How to choose a nursery in the UAE
Start with location and hours, then check the nursery's licence, curriculum, fees and what they include. Read recent reviews, and visit at least two or three nurseries with a list of questions before you decide.
Checked October 2026
A checklist
- Location and the daily trip. Most families choose near home or work. Start from your emirate or city: Dubai · Abu Dhabi · Sharjah · Ajman · Al Ain · Ras Al Khaimah · Fujairah · Umm Al Quwain
- Hours and days. Check opening and closing times against your working day, and whether shorter days or three-day weeks are offered. Each nursery's page shows its hours.
- The licence. Make sure the nursery is licensed by the right authority for its emirate. Who licenses nurseries
- Ages. Check it takes your child's age now and keeps them until they start school. Nursery and school ages
- Curriculum. British EYFS is the most common; Montessori, Reggio Emilia, French and others are offered too. Think about which school your child will go on to.
- Fees and extras. Compare the full yearly cost, including registration, meals, uniforms, transport and holiday camps. Nursery fees compared
- Staff. Ask about child-to-staff ratios in each age group, staff qualifications, and how long staff tend to stay.
- Safety and health. Look for secure entry, first-aid-trained staff and a nurse or clinic, and ask how illness and medicines are handled.
- Food and naps. Ask whether meals are included or packed from home, how allergies are handled, and where babies sleep.
- Reviews. Read recent Google reviews, not just the rating: look for what parents say about staff and communication.
Questions to ask on a visit
- What does a typical day look like for my child's age group?
- How many children and staff are in the room?
- How do you settle new children in, and how long does it usually take?
- How will you keep me updated during the day?
- What exactly do the fees include, and what costs extra?
- What happens if my child is unwell, or I'm late to collect them?
Questions parents ask
How many nurseries should I visit?
Visit at least two or three. Go at a normal time of day, so you see the rooms and staff as they usually are, and take the questions from this guide with you.
When should I start looking for a nursery?
A few months before you need a place: popular nurseries can have waiting lists, so it's worth starting early.
What should I ask a nursery?
Ask about its licence, child-to-staff ratios, staff qualifications and turnover, the daily routine, meals, how it settles new children, how it keeps you updated, and every fee, including registration and extras.