Dubai is preparing to welcome a school built on over five centuries of British academic heritage, as SPGS International School Dubai prepares to open in the city renowned for its global ambition.
This marks the first time the United Kingdom’s highest-ranked school will establish a campus in the Middle East. St Paul’s Girls’ School—ranked first by The Sunday Times for twelve of the last thirteen years—has partnered with Dubai-based education provider Meraki Education to create a co-educational institution rooted in academic excellence.
More than 50% of students at SPGS go on to Oxford, Cambridge or Ivy League universities annually. The Dubai campus aims to uphold this legacy, creating new pathways for students to access top-tier global higher education.
Bernard J. West, Managing Director of Meraki Education, commented: “To bring the tremendous St Paul’s legacy to Dubai is to establish a lasting foundation for excellence. A school of this calibre does not simply serve a community; it defines it. Its presence enhances every aspect of its surroundings, intellectually, socially, and culturally. Together, we are creating a destination for learning and a landmark for Dubai.”
Sara Brazendale, Managing Director of SPGS International, added: “The founding of SPGS International School Dubai represents more than the creation of a school; it marks the establishment of an enduring institution. This new campus will help shape the future of Dubai by nurturing a generation of scholars, innovators, and leaders who reflect the city’s ambition and spirit. We chose to work with Meraki because their team possesses both a comprehensive understanding of education and an exceptional appreciation of the St Paul’s ethos.”
A Legacy of Leadership and Progress
Long before women were admitted to universities, SPGS was already redefining leadership through education. It was among the first schools to unite moral purpose with academic rigour, the first to place the education of women on equal footing with that of men, and the first to show that creativity and intellect can coexist at the highest level.
Cemented as the UK’s leading institution, the school will take form in Dubai in a purpose-built campus conceived as both a centre of learning and a focal point for community life. It will welcome boys and girls from the Early Years to the Sixth Form, delivering a rigorous British curriculum supported by exceptional facilities for science, the arts, sport, design, sustainability, and wellbeing.
The creation of SPGS International School Dubai follows a close collaboration between St Paul’s and Meraki Education, whose team has founded and operated several of the region’s leading international schools.
About St Paul’s
The St Paul’s heritage encompasses two of the United Kingdom’s leading independent schools, both governed by the Worshipful Company of Mercers, London’s oldest livery company. St Paul’s School (established in 1509) and St Paul’s Girls’ School (established in 1904) share a deep commitment to scholarly achievement and moral integrity. St Paul’s Girls’ School has been ranked the top academic school in the United Kingdom for twelve of the past thirteen years.
About Meraki Education
Meraki Education is a Dubai-based education group with a global portfolio of premium international schools. As the operator of North London Collegiate School Dubai, North London Collegiate School Singapore and Hartland International School, Meraki brings proven expertise in governance, operations and long-term educational excellence to every partnership.
