Victory Heights Primary School
Dubai Sports City
KHDA: Outstanding
Places: call to check
Curriculum: British (primary)
Good to know: Primary only
UK to Dubai · DAMAC Lagoons specialist
I made the move from the UK to Dubai. Now I help families do the same.
Straight answers on schools, neighbourhoods, paperwork and what life in DAMAC Lagoons is really like, from someone who has just been through it.
About me
A people person who knows what a big move feels like
I'm Tony. Before property, I ran a successful hospitality business in the UK, where I learned that looking after people properly is what keeps them coming back.
I've spent two years in real estate, and in October 2026 I relocated from the UK to Dubai. I'm now a lettings consultant at Allsopp & Allsopp, focused entirely on DAMAC Lagoons and on European families moving here.
Because I've only just made the move myself, the visa appointments, the school hunt and the first weeks of working everything out are fresh in my mind. I share the whole journey on Instagram and YouTube.
Why DAMAC Lagoons
A Mediterranean-style community built around water
DAMAC Lagoons is a large villa and townhouse community in Dubailand, opposite DAMAC Hills. Its neighbourhoods are named after and styled on Mediterranean places, set around man-made lagoons and beaches. It is still being completed in phases, so some amenities are open and others are on the way.
Family-size homes
Mostly 3 to 6 bedroom townhouses and villas, with more space than you'd get for the money closer to the coast.
Life outdoors
Lagoon beaches, kayaking and water sports, walking paths and green spaces where the kids can actually play.
Neighbourhoods with character
Santorini, Portofino, Costa Brava, Nice, Venice, Malta, Morocco and more, each with its own look and feel.
Honest trade-offs
It's not central, there's no metro nearby and you'll need a car. I'll always tell you if another area suits you better.
The neighbourhoods
13
places to call home, all around the lagoons
Valencia
Getting around
Approximate drive times outside rush hour. At peak times, allow 35 to 50 minutes for the city and airports.
~5 min
Dubai Sports City
~7 min
Motor City
~25 min
Downtown Dubai
~25 min
Dubai Marina
~30 min
Dubai International (DXB)
~25 min
Al Maktoum (DWC)
Schools
23 schools within 5 miles of DAMAC Lagoons
There's no school inside the community yet, but there's a strong choice close by, from British and IB to Indian curriculum. The best-rated schools fill up fast, so call admissions as early as you can, even before you've found a home.
What the KHDA rating means
Dubai's schools regulator, the KHDA, inspects every private school. From best to lowest the ratings run: Outstanding, Very Good, Good, then Acceptable. New schools aren't rated until they've been inspected.
Curriculum:
Showing 23 schools, highest rated first
Safa Community School
Al Barsha South
KHDA: Outstanding
Full this academic year
Curriculum: British and IB
Nord Anglia International School Dubai
Al Barsha South
KHDA: Outstanding
Waiting list
Curriculum: British and IB
JESS Arabian Ranches
Arabian Ranches
KHDA: Outstanding
Fully booked
Curriculum: British and IB
Good to know: Some places go through corporate entry schemes
Kings' School Al Barsha
Al Barsha
KHDA: Outstanding
Places: call to check
Curriculum: British
Jebel Ali School
DAMAC Hills
KHDA: Very Good
Places: call to check
Curriculum: British (GCSE, A Level) and IB
Good to know: The closest premium British option
Royal Grammar School Guildford Dubai
Tilal Al Ghaf
KHDA: Very Good
Places: call to check
Curriculum: British
Ranches Primary School
Arabian Ranches 2
KHDA: Very Good
Places: call to check
Curriculum: British / IPC (primary)
Good to know: Primary only
Sunmarke School
JVT
KHDA: Very Good
Places: call to check
Curriculum: British and IB
Greenfield International School
Dubai Investments Park
KHDA: Very Good
Places: call to check
Curriculum: IB
~26 min
KHDA: Very Good
Places: call to check
Curriculum: British
~26 min
KHDA: Very Good
Places: call to check
Curriculum: Indian (ICSE)
Repton Al Barsha
Al Barsha South
KHDA: Very Good
Places: call to check
Curriculum: British
Brighton College Dubai
Al Barsha South
KHDA: Very Good
Places: call to check
Curriculum: British
Dubai Heights Academy
Al Barsha South
KHDA: Very Good
Places: call to check
Curriculum: British
South View School
Remraam
KHDA: Good
Places: call to check
Curriculum: British
Dwight School Dubai
Dubai Sports City
KHDA: Good
Places: call to check
Curriculum: IB (PYP, MYP, DP, CP)
Good to know: On the former GEMS United campus
GEMS Metropole School
Motor City
KHDA: Good
Places: call to check
Curriculum: British
Fairgreen International School
The Sustainable City
KHDA: Good
Places: call to check
Curriculum: IB
Good to know: Holds monthly open days
Bright Riders School
Dubai Investments Park
KHDA: Good
Places: call to check
Curriculum: Indian (CBSE)
Ash Mount School
Mudon
KHDA: New, not yet rated
Places: call to check
Curriculum: IB candidate school, English National Curriculum based
Good to know: Opened 2026; Pre-KG to Grade 8 this year
Queen Elizabeth's School
Dubai Sports City
KHDA: New, not yet rated
Places: call to check
Curriculum: British (EYFS, IGCSE, A Level)
Good to know: Opened Aug 2026; Nursery to Year 8; fees AED 70k–102k
GEMS Founders School
Al Barsha South
KHDA: Not listed
Places: call to check
Curriculum: British
Good to know: Check the latest rating on the KHDA website
Drive times are estimates for the 7–8am school run from the centre of DAMAC Lagoons, so your own villa may be a few minutes either way. Ratings are from the 2026 KHDA list. Waiting-list status was checked in November 2026 where shown; for every other school, ring admissions to check places for your child's year group.
Not sure which school suits your children? Tell me their ages and what matters to you and I'll help you put together a shortlist.
Moving guide
Renting your first home in Dubai, step by step
The order matters here. Get it right and the rest falls into place. Tap any step for the full guide.
1
Visa and Emirates ID first
Landlords usually ask for your residence visa and Emirates ID before signing a long-term lease. Until they're through, a short-term or serviced rental bridges the gap.
Read the full guide →2
Find the right home
Shortlist by school run, commute and budget. If you're still in Europe, I can do live video viewings so you can see a home before you fly.
Read the full guide →3
Sign and pay
Rent is usually paid by one or more cheques, plus a security deposit and an agency fee. Get a UAE bank account and chequebook set up early.
Read the full guide →4
Register Ejari
Ejari registers your tenancy with the Dubai Land Department. You'll need it to connect utilities, enrol at school and update your Emirates ID, so do it straight after signing. It can now be done in the DubaiNow app.
Read the full guide →5
Switch on DEWA
Connect electricity and water with DEWA using your Ejari. There's a refundable security deposit, and the connection is usually quick.
Read the full guide →6
Settle in
Internet, health insurance, a car and finding your favourite coffee spot. I'm happy to point you to what's worked for me and other families.
Read the full guide →This is a general guide, not legal advice. Rules and fees change, so always check with the official authorities.
Get in touch
Planning a move? Let's have a chat.
Tell me a little about your family and your timeline. I'll get back to you with honest advice, whether or not you end up in Lagoons.
Message me on WhatsAppWhatsApp: +971 58 673 9600 · Email: a.curtis@allsoppandallsopp.com
Looking for a home now? See available DAMAC Lagoons rentals on Allsopp & Allsopp, Property Finder, and Bayut.