Queen Elizabeth’s School, Barnet, one of the most distinguished and highest-performing schools in the United Kingdom, has received initial approval from the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) to open its first international branch in Dubai Sports City in August 2026.
The landmark project, developed in partnership with GEDU Global Education, marks the first time in history that a UK state grammar school will open an international campus, setting a new precedent in global education.
The new institution will be known as Queen Elizabeth’s School, Dubai Sports City.
Academic excellence
Founded in 1573 by royal charter from Queen Elizabeth I, the original Queen Elizabeth’s School, Barnet has a 450-year legacy of academic distinction and social mobility.
Ofsted rates the school Outstanding, and the 2025 Sunday Times has named it the UK’s top State Secondary School of the Year for A-levels after its consistent top rankings in national league tables.
In 2024, 55 per cent of leavers held offers from universities ranked in the top five of the QS World University Rankings, underscoring the school’s academic standing and commitment to excellence.
The Dubai branch will deliver the National Curriculum for England to the same exacting academic standards as its UK counterpart, providing students across the UAE with access to a world-leading British education within a co-educational environment.
First-of-its-kind Dubai partnership
Caroline Pendleton-Nash, CEO of Queen Elizabeth’s Global Schools, said the KHDA approval enables the school to bring its world-class educational model to the UAE.
Pendleton-Nash said: “This landmark approval allows us to accelerate our vision to deliver world-leading K-12 education to students from across the UAE.
“While the model of establishing international branches is familiar among leading UK independent schools, this marks the first time in history that a distinguished UK state grammar school has embarked upon such a partnership.
“It represents an unprecedented and truly exciting milestone for global education.”
The Dubai Sports City location will allow students access to world-class sports and recreation facilities, integrating physical and academic excellence.
Global collaboration
Neil Enright, Headmaster of Queen Elizabeth’s School, Barnet, said the expansion reflects the school’s mission to broaden opportunity and build a global network of students.
“We are delighted to have received this encouragement from the KHDA to offer a rounded and enriching QE education to children in the UAE, spreading opportunity and supporting students to become the leaders of their generation.
“We are also excited by the potential for international collaboration, which, in time, will build a global network of Elizabethans for the benefit of our new students as well as those within the state sector in Barnet.”
UK–UAE educational partnerships
Edward Hobart, Ambassador to the UAE, welcomed the launch as a milestone in UK–UAE educational relations.
Edward Hobart said: “I am delighted that Queen Elizabeth’s School will open in Dubai Sports City next year. This milestone represents the first time a British state funded grammar school has expanded globally, testament to the enduring strength of UK-UAE educational partnerships.”
Queen Elizabeth’s School, Dubai Sports City, will open initially from Nursery to Year 8, expanding progressively through to Sixth Form.
The campus will integrate academic excellence, sporting distinction, and personal development, embodying both the heritage of British education and Dubai’s spirit of innovation.
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