Dubai private schools place in the world’s top 10 in every PISA 2025 domain
By Catherine Smith GST 2 min read
Dubai’s private schools ranked among the world’s top 10 education systems in every area tested in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2025, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) announced on 8 September 2026. KHDA said the result achieves a key target set out in the Dubai Education 33 Strategy.
According to KHDA, Dubai’s private schools placed sixth in the world in reading, eighth in mathematics, eighth in science and ninth in computational problem solving, a domain added for the 2025 cycle.
Scores and rankings
| Domain | 2025 average score | 2025 global rank | 2022 global rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | 501 | 6th | 13th |
| Mathematics | 511 | 8th | 9th |
| Science | 522 | 8th | 14th |
| Computational problem solving | 534 | 9th | New in 2025 |
The computational problem solving score was 34 points above the OECD average. KHDA said the domain assesses students’ ability to use computational tools and practices to explore ideas, build knowledge and solve complex problems.
A longer run of gains
Dubai’s private schools have taken part in PISA since 2009, across six consecutive assessment cycles. Over that period, KHDA said, average scores have risen by 37 points in mathematics, 22 points in reading and 36 points in science.
KHDA said Emirati students improved in every domain compared with 2022, by an average of 31 points in mathematics, 30 points in science and 18 points in reading. Among the curricula offered, students at International Baccalaureate (IB) schools recorded the highest average performance: 557 points in science, 542 in mathematics and 538 in reading.
His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, said:
“Our goal remains clear and unwavering. Every student in Dubai should receive a high-quality education that opens up broader opportunities for the future and equips them with the knowledge, skills and confidence to play an active role in shaping it.”
The national picture
A UAE-wide report carried by WAM on the same day said the UAE ranked first among the Arab countries taking part in PISA 2025 in science, mathematics and reading. UAE students improved by 26 points in science to 458, by 21 points in mathematics to 453 and by 15 points in reading to 433. The UAE was one of eight of 91 participating countries and economies to improve in all three areas.
About the assessment
PISA is run every three years by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and tests 15-year-olds on how well they apply mathematics, science and reading skills in real-world contexts. KHDA said the 2025 results also show Dubai students’ ability to apply scientific knowledge, evaluate evidence and use scientific reasoning to address real-world challenges.
A total of 9,600 students from 168 Dubai private schools sat the 2025 assessment, part of more than 760,000 students from over 90 countries and economies worldwide.
The UAE-wide results also looked at technology in the classroom: 81.7% of UAE students said they learned to evaluate AI-generated information in class, against an OECD average of 62.6%.
