International School Fees for Expats: Qatar, Dubai, Singapore and Beyond
International school fees are one of the largest — and most frequently underestimated — costs of expat family life in the Gulf and Asia. For families relocating to Qatar, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Singapore or Hong Kong, understanding the full cost of education before you move can mean the difference between a comfortable posting and a financially stressful one.
In Qatar, annual tuition at premium British curriculum schools ranges from QAR 28,000 to QAR 80,000 per child depending on year group, with capital or development fees adding up to QAR 12,000 more each year. Dubai and Abu Dhabi follow a similar pattern: top-tier schools charge AED 45,000 to AED 105,000 annually, with capital fees reaching AED 15,000 at the most selective institutions. Saudi Arabia's headline fees in Riyadh and Jeddah — typically SAR 45,000 to SAR 100,000 — appear more moderate, but with no state-funded schooling available to expat children, these costs are non-negotiable.
Bahrain and Oman are the most affordable Gulf destinations, with annual fees of BHD 3,000–8,500 and OMR 3,000–10,500 respectively, though waiting lists at the best schools can span several academic years. Singapore fees look lower in local currency terms (SGD 35,000–55,000), but the city-state's broader cost of living and competitive admissions process carry hidden costs many families only discover after arriving. Hong Kong remains the most expensive jurisdiction covered here: elite international schools charge HKD 115,000–260,000 per year, with capital levies exceeding HKD 120,000 — often a separate financing decision in its own right.
The calculator below uses representative 2026/27 fee structures for premium international schools across each location. Where capital or development fees are marked "Incl.", they are already bundled into the stated tuition figure. Use the tool to model your total annual education cost by child, year group and school — and build the result into your expat budget before you accept that offer.
Where fees are "Incl.", no additional charge applies. Capital / development fee is always included.
Use this annual school fee total in the Budget Tracker, where your education allowance will be deducted.
International School Fee Database (2026/27 Estimates)
This database provides representative annual tuition structures for premium international schools, categorized by standard academic progression bands. All fees are in local currency. Note: "Capital/Dev. Fee" represents mandatory annual charges. Where marked "Incl.", the cost is bundled into the tuition.
Qatar — Currency: QAR
| School Name | Year 1-6 | Year 7-9 | Year 10-11 | Annual Capital/Dev. Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doha College | 41,152 | 70,136 | 74,840 | 3,650 |
| American School of Doha | 60,000 | 75,000 | 95,000 | 12,000 |
| Compass International | 50,000 | 65,000 | 85,000 | Incl. |
| GEMS Wellington School | 35,000 | 50,000 | 65,000 | 1,500 |
| Park House English School | 28,000 | 45,000 | 65,000 | Incl. |
| Sherborne Qatar | 30,000 | 50,000 | 75,000 | 2,000 |
| Nord Anglia International | 45,000 | 62,000 | 82,000 | 3,000 |
| King's College Doha | 38,000 | 55,000 | 75,000 | 2,000 |
| SEK International School | 35,000 | 52,000 | 70,000 | 1,500 |
| Oryx International | 32,000 | 48,000 | 68,000 | Incl. |
UAE — Dubai — Currency: AED
| School Name | Year 1-6 | Year 7-9 | Year 10-11 | Annual Capital/Dev. Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GEMS Wellington Int. | 59,800 | 82,500 | 98,000 | 2,000 |
| Dubai College | 65,000 | 88,000 | 105,000 | 10,000 |
| JESS Arabian Ranches | 58,000 | 82,000 | 98,000 | 15,000 |
| American School of Dubai | 65,000 | 82,000 | 95,000 | 12,000 |
| Kings' School Al Barsha | 55,000 | 78,000 | 95,000 | 5,000 |
| DESC (Dubai English Speaking) | 52,000 | 72,000 | 85,000 | Incl. |
| North London Collegiate | 62,000 | 85,000 | 100,000 | 8,000 |
| Dubai British School | 48,000 | 68,000 | 82,000 | 3,000 |
| Repton School Dubai | 55,000 | 78,000 | 98,000 | 5,000 |
| Safa British School | 45,000 | 62,000 | 80,000 | 2,000 |
| School Name | Year 1-6 | Year 7-9 | Year 10-11 | Annual Capital/Dev. Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| British International School | 68,000 | 69,800 | 75,000 | Incl. |
| Amity Abu Dhabi | 51,200 | 59,800 | 72,000 | Incl. |
| Raha International | 50,000 | 68,000 | 80,000 | 2,000 |
| Brighton College | 55,000 | 75,000 | 90,000 | 3,000 |
| Cranleigh Abu Dhabi | 58,000 | 80,000 | 95,000 | 4,000 |
| BSAK (British School) | 48,000 | 65,000 | 80,000 | 5,000 |
| American Community School | 52,000 | 70,000 | 85,000 | 3,000 |
| Al Bateen Academy | 45,000 | 62,000 | 75,000 | Incl. |
Saudi Arabia — Currency: SAR
| School Name | Year 1-6 | Year 7-9 | Year 10-11 | Annual Capital/Dev. Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Int. School Riyadh | 65,000 | 85,000 | 100,000 | 5,000 |
| British Int. School Riyadh | 60,000 | 78,000 | 95,000 | 4,000 |
| Jeddah Prep & Grammar | 45,000 | 68,000 | 85,000 | Incl. |
| American Int. School Jeddah | 55,000 | 72,000 | 90,000 | 4,000 |
| British Int. School Jeddah | 52,000 | 70,000 | 85,000 | 3,000 |
| King's College Riyadh | 62,000 | 80,000 | 98,000 | 5,000 |
| The KAUST School | 40,000 | 55,000 | 75,000 | Incl. |
Bahrain — Currency: BHD
| School Name | Year 1-6 | Year 7-9 | Year 10-11 | Annual Capital/Dev. Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Christopher's School | 4,800 | 6,600 | 8,500 | Incl. |
| British School of Bahrain | 4,400 | 6,300 | 7,500 | 300 |
| Bahrain Bayan School | 3,500 | 5,200 | 6,500 | 500 |
| Modern Knowledge School | 3,000 | 4,500 | 6,000 | 200 |
Oman — Currency: OMR
| School Name | Year 1-6 | Year 7-9 | Year 10-11 | Annual Capital/Dev. Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| British School Muscat | 4,800 | 6,500 | 8,500 | 500 |
| American British Academy | 5,200 | 7,200 | 9,000 | 1,000 |
| Muscat International School | 3,000 | 4,000 | 5,500 | 200 |
| TAISM (American) | 6,000 | 8,500 | 10,500 | 1,500 |
Singapore — Currency: SGD
| School Name | Year 1-6 | Year 7-9 | Year 10-11 | Annual Capital/Dev. Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian International | 42,000 | 50,000 | 55,000 | 3,500 |
| UWC South East Asia | 45,000 | 48,000 | 55,000 | 4,000 |
| Singapore American School | 45,000 | 48,000 | 55,000 | 7,000 |
| Tanglin Trust School | 38,000 | 45,000 | 55,000 | 3,000 |
| Dulwich College SG | 40,000 | 48,000 | 55,000 | 4,000 |
| Dover Court Int. School | 35,000 | 42,000 | 50,000 | 2,000 |
| GEMS World Academy SG | 36,000 | 43,000 | 52,000 | 3,000 |
Hong Kong — Currency: HKD
| School Name | Year 1-6 | Year 7-9 | Year 10-11 | Annual Capital/Dev. Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ESF (General) | 145,000 | 188,300 | 210,000 | 38,000 |
| HK International School | 115,800 | 122,250 | 150,000 | 20,000 |
| Kellett School | 180,000 | 230,000 | 260,000 | 120,000 |
| Harrow International | 170,000 | 215,000 | 250,000 | 100,000 |
| Nord Anglia HK | 160,000 | 190,000 | 220,000 | 50,000 |
| Canadian Int. School HK | 150,000 | 180,000 | 210,000 | 40,000 |
The fees shown are representative annual tuition for the 2026/27 academic year at premium international schools. They do not include uniforms, transport, extracurricular activities, examination fees or lunches — which can add 10–20% to the total. Use the calculator above to model your exact cost by selecting your destination, year group and number of children. If you are comparing job offers across jurisdictions, convert the total annual education cost to your home currency and add it to your budget calculator before deciding whether the salary uplift covers the real cost of living.