CHILD AGED 10-12 · MOVING TO DUBAI
From a Russian school to an English school in Dubai. Without a wasted year.
We know which class your child will be placed in according to KHDA rules, where there are currently available spots, which documents from Russia need to be legalized, and how to prepare your child for an English math lesson in a month. This page is for Russian-speaking families moving to Dubai with a school-age child.
We respond to WhatsApp and Telegram messages within an hour. We help families relocate to Dubai with a child: Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah.
EXAMPLE: THE CHILD WAS BORN ON JULY 14, 2016
Year 5
in a British and IB school in the 2026/27 academic year
| Graduated in Russia | US / IB Grade | Age as of 12/31/2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 3rd grade | Grade 4 | 10 years |
KHDA rule: Class is determined by age as of December 31st of the school year and a transfer certificate. Please provide your date of birth—we'll respond within 10 minutes.
September 2026: Schools rated Outstanding in Years 5–7 have waiting lists rather than available places.
The application process takes one day, and legalization of a certificate from a Russian school takes 4–6 weeks. You should start while you're still in Russia. Check locations →
CLASSES
What class will the child be placed in?
In Dubai, there are 13 years of school instead of 11: British schools count from Year 1, while American and IB schools count from Grade 1. Children aren't "set back a year"—it's just a different numbering system. KHDA assigns children to a grade based on their age as of December 31st and their transfer certificate. A list of schools with prices and KHDA ratings is in our review. Top 20 Best International Schools in Dubai.
| Graduated in Russia | British school | IB / American | Age as of 12/31/2026 | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3rd grade | Year 5 | Grade 4 | 9–10 | Primary School, Key Stage 2 / PYP |
| 4th grade | Year 6 | Grade 5 | 10–11 | The last year of primary school |
| 5th grade | Year 7 | Grade 6 | 11–12 | First year of secondary school, Key Stage 3 / MYP |
| 6th grade | Year 8 | Grade 7 | 12–13 | High school |
Year of birth is more important than the grade level: if a child entered a Russian school at age 6 instead of 7, they may be placed a grade higher than expected. We check this before submitting an application. This is the first question we ask when choosing a school in Dubai for Russian children.
DIFFERENCE
How does an English school in Dubai differ from a Russian one?
Six things that surprise parents in the first month—and which you can prepare for in advance.
AGE
10–12 years: why this is a good time to transfer
The child is still in elementary school or just about to enter it. The requirements for written English are still moderate, and exams are still a long way off—there are still two or three years to catch up and get ahead.
PREPARATION
What to do 4-8 weeks before the first day
The order is important: documents are submitted first because they take the longest. If the family plans to return to Russia or wants to maintain the opportunity to earn a Russian diploma, they can simultaneously arrange for homeschooling with annual assessments at an accredited online school: the child attends the Dubai school and completes the Russian program remotely. We help select a partner school and organize the schedule so that the child doesn't burn out.
Six steps to the first day of school
From requesting a certificate from a Russian school to an Emirates ID.
Steps to configure the How-to Schema:
At a Russian school, on a form, without corrections. Then the notary, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the UAE Embassy—4-6 weeks.
Primary and backup. A waitlist application costs 500-600 dirhams and is non-binding.
Two or three practice tests so that the child is not stopped by the unfamiliar form of the questions, rather than the content.
20 minutes of reading aloud per day, math and science terms, short written answers.
Translation of the vaccination certificate into English, missing vaccinations according to the UAE calendar.
The school registers the child with the KHDA using an Emirates ID. Consent from the other parent must be obtained in advance, while you are in Russia.
WHATOX SERVICES
What we do and how much it costs
School selection and admissions assistance in Dubai is our primary service for Russian-speaking families. We work with families personally, in Russian, from Dubai. We select schools based on the child's needs, not on an agreement with the school.
START
Diagnostics and plan
900 AED
up to 3 hours of work + report
A video meeting with parents: a class according to KHDA rules, three suitable schools with a check of available places today, a list of documents with dates, and an English readiness assessment. Suitable if you want to figure things out on your own, but without making mistakes at the start.
MORE OFTEN
Turnkey admission
6,500 AED
before receiving an offer
The main school and two alternate schools, applications and correspondence with admissions committees, CAT4 registration, document translations, verification of the legalization of certificates from Russia, and support until the signing of the contract with the school. Payment is made in two installments: half upon entry, half upon offer.
EXTENDED
Admission + adaptation
9,900 AED
first 3 months
A turnkey package, plus selection of an EAL and math tutor in English, setting up family education according to the Russian curriculum, assistance with the child's visa and Emirates ID, and meeting at school on the first day. Suitable for families where the mother is moving alone or the child has limited English.
Additionally: certified document translation – from 150 AED, meeting with school administration with a translator – 600 AED, visa and Emirates ID support – upon request. Families pay tests and school registration fees directly to the school.
DOCUMENTS
What is needed from Russia and how long does it take?
| Document | Who issues it? | What to do with it? | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transfer Certificate | Russian school | Notarized translation and consular legalization for the UAE, then MOFA in Dubai | 4–6 weeks |
| Report cards for the last two years | Russian school | Translation into English | 2-3 days |
| Birth certificate | MARRIAGE REGISTRY | English translation for school; for visas – legalization and translation into Arabic | 1–3 weeks |
| Passports of the child and parents | — | Copies; for school in English | 1 day |
| Vaccination certificate | Polyclinic | Translation into English, checking with the UAE calendar | 2-3 days |
| Consent of the second parent | Notary | Notarized consent for a child's residence and education in the UAE, legalization | 2–4 weeks |
QUESTIONS
Parents ask
START TODAY
Enter your child's date of birth and class - in 10 minutes we'll tell you what year they're in and where there are current places.
It's free and non-binding. Next comes either a diagnostic assessment or a turnkey application to a school in Dubai.
dubai@whatox.com · Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah