Founding Principal

Founding Principal Premium UK Curriculum School Dubailand Dubai
Opening September 2027 FS1 through Year 13 Growing to 3000 students at full capacity

The Opportunity

A rare opportunity has arisen to found and shape a brand new premium UK curriculum school opening in Dubailand Dubai in September 2027. This is not an inherited role. You will be the founding Principal building the culture staff systems and reputation of a school from its very first cohort through to a planned capacity of 3000 students across Foundation Stage to Year 13.

The school is being developed by a financially strong diversified group with over three decades of presence in the region and a proven track record of successfully operating schools in the UAE including an existing sister school rated Very Good by KHDA with more than a decade of continuous operation and around 2500 students. This is a backed credible venture not a speculative startup.

About the School

The school will deliver the National Curriculum for England and Wales enhanced leading to GCSE/IGCSE and A Level and will pursue accreditation as a British Schools Overseas (BSO) institution. It is positioned to fill a genuine gap in the market: a fully inclusive UK curriculum school spanning Foundation through Year 13 delivering premium facilities and standards at accessible fees.

The school opens to Year 6 in September 2027 and grows by one year group annually. Facilities at full capacity will include 125 classrooms dedicated STEM computer art music and dance rooms multiple indoor PE spaces prayer rooms a full outdoor sports programme spanning football swimming gymnastics climbing tennis and squash and KHDA compliant outdoor learning areas across every phase.

Two commitments sit at the centre of the schools identity and will define the Principals early priorities:

• Emirati and Arabic excellence in line with the UAEs Education 33 strategy including high quality Arabic instruction deep integration of Emirati heritage and culture across the curriculum and a bespoke enrichment programme for Emirati families.
• Genuine structured inclusion with a senior led Inclusion department and dedicated provision for Students of Determination and EAL and ESL learners from day one not retrofitted later.

The Role

As Founding Principal you will hold full strategic and operational mandate for the school working closely with a fully representative Governing Board chaired by the Group Managing Director. Your early responsibilities will include:

• Setting the academic vision culture and values of the school from its first cohort
• Building and leading the Senior Leadership Team and wider staff body from the ground up
• Establishing KHDA and MOE compliance and academic systems that will scale as the school grows toward 3000 students
• Embedding the schools Emirati and Arabic excellence commitments and inclusion provision as core to the schools identity not as add ons
• Leading admissions strategy and community engagement to establish the school as a leading choice for families in Dubailand and wider Dubai
• Overseeing the schools growth trajectory year on year as it scales from roughly 200 students in year one toward full capacity

Who We Are Looking For

We are seeking an experienced UK curriculum school leader currently serving as a Principal Head Teacher or Vice Principal ready to step into their first Principal role ideally from one of the following backgrounds:

• Principals or Head Teachers currently leading UK curriculum schools in the UK or UAE
• Vice Principals or Deputy Heads from KHDA rated Outstanding schools in the UAE who are ready to take on a founding Principal mandate
• Demonstrated experience with National Curriculum for England and Wales through to GCSE IGCSE and A Level
• A genuine track record in or strong personal commitment to inclusive education and provision for Students of Determination
• Experience or authentic interest in Arabic language provision and Emirati cultural integration within a UK curriculum setting
• Proven ability to build teams systems and culture whether through a new school launch a significant expansion or a substantial turnaround
• KHDA or equivalant international regulatory experience is highly desirable

Why This Role

This is a genuinely rare opportunity in the UAE education market: a founding Principal mandate at a well capitalised school backed by an operator with a credible existing track record rather than joining an established school as a successor or taking a speculative role with an unproven investor. You will have full autonomy to shape the schools academic direction culture and identity from year one with the resources and governance support of an experienced ownership group behind you.