Dubai attracts more and more French-speaking families: sunshine, safety, light taxation and a huge private school offering. The key to a smooth landing: quickly understanding how schools and health insurance work.
Currency
Dirham (AED)
Languages
Arabic (English covers daily life)
Time vs Paris
2 to 3h ahead
Emergencies
998 (ambulance), 999 (police)
FIAFE network
The Accueil for French-speaking families
In each city, a volunteer-run association from the FIAFE network welcomes, informs and helps French-speaking families settling in.
French Social Club, Accueil à Dubaï
Since 2016
The French Social Club is the FIAFE Accueil in Dubai: it welcomes French-speaking families with newcomer coffee mornings, cultural outings and a precious support network for the first months in the Emirates.
Where to meet them
Drop-in session on Monday mornings at the Alliance française in Dubai (Oud Metha), outside French school holidays.
Two large national networks also support the French abroad, each with its local chapter.
UFE
UFE Dubaï (French Community Club)
The Dubai UFE chapter operates through the French Community Club, created in 2017 to comply with local law: social events, a mutual-aid network and a link with France for expats in the Emirates.
The local Français du monde - ADFE section supports French residents of Dubai and the Northern Emirates with their paperwork and represents their interests with the consular authorities.
The local French chamber of commerce (CCI France International network) is a real asset for work: networking, job offers and help to restart a career or start a business locally.
CCI France International
CCI France UAE
The largest French business community in the Middle East, with over 800 members: a real network to meet people, find a job through the jobboard, attend networking events and get a partner's career going in Dubai.
To follow local life in French: news, what's on, good addresses and, often, a directory of French-speaking professionals.
Dubai Madame
MediaIn French
The French-language media for expats in the UAE since 2007: settling in, living, visiting and working in Dubai, with practical guides (banking, renting, Ramadan), family outings and a weekly newsletter.
The DoctoList: more than 350 French-speaking health professionals in Dubai, sorted by specialty (paediatricians, gynaecologists, dentists, psychologists, speech therapists, midwives…), checked before publication and updated regularly. The consulate refers to it for French-speaking doctors.
The Dubai edition of the online daily for French expatriates: UAE news, community, housing, education, health, events listings and classifieds, published on weekdays.
The expat directory: useful addresses (consulate, schools, health) and French-speaking professionals, alongside the site's Health and Education sections.
Before you even land in Dubai, Facebook groups are the best shortcut: ask your questions, find a flat, a nanny, a second-hand stroller, and often your first friends.
Very active Public In English
DUBAI EXPATS
178,800 members · ≈ 107 posts/week
Dubai stands out as the true city of expats. This group is a guide to living and working in 🇦🇪 UAE
Français à Dubai (entraide, bons plans, partage, adresses...)
80,100 members · ≈ 190 posts/week
Ce groupe est dédié à l'entraide, au partage d'informations et aux bons plans pour les personnes vivant à Dubaï ou envisageant de s'y installer.
C'est...
Posting Guidelines:
Welcome to Dubai Expats!
What we are? We are a social community for discussing Dubai and all the ins and outs therein! We are a group...
Francophone vivant a Dubai , vous cherchez des bons plans etc....
Bienvenu sur le groupe Frenchy de Dubai
Un groupe créé dans le but d’entraider les...
Les Français à Dubai Expat, Activités, Entreprise, Location, Immo, Séjours
69,900 members · ≈ 39 posts/week
Les Français à Dubai c'est le 1er groupe facebook pour les francophones, un site web et bientôt une application mobile, visant à offrir aux français des...
You must join this group when you know that your searching for a job or searching for a maid or nanny, any other bad things won't be all in the group. Thanks 🙏 Adim
Les Nouveaux Aventuriers - Dubai (French Connection)
55,500 members · ≈ 88 posts/week
Ce groupe est en français, mais l’anglais y est toléré.
Aidons-nous à découvrir Dubai, à nous installer, à chercher du travail ou à nous rencontrer et...
Welcome to Dubai Mums! ��
A supportive community for mums in Dubai to connect, share advice, and help each other navigate life and parenting in the city.
Here you can:
� Ask about schools, nurseries & pediatricians
� Find playdates & kid-friendly events
� Buy/sell/swap baby & kids' items
� Get advice, support & make new mum friends
Posting Guidelines:
� Nanny recommendations & searches — free to post
� Business advertising/promotions — paid feature, message admins to arrange
� No spam or unapproved ads
Be kind, be supportive — let's build our Dubai mum village together! �
British || American || European || Expats In Dubai
43,600 members · ≈ 4 posts/week
Welcome to the premier Facebook group for English-speaking expats living in the United Arab Emirates! This is a community of international residents who have made the UAE their home, providing a space to connect, share experiences, and support one another.
Whether you're a long-time expat or newly arrived in the country, this group offers a wealth of information, advice, and camaraderie. Discuss topics ranging from navigating the UAE's unique culture and customs, to finding the best neighborhoods and housing options, to discovering the vibrant food, entertainment, and leisure activities across the Emirates.
Connect with like-minded expats, get recommendations from the community, and stay up-to-date on the latest news and updates relevant to life in the UAE. This is your one-stop-shop for all things expat in the UAE - join today and be part of this welcoming, multilingual community!
Compiled from Facebook's public search, links checked in July 2026. Group sizes change all the time.
AEFE network
Accredited French schools
Schools accredited by the French Ministry of Education follow the French curriculum: your child can continue their schooling seamlessly, abroad and back in France.
Source: official AEFE directory, verified June 2026. aefe.gouv.fr
Tutoring and private lessons
To support your children's schooling across two systems, two solutions designed for expat families.
Axiom Academic
Private lessons and tutoring for expat families: French curriculum, IB and British curriculum, at home or online, with teachers who know the schools in your city.
All schooling is private here. The francophone network is solid, notably the Lycée Français International Georges Pompidou, and the international offering is among the widest in the world.
Good to know
Every private school is rated by the local regulator (KHDA): reports are public and useful for comparing.
Fees vary enormously between schools: set a range before you start visiting.
Apply early in the year for September; some francophone schools have waiting lists.
The weekend is Saturday-Sunday and the school week starts on Monday, as in France.
French-speaking community
The French community in Dubai is growing fast and organises by neighbourhood: Marina, JLT, Jumeirah, Mirdif... each has its groups, cafés and tips.
Good to know
The Facebook groups of French residents in Dubai are among the most active in the expat world.
The French Social Club, the city's FIAFE Accueil, runs meetups, workshops and events for newcomers.
The Alliance française offers a library and cultural activities in French for children.
Neighbourhood choice changes everything: test the school-home-work commute before signing a lease.
A place has closed, something has changed?
The arrival reflex
The apps to download when you land
Drop your bags, download these and you're set: the apps everyone in Dubai uses to get around, get things delivered and organise daily life.
Getting around
Careem
Dubai's everyday super-app: ride-hailing, Hala taxis, food delivery and express groceries; most expats end up using it daily.
What mums ask when they arrive in Dubai, in short, sourced answers.
French or international school: where do we start?
In Dubai, all schooling is private and fee-paying. The French network has several schools, including Lycée Georges-Pompidou, Lycée de l'AFLEC, Lycée Jean-Mermoz, the Lycée libanais francophone in Meydan, ICE and Le Petit Poucet nursery; places go early, so start in January for September. Our Schools and School fees pages detail the options: /en/cities/dubai/school-fees/.
Source ↗French school is expensive: is there any financial help?
Yes, French families can apply to the consulate for a means-tested school grant for a child enrolled in an AEFE network school. Applications open twice a year and are filed with the consulate. Also try to negotiate school fees into your employment contract.
Yes, it is compulsory: in Dubai, employers insure their employees, and sponsors must insure the people they sponsor, children included. Without insurance, the visa is neither issued nor renewed. Check the clinic network, co-payment and maternity cover before signing: it is all explained on our Health page, /en/cities/dubai/health/.
Source ↗How do I find a French-speaking paediatrician?
The consulate publishes its consultant doctors, including a paediatrician, and points to Dubai Madame's DoctoList, which lists hundreds of French-speaking health professionals by specialty. Choose within your insurance network; we list a selection on our Health page: /en/cities/dubai/health/.
Source ↗Which number do I call if my child is ill at night?
998 for an ambulance, 999 for the police. For something less serious, go straight to the emergency department of a hospital in your network: Al Jalila, the public children's hospital in Al Jaddaf, sees children from birth to 18, 24/7, and several private hospitals have children's emergency services. Keep the child's Emirates ID and insurance card with you.
Source ↗Which neighbourhood should we choose with children?
There is no French quarter: choose the school first, then a home on its bus route or within twenty minutes. Umm Suqeim and Jumeirah, Al Barsha, Oud Metha, Mirdif, Arabian Ranches, Dubai Hills and The Springs are popular with families. Our Settling-in page covers each one: /en/cities/dubai/settling-in/.
Push the residence visas and Emirates IDs forward with the sponsor, register the family with the consulate online, check everyone's health insurance, then register the lease on Ejari to connect water and electricity. The bank account and mobile line follow once the Emirates ID is ready.
Before residency, you can rent a car on your French licence. Once resident, you must exchange it for a Dubai licence: French licence holders can do so without a test, after a simple eye test. A car seat is compulsory for children under 4.
Source ↗Nanny or nursery: how do we arrange childcare?
Many families employ a live-in nanny: this is governed by federal law, the person must be sponsored and insured by the employer, and licensed Tadbeer centres handle recruitment and paperwork. Private nurseries take babies from a few months old, including the French-speaking Le Petit Poucet from age 3.
Source ↗My children speak neither English nor Arabic: is that a problem?
No: English covers daily life and the French network lets children continue school in French. English comes fast at school and in activities; to keep French strong, the Alliance française offers classes for French-speaking children, camps and the city's largest French library. See our Outings page: /en/cities/dubai/family-outings/.
Source ↗Is Dubai really that expensive for a family?
There is no income tax, but three items weigh heavily: rent, often paid a year in advance, private school and dependants' health insurance. Fuel, taxis and home help, on the other hand, cost much less than in France. Our Settling-in page details the budget: /en/cities/dubai/settling-in/.
Source ↗Where can I meet other French-speaking mums?
The French Social Club, Dubai's FIAFE Accueil, runs welcome coffee mornings, outings and meetups for newcomers. Schools, the Alliance française and neighbourhood groups complete the network, and lepetitjournal.com Dubai and Dubai Madame share the community calendar.
The MumExpat assistantSchools, health, paperwork, outings, city by city
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