeirah Village Circle), AED 120,000 to 195,000. UK curriculum with 1:3 staff ratio for autism spectrum support.

Mainstream schools with strong inclusion teams

These schools run dedicated SEN departments and employ learning support teachers, counsellors, and external therapists.

• Dubai British School Jumeirah Park, AED 78,000 to 105,000. Full-time SENCo and shadow teacher programme.
• GEMS Modern Academy (Dubai Academic City), AED 55,000 to 82,000. KHDA Inclusive School of the Year 2025; offers exam access arrangements.
• Repton Dubai (Nad Al Sheba), AED 95,000 to 135,000. In-house speech therapy and gifted-and-talented extension.
• Taaleem’s Arcadia School (Jumeirah Village Triangle), AED 62,000 to 88,000. Sensory room and social skills groups.

Assessment and admission steps

1. Obtain an updated educational psychology report (valid for two years) from a DHA-licensed psychologist.

2. Contact the school’s inclusion team directly; most require a 30-minute observation visit.

3. Submit the report plus medical records to the KHDA through the school’s online portal.

4. Receive a conditional offer, then sign the Individual Education Plan within ten working days.

Financial support and government programmes

The Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation offers up to AED 30,000 annual grants for Emirati students with additional needs. Some international insurers now reimburse 50 percent of therapy costs when pre-approved. Parents can also apply for the Dubai Government’s SEN transport subsidy of AED 4,800 per year through the RTA app.

Key questions to ask on a school visit

• What is the current staff-to-student ratio in the SEN unit?
• Which external therapists visit the campus and how are their fees billed?
• Can the school support a full-time shadow teacher funded by the family?
• How are transitions to secondary or post-16 programmes handled?

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Got more UAE questions?

Tovi knows current 2026 UAE rules, fees, and processes. Ask anything — visas, banking, housing, schools. Ask Tovi free →