RASHID & LATIFA SCHOOLS

About Us

FROM DUBAI TO THE WORLD

About Our School

Honouring a Visionary Foundation

Rashid and Latifa Schools (RLS) traces its origins to the 1980s, when the late His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum established Latifa School for Girls and Rashid School for Boys with a bold vision and that is to cultivate academic excellence and holistic student development in service of the nation’s future.

Over the decades, both schools became renowned for their commitment to educational distinction, shaping generations of leaders across government, business and public life, including His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum and His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed Al Maktoum. Recently, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum initiated a transformative new chapter by unifying the two institutions under one shared identity.

This visionary move modernised the schools’ educational model to meet the evolving needs of 21st-century learners, while preserving the values, excellence and national pride that defined their legacy.

Today, RLS stands as a unified, future-focused learning community; rooted in heritage, guided by leadership and committed to shaping minds with purpose.

Our Purpose

Leading Possibility

To nurture futurists and visionaries who contribute globally as courageous and empathetic leaders, igniting a mindset of possibility.

Our Values

Kindness | Curiosity | Perseverance | Bravery | Wisdom

Our values are the compass that guides every learner’s journey. We lead with kindness, nurturing a culture of empathy and respect that binds our community together. Through curiosity, we spark creativity and inspire bold ideas that shape the future.

Our students embody perseverance, embracing challenges with resilience and a commitment to excellence. With bravery, they step into the unknown, unafraid to question, explore and lead. And through wisdom, they learn to act with integrity, insight and purpose; honouring tradition while shaping a world of possibility.

Our Principles

The 5 core Principles that drive us

Culture

Wellness

Play

Innovation

Community

Culture

Passionate & Proud Leaders

We celebrate everything that makes the UAE unique, and our students do too!

From a deep love of the Arabic language to a real appreciation for art, music and traditions, RLS learners grow up proud of who they are and where they come from. With strong roots in heritage and Islamic values, they carry their identity with confidence and joy. We encourage them to honour the past, shine in the present and dream big for the future, becoming resilient, passionate leaders who are ready to make a difference in their communities and beyond.

Wellness

Kind, Healthy & Empathetic Leaders

We believe true leadership begins with wellness. We support our students to flourish and become kind, empathetic individuals who are emotionally, socially and physically prepared to navigate life with confidence. Through a strong focus on emotional intelligence and self-awareness, they learn to form meaningful relationships, respond to challenges with resilience and lead with compassion.

Wellness at RLS also includes promoting active lifestyles and teaching essential life skills such as self-regulation and financial responsibility. Our holistic approach empowers students to care for themselves and others, cultivating a generation of thoughtful, balanced and socially conscious leaders who have a deep understanding of the reciprocal relationship they have with the world around them.

Play

Curious & Courageous Leaders

Learning is an adventure and play leads the way! We believe that curiosity, imagination and joyful exploration spark deep learning and inquiry. Whether building, creating, role-playing or problem-solving, our students are encouraged to take risks, ask big questions and dive into challenges with confidence and curiosity.

The RLS Playful Learning Continuum keeps play alive across every stage of the curriculum, making sure wonder, discovery and creativity are part of each day. By embracing play, our students grow into brave, independent thinkers who love learning, working together and aren’t afraid to take risks.

Innovation

Inventive, Enterprising & Creative Leaders

We inspire students to dream boldly and turn ideas into action. Our learners are inventive and enterprising, eager to explore new possibilities, solve real-world problems and make a positive impact. Through creative thinking, collaboration and calculated risk-taking, they learn to navigate change with confidence and purpose.

The school nurtures young innovators who are socially aware, digitally fluent and driven to lead with imagination and integrity. RLS graduates are forward-thinkers, ready to shape the future with curiosity, courage and a strong sense of responsibility.

Community

Ethically Informed & Responsible Global Leaders

We nurture students to become ethically informed and civic minded individuals who understand right from wrong and act with integrity, guided by strong values rooted in Emirati culture and Islamic principles. As responsible global leaders, they are aware of the world around them and the UAE’s reciprocal role within it. They use their voices to bring about positive change, showing kindness, fairness and respect in everything they do.

Our students understand the impact of their choices on their local and global communities, and they work together to promote peace, unity and sustainability. With a deep appreciation for different cultures and a strong sense of responsibility, RLS graduates lead by example, helping to build a better, more inclusive future for all.

Our School CEO

Turning Dubai’s Vision into Educational Impact

Dr. Rabaa Al Sumaiti

CEO, Rashid and Latifa Schools Establishment

Dr. Rabaa Al Sumaiti is an Emirati education leader whose career spans over two decades of shaping national education policy, elevating school systems and contributing to the management of school operations across the UAE. She holds a Doctor of Education (EdD) in International Management of Education from the British University in Dubai, in collaboration with the University of Birmingham, UK; a Master of Education (MEd) in Special Education from the University of Bristol, UK; and a Bachelor of Science in Education from Zayed University, UAE.

Her efforts have been instrumental across the UAE’s most influential education entities; including the Ministry of Education, Emirates Schools Establishment (ESE), the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), Zayed University and the Dubai Autism Centre.

Throughout her career, Dr. Rabaa has worked at the forefront of designing national education strategies, leading large-scale educational transformational projects and contributing to launching new education institutions. She has overseen the operational rollout of school systems, aligned school quality frameworks with global benchmarks and contributed to advancing the UAE National Agenda for education.

Her foundational experiences as a faculty member at Zayed University and early intervention therapist at the Dubai Autism Centre shaped her deep-rooted commitment to inclusion and child development. She supported students with special needs, trained future educators, contributed to academic accreditation processes and directly supported families through early intervention therapies.

Dr. Rabaa also represented the UAE on leading international education platforms. She serves as the UAE’s official delegate to both the OECD PISA Governing Board and the IEA General Assembly and has shared her expertise at global forums including Qudwa, Expo 2020, BELMAS International Conference and the Gulf Research Meeting. She also served as a Board Member of the Queen Rania Teacher Academy and was a member of the UAE National Council for the Arabic Language.

Committed to continuous growth and learning, Dr. Rabaa is a graduate of the UAE Government Leaders Program, the Young Leaders Program, in addition to executive education programmes at the Harvard Kennedy School and University of Chicago. Her published research spans themes of national identity, parental involvement, school inspection frameworks and the global leadership potential of Emirati students.

Our School Principals

Inspiring Every Learner

Our school will foster deep engagement by inspiring and empowering our young people to see themselves as 
future leaders; leaders who will inspire and uplift others.

Claire Crew

Founding Principal
Rashid and Latifa School - Girls

BSc (Hons) Human Biosciences, PGCE,
MA (Educational Leadership), NPQH

Claire Crew brings nearly two decades of experience in the UK and UAE, leading high-performing British curriculum schools through digital transformation, STEAM integration, curriculum design, and data-driven improvement. At RLS, she is creating a digitally enriched, wellbeing-centered environment that advances academic excellence and empowers girls to thrive as confident, future-ready leaders.

Read Claire’s Full Profile

Jodie Drew

Founding Principal
Rashid and Latifa School - Boys

BSc (Hons), PGCE, MA Education, NPQH

Jodie Drew brings nearly two decades of experience in the UK and UAE, leading British curriculum schools through innovation, curriculum reform, and whole-school improvement. Holding a BSc (Hons), PGCE, Master’s in Education, the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH), a Level 7 Coaching Award (ILM), and Level 3 Inspector Training, she is dedicated to creating a rigorous, wellbeing-focused learning environment that fosters academic excellence, creativity, and leadership; preparing boys to thrive as confident, future-ready leaders.

Read Jodie’s Full Profile

Our Learning Spaces

Designed to reflect our purpose and values

Our purpose-built campus is currently under
development and will open soon

Every space is intentionally designed to nurture student wellbeing, support learning at every stage, and inspire academic excellence through environments that are purposeful, dynamic, and deeply connected to our values.

RLS operates two distinct sites; one for girls and one for boys, each thoughtfully designed to offer a tailored learning experience, while maintaining a unified culture rooted in excellence, respect, and shared values.

ِArabic and Islamic
Education Excellence

Our dedicated Arabic and Islamic Studies building is a purpose-built hub that reflects Dubai’s heritage and values. Designed with Mashrabiya-inspired architecture that blends tradition and sustainability, the space includes a bespoke Islamic Studies Centre, purpose-built mosque, prayer rooms and a welcoming majlis. Together, these elements foster a serene and inspiring environment that nurtures spiritual growth, cultural pride and academic excellence.

Specialised and Integrated
Learning Spaces

Purpose-built buildings and dedicated spaces are thoughtfully designed to serve each stage of learning; fostering focus, creativity and collaboration. These include a 300-seat auditorium and specialised facilities for sports, arts and performance. Students benefit from a wide range of environments that support both academic and personal growth. These include competitive sports areas, dedicated spaces for Quran, Arabic language, debate, AI labs, game design and eSports zones. Every space is crafted to ignite curiosity, build confidence and nurture the skills needed for purposeful leadership.

Outdoor spaces are equally intentional, featuring an adventure trail, a serene Japanese garden and natural play zones that encourage exploration and connection with the natural world. Performance areas and water features are thoughtfully integrated to inspire creativity, support wellbeing and cultivate a strong bond with nature across all age groups.

Images of the Temporary School Building

Our Community

Purposeful and values-driven

Our students and graduates become part of a purposeful and values-driven community. We seek students who reflect the spirit of Dubai: curious, ambitious, grounded in identity, and eager to contribute.

Our community is built on strong partnerships; with parents as essential collaborators in shaping each child’s journey. Together, we nurture character, wellbeing, and purpose through open dialogue and shared responsibility.

Beyond the classroom, students benefit from a growing network of like-minded peers and mentors, with opportunities to connect to RLS alumni, engage in community initiatives, and participate in enrichment programmes that foster long-term growth, belonging, and leadership.

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