Dubai private schools ranked sixth globally in reading and eighth in mathematics and science in the PISA 2025 assessment announced on September 8, 2026. A total of 9,600 students from 168 Dubai private schools participated. The results also placed Dubai ninth globally for computational problem solving, supporting the emirate’s Education 33 goal of building a world-class, future-ready education system.
- Location: Dubai, UAE
- Organisation: Dubai’s Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA)
- Results announced: September 8, 2026
- Students assessed: 9,600
- Private schools involved: 168
- Reading: 6th globally — 501 points
- Mathematics: 8th globally — 511 points
- Science: 8th globally — 522 points
- Computational problem solving: 9th globally — 534 points
- Strategy: Dubai Education 33
How did Dubai private schools perform in PISA 2025?
Dubai private schools ranked sixth globally for reading, eighth for mathematics and eighth for science in PISA 2025. The schools also ranked ninth globally for computational problem solving, a new assessment area introduced in the 2025 cycle.
The results were announced by the Dubai Media Office on September 8, with the figures covering 9,600 students from 168 private schools across the emirate.
PISA, short for the Programme for International Student Assessment, is an international study conducted every three years by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). It assesses how well 15-year-old students can apply knowledge and skills to real-world situations.
The latest results give Dubai a stronger position among international education systems and mark a significant improvement from the previous assessment.
Dubai’s private schools rank among the world’s top 10 education systems across all areas assessed by the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2025, strengthening the emirate’s position among the world’s leading education systems and achieving a key target set out… pic.twitter.com/31045gFtaK
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) September 8, 2026
How much did Dubai improve compared with PISA 2022?
Dubai private schools improved their global ranking in all three core PISA subjects compared with 2022.
The biggest improvement came in reading, where Dubai moved from 13th place in 2022 to sixth in 2025.
The change in rankings was:
- Reading: 13th ? 6th
- Mathematics: 9th ? 8th
- Science: 14th ? 8th
The Dubai Media Office said private schools have now recorded improvement across six consecutive PISA assessment cycles since they first participated in 2009.
Average scores have increased by 37 points in mathematics, 22 points in reading and 36 points in science over that period.
The improvement is therefore not limited to the latest three-year cycle. It reflects a longer upward trend in Dubai’s private education sector.
What did Dubai score in maths, science and reading?
Dubai private schools recorded 511 points in mathematics, 522 points in science and 501 points in reading in PISA 2025.
These scores placed Dubai among the top 10 participating education systems in each of the three core areas.
The assessment is designed to measure practical application rather than simply whether students can remember information.
In science, for example, PISA looks at how students apply scientific knowledge, evaluate evidence and use scientific reasoning to understand real-world challenges.
That makes the results relevant to Dubai’s wider focus on developing students with skills that can be applied beyond traditional classroom learning.
How did Dubai perform in computational problem solving?
Dubai private schools ranked ninth globally for computational problem solving, with an average score of 534 points.
Computational problem solving was introduced as a new PISA 2025 assessment domain. It examines students’ ability to use computational tools and practices to explore ideas, build knowledge and solve complex problems. Dubai’s score was 34 points above the OECD average, according to the Dubai Media Office.
The result is particularly relevant as schools increasingly prepare students for a job market shaped by artificial intelligence, automation and digital technologies.
It also fits with Dubai’s recent education initiatives that place greater emphasis on practical, personal and future skills.
In July 2026, KHDA launched its Skills for Life initiative to help learners develop practical, personal and social skills across different stages of education. The initiative forms part of the broader Education 33 approach.
Which curriculum performed best in Dubai?
Students enrolled in International Baccalaureate schools recorded the highest average performance among the curricula assessed in Dubai’s private-school sector.
Their average PISA scores were:
- Science: 557 points
- Mathematics: 542 points
- Reading: 538 points
These figures represent average performance by curriculum and do not mean that individual IB schools were ranked among the world’s top schools.
Dubai has a highly diverse private education sector, with schools offering different international curricula to serve its large expatriate and local population.
For parents, PISA is therefore one indicator of system-level performance rather than a replacement for individual school evaluations, including KHDA inspection ratings, curriculum suitability, fees, location and student support.
Did Emirati students also improve?
Yes. Emirati students recorded higher average scores across all three core PISA subjects compared with 2022.
Their mathematics score increased by 31 points, while science rose by 30 points and reading improved by 18 points.
This progress is relevant to Dubai’s Education 33 strategy, which specifically includes improving education opportunities and outcomes for Emirati students.
Education 33 was launched with the aim of placing learners at the centre of Dubai’s education system. The strategy includes 28 initiatives covering areas such as personalised learning, critical thinking, creativity, student wellbeing and lifelong learning.
Why does Dubai’s PISA result matter?
The PISA results give Dubai an internationally comparable measure of how its private-school students perform and support the emirate’s ambition to become one of the world’s leading education destinations.
For parents, the results offer a broader picture of the performance of Dubai’s private education system. Students benefit from an education environment increasingly focused on both academic achievement and future skills.
The results also support Dubai’s wider education and economic ambitions.
Education 33 targets several long-term outcomes, including positioning Dubai among the world’s top 10 cities for education, adding around 49,000 affordable school places by 2033, attracting more international education providers and increasing education tourism tenfold.
The Knowledge Fund Establishment’s 2026–2028 strategy also aligns its work with Education 33 and Dubai’s wider knowledge-economy ambitions.
What happens next for Dubai schools?
Dubai’s next step is to build on the PISA gains rather than treat the rankings as a final target.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said the results reflect the continued progress of Dubai’s education system and directed KHDA to continue strengthening educational outcomes and developing students’ capabilities.
The focus is expected to remain on academic quality, future skills, student wellbeing and preparing learners for further education and employment.
For Dubai families, the PISA results provide another sign of the direction of the emirate’s education system: stronger international performance combined with a growing focus on practical and future-ready skills.
FAQs
What is Dubai’s ranking in PISA 2025?
Dubai private schools ranked sixth globally in reading, eighth in mathematics and eighth in science in PISA 2025.
How many Dubai schools participated in PISA 2025?
A total of 168 private schools participated, involving 9,600 students from Dubai.
What is Dubai’s PISA 2025 mathematics score?
Dubai private schools recorded an average mathematics score of 511 points, placing them eighth globally.
What is Dubai’s score for computational problem solving?
Dubai scored 534 points and ranked ninth globally in computational problem solving. The score was 34 points above the OECD average.
Did Dubai improve from PISA 2022?
Yes. Dubai moved from 13th to sixth in reading, ninth to eighth in mathematics and 14th to eighth in science between PISA 2022 and PISA 2025.
What is Education 33?
Education 33 is Dubai’s long-term education strategy focused on creating a learner-centred system, improving education quality and preparing students with the knowledge and skills needed for the future.
Dubai private schools have made a notable jump in the latest PISA assessment, entering the global top 10 in maths, science, reading and computational problem solving. The strongest movement came in reading and science, while Emirati students also recorded gains across all three core subjects.
The results strengthen Dubai’s international education credentials while setting a higher benchmark for the years ahead.
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