Cairo is the largest city in the Arab world and a long established base for diplomatic and corporate families, with a broad field of international schools spread between the historic centre and the newer satellite cities. For a relocating family the school decision comes first, because the best known schools in Cairo hold limited places and the choice between the older districts and the new suburbs shapes a long daily commute.
The school landscape in Cairo
International provision in Cairo is broad and well established, so most families weigh several strong options. Cairo American College offers an American curriculum and the International Baccalaureate. British International School Cairo and New Cairo British International School follow a British curriculum. Alongside these sit French, German and other international schools, a large field of private language schools that teach partly in English or French, and Egyptian national schools.
How to move to Cairo with children, step by step
Relocating with school aged children rewards early planning. These five steps mirror how the GlobalSchoolGuide relocation desk sequences a family move, so nothing critical slips through the gaps between the offer, the housing search and the first day of term.
- Set your relocation timeline. Fix your move date against the start of the school year in Cairo and work backwards, allowing several months for shortlisting and applications.
- Shortlist and apply to schools. Match two or three schools in Cairo to your child's age, curriculum and budget, then apply early because the leading schools have limited capacity.
- Confirm fees and admissions. Request the current fee schedule and admissions requirements directly from each school, since published figures are reset every academic year.
- Choose a neighbourhood near school. Pick housing within a reasonable commute of your shortlisted school, since Cairo is spread out and school location shapes daily life.
- Settle the practical set up. Arrange visas, banking, health cover and the physical move, and time everything to the school calendar so your child starts with the year group.
Fees and budgeting
Fee paying international schooling in Cairo sits in the mid to upper range for the region, reflecting class sizes, facilities and specialist teaching, with the fully international schools costing more than the private language schools. Fees vary by school, year group and campus, and many schools add registration or enrolment charges on top of tuition, so treat any single figure with caution. Because schools reset their schedules each academic year, request the current fee list directly from each school. Egyptian national schools carry lower fees and follow the local curriculum.
Free Cairo family relocation checklist
Work through our step by step checklist covering the admissions timeline, documents, housing and the first month settling in. Browse the full library on our guides hub, or start with the Cairo city guide for school listings.
Neighbourhoods and housing
International families most often settle in Maadi, a leafy district long favoured by expatriates, in Zamalek on the Nile island, and increasingly in the newer satellite cities of New Cairo, Sheikh Zayed and 6th of October, where many schools have built modern campuses. Because Cairo is vast and traffic can be heavy, choosing a home within a sensible commute of your chosen school matters more here than the address itself, and many families move out to the new cities specifically to be near school.
Language and settling in
Arabic is the language of the city and of daily life outside the international schools, which teach in English or French. Many schools also teach Arabic, and children usually pick up some quickly. Building the family routine around the school day from the outset makes the settling in period smoother.
Curriculum continuity
Curriculum continuity is usually the decision that matters most. Cairo offers strong American, British and International Baccalaureate provision, so a child part way through any of these will usually find a smooth transition. The closer a child is to a leaving examination, the more weight you should give to keeping the same curriculum. Our British curriculum hub and IB curriculum hub are useful references.
Fees by stage
To ground your budgeting, compare typical fee bands by school stage rather than relying on a single headline number. Our stage guides set out what families pay at each level and how charges build across the years. See the Cairo primary school fees guide and the Cairo secondary school fees guide, and always confirm the current figures with each school directly.
Visas, healthcare and admin
Practically, confirm your visa and residency status early, since your category shapes both your access to services and your children's school registration in Cairo. Arrange health cover for the settling in period before your status and registration are complete, and set up local banking soon after arrival, since school fees, deposits and daily life all run more smoothly once a domestic account is open. Sequencing status, housing and the school offer carefully makes the first month far less stressful than handling everything at once.
The admissions timeline
The leading schools in Cairo accept applications ahead of the school year, and because capacity is limited, individual year groups can fill well before any published deadline. Most international schools work towards a late August or September start, so confirm the calendar for each school on your shortlist. Applying early is the single most effective way to protect your first choice, and where a year group is full it is worth joining the waiting list while keeping a realistic second option open.
Your first weeks: what to prioritise
In your first weeks in Cairo, confirm the school place and start date in writing, then settle the essentials that everything else depends on: residency status, a local bank account, health cover and a domestic mobile and internet plan. With those handled, the wider routines of family life fall into place quickly. Many families also register early for after school activities and clubs, which help children build friendships and settle into the rhythm of the school year.
Frequently asked questions
Does Cairo have English speaking schools?
Yes. Cairo has several established English medium international schools, including Cairo American College, British International School Cairo and New Cairo British International School, alongside French and German options.
Are international schools in Cairo expensive?
Fee paying international schooling in Cairo sits in the mid to upper range for the region, with the fully international schools costing more than the private language schools. Fees vary by school and year group and are reset annually, so request the current schedule directly from each school.
Where do international families tend to live?
Maadi and Zamalek in the older city, and the newer satellite cities of New Cairo, Sheikh Zayed and 6th of October, are the areas international families most often choose.
Can expat children attend local schools?
Egyptian national schools follow the local curriculum and carry lower fees. There is also a large field of private language schools teaching partly in English or French, while most expat families keep an international curriculum.
When should we apply?
Apply well ahead of the school year and earlier for competitive year groups, because the leading schools in Cairo have limited capacity and popular years fill first.
Plan your move
Use these free tools and guides to turn this overview into a shortlist and a working plan for your family's move to Cairo.