Dubai’s Knowledge and Human Development Authority is launching something that should make life easier for parents trying to figure out where to send their kids to school. The inaugural Education Expo is bringing together more than 60 private schools and early childhood centers under one roof, giving Emirati families a chance to actually compare their options without spending weeks driving around the city.
The Dubai Education Expo aims to give parents a real look at what’s out there, from nurseries through high school, with direct access to school leaders, teachers, and admissions teams. Instead of relying on glossy brochures and website marketing, families can ask questions face-to-face and get a sense of what each school is actually like.
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Where and When the Education Expo Is Happening
Education Expo 2025 is set for November 8-9 at the JW Marriott Marquis. It’s part of KHDA’s Education 33 Strategy, specifically the Pathway Partners initiative, which is all about helping parents play a more active role in their children’s education rather than just passively accepting whatever school happens to be closest or most convenient.
Dr. Amna Almaazmi, KHDA’s CEO of Growth and Human Development, explained that one of the main goals is empowering Emirati parents to make informed, confident decisions about education starting from the early years. “This first edition of Education Expo gives families the opportunity to explore Dubai’s wide range of high-quality private education options and engage directly with educators and school leaders,” she said.
That direct engagement piece matters. Schools can make anything sound great in their marketing materials, but talking to actual principals and teachers at the Education Expo gives you a much better read on whether a place is the right fit for your kid.
A New Consultation Service for Parents
Beyond just wandering the expo floor, KHDA is also launching a new Parents Consultation Service. This is personalized guidance to help families navigate all the educational options available and make decisions they feel good about. Given how overwhelming the school search can be—especially in a city like Dubai with dozens of curricula and hundreds of schools—having someone who actually knows the landscape walk you through it could be genuinely useful.
The expo is designed for parents who are either looking for a school for the first time or considering a transfer. By bringing leading schools and nurseries together in one place, it cuts down on the legwork families would normally have to do on their own. You can explore different curricula, compare approaches, and get a sense of what each institution prioritizes without spending months on research.
What Parents Can Expect at the Expo
Over the two days, there will be panel discussions and sessions with education experts, not just school representatives trying to pitch their institutions. Parents can learn about KHDA’s services too, which might be helpful for understanding things like school inspections, quality ratings, and what resources are available to families navigating the system.
There’s also a children’s entertainment area with activities for all ages, which is smart. Anyone who’s tried to have a serious conversation about school options while their kid is tugging on their sleeve knows that keeping children occupied makes the whole process a lot more productive.
Whether this becomes an annual thing that families actually find valuable, or just another event that sounds good on paper, probably depends on execution. If the schools send their best people and parents walk away feeling like they got real answers to their questions, the Education Expo could become a fixture on the calendar. If it turns into a glorified marketing exercise with surface-level conversations, people will figure that out quickly.
For now, at least, KHDA is creating a space where families can do their homework on schools without having to schedule a dozen individual visits. And for parents trying to make one of the biggest decisions they’ll make for their kids, having all the options laid out in one weekend at the Education Expo might just be worth the trip to JW Marriott Marquis.