Know your UAE
The delay in the development of formal
education in the UAE was attributed to
several factors such as the political and
economical situations in the region.
This also hindered development in
other fields.
The first girls schools that were
established in 1958 were Khawla
School in Bur Dubai and Al Khansa’a
in Deira. By the year 1998, the total
number of formal education schools in
Dubai was 85.
Formal education depends on basic
teaching elements, namely the
teacher, the student and the teaching
curriculum all controlled by an
academic and supervisory authority.
Formal Education in Sharjah
This type of education evolved in
stages throughout the UAE starting
in the Emirate of Sharjah. In 1953, Al
Qassimiya School was established
and teaching was conducted with the
assistance of the teaching delegation
from the state of Kuwait, which relied
on a curriculum, books and teachers.
Al Qassimiya School catered to
many people in Sharjah. Shortly after
the arrival of academic and cultural
delegations from Qatar and Egypt, Al
Qassimiya School for girls was opened
in 1954. The curriculum was the same
as in the boys’ school.
Formal Education in Dubai
Formal education started in Sharjah in
the mid fifties of the twentieth century.
This was as a result of an increase in
the number of private schools as well
as a rise in the number of schools
combining the traditional and semi
formal systems of education.
The Qassimiayah School, founded
in 1953 adopted the curriculum of
Kuwait. The Qassimiayah School for
Girls was established a year later and
followed the same curriculum of the
boys’ school.
Formal Education in Abu
Dhabi
Formal Education in Umm AlQuwain & Fujairah
The first formal school for boys, Al
Ameer, was opened in 1958 in Umm
Al-Quwain. Al Sabahiya School for
girls was opened in 1962. In Fujairah,
the first boys’ school, Al Fujairah
School, was opened in 1962. Two years
later (1964), Umm Al Mumineen School
for girls opened.
Join us in the next issue for our Know
Your UAE feature, to learn more about
the history of Al Hamadiya School and
the development of education in the
UAE. Al Hamadiya School is located at
Al Ras, Dubai. If you are interested in
a tour of the school, please call 971 4
226 0286.
Source: Information and photography taken
on location at Al Hamadiya School in Dubai.
Formal education in Abu Dhabi started
in the year 1958 with the establishment
of Al Falahiyah School. The first formal
school for girls was opened in 1963
Formal education in Dubai began in
1956. One of the renowned formal
education schools is Al Hamadiya
School, which was established in
1912. It adopted formal education
programmes in 1956 and included new
subjects such as English, Sociology
and Science.
Formal Education in Ajman
Al Saeediya School was established
in 1958. The house of the late Sheikh
Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum was
used for school activities.
Al Qassimiyah School for boys was
the first school to be opened in Ras
Al-Khaimah in the year 1955. In 1958,
the