Three UAE Schools Shortlisted for Worlds Best School Prizes 2025

Three schools from the United Arab Emirates have been named among the top 10 finalists for the 2025 World’s Best School Prizes in a historic first.

The annual awards, organised by UK-based T4 Education, honour schools that are driving positive change in education through innovation, environmental responsibility, and community impact.

Dubai British School Jumeirah Park (DBSJP), the Arbor School in Al Furjan, and Applied Technology Schools in Umm Al Quwain (ATS-UAQ) are each competing in a separate category: community collaboration, environmental action, and innovation, respectively.

DBSJP was recognised for its community-first approach, involving parents and external partners in learning. The school integrates creativity, inclusion, and wellbeing into its curriculum, and maintains a 100% student pass rate. Partnerships include global names from Barcelona’s Football Escola to Michelin-starred chefs.

The Arbor School focuses on environmental learning through hands-on inquiry and sustainability challenges. Its curriculum features eco-literacy programmes supported by six on-campus biodomes. Students have previously presented their work at COP28.

ATS-UAQ specialises in vocational education, with programmes centred on AI, sustainability, and engineering. Students combine academic and industry-based training, earning national and regional awards for practical projects with measurable real-world impact.

Winners will be announced in October following a review by an expert panel. A public vote will also determine the winner of the Community Choice Award. Finalists and winners will be invited to the World Schools Summit in Abu Dhabi on November 15th to the 16th.