450-Year Legacy Arrives in Dubai: Queen Elizabeth's School to Open in 2026
Queen Elizabeth's School, Barnet, one of the UK’s long-standing grammar schools with over 450 years of history, is preparing to open its first international branch in Dubai Sports City in August 2026. The new institution, named Queen Elizabeth’s School in Dubai, aims to bring its established academic excellence and rich British heritage to the UAE.
Students will follow the National Curriculum for England, reflecting the same high standards that earned the Barnet school a reputation as a consistently "outstanding" performer and a leading name in UK education.
Partnership and Approval
This project, developed in collaboration with GEDU Global Education, recently received its initial approval from Dubai’s Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA). The milestone marks a historic achievement, as Queen Elizabeth’s School becomes the first UK state grammar school to establish an overseas campus.
Vision and Mission
“This landmark approval allows us to accelerate our vision to deliver world-leading K-12 education to students from across the UAE,” said Caroline Pendleton-Nash, CEO of Queen Elizabeth’s Global Schools.
“The Dubai branch campus will remain faithful to the mission, ethos, tradition, and exacting academic standards of Queen Elizabeth’s School, Barnet, while embracing Dubai’s spirit of innovation and ambition,” she added.
“In uniting the heritage of one of the UK’s most distinguished schools with the vision of Dubai, we aspire to set a new global benchmark for educational excellence.”
Development and Expansion
Initially welcoming students from nursery to year 8, the Dubai campus plans to expand gradually to include a full sixth form, ensuring a complete and continuous academic journey.
Author’s Summary
Queen Elizabeth’s School, with its 450-year British legacy, will open a Dubai campus in 2026, merging traditional excellence with the UAE’s forward-looking education vision.