United Arab Emirates vs France
Side-by-side comparison of how these places approach childhood.
United Arab Emirates
In the UAE, your child's school could be British, American, Indian, or IB β all on the same street.
With 90% of residents being expatriates, the UAE's school system is a patchwork of global curricula. Parents choose between British, American, IB, Indian, and other systems β each with different standards and expectations.
France
In France, school lunches are four-course meals with a cheese course, and children eat what's served.
French school canteens serve a starter, main course, cheese, and dessert. There are no vending machines, no packed lunches, and no substitutions β food education is part of the curriculum.
United Arab Emirates
Public schools teach the national Arabic-language curriculum. Private international schools β British, American, IB, Indian, Filipino, and more β serve the vast expatriate majority. KHDA (in Dubai) and ADEK (in Abu Dhabi) inspect and rate schools.
France
Free, secular public education is a constitutional principle. Children enter Γ©cole maternelle at age 3 (compulsory since 2019). The curriculum is highly centralized and standardized nationally. Wednesday afternoons are traditionally free.
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