Spain or Dubai with children

[Mumof3andworkingFT]

I have the opportunity to move to either Spain or Dubai with work for 3 years (at which point we will probably come back to the UK for secondary education). My eldest is 8 and is academic, and is at a top prep school in London. I am not too worried for my younger two as they will be in reception.
Really interested to hear from people with experience from either Spain and The UAE with young kids and especially the standard of private education there, how it compares to good private education in the UK (I am wondering whether my eldest will seamlessly transition for secondary in the UK in 3 years time should we decide to return).
Thank you in advance.

Dubai - a large number of excellent British curriculum schools. Check out inspection reports on KHDA website and do your school search on sites like whichschooladvisor.com. It's a big city though so you need to live within reasonable travelling distance or you'll find your kids going to a school 15-20 miles away.

@losingit31 thank you. How do you guys survive the heat for 5 months in the summer? Do you stay indoors or travel for the summer to a cooler place?
Also, do you mind me asking what are the school hours for Year 4 /Year 5 please (8-9 years old)? Do you do camps during all the half terms / Xmas and Easter for the children? Aree there nurseries which are open all year vs just term time?

I don't have children here but used to teach. Hours are around 7.30 to 2.45, with after school clubs and wrap around care now that covid restrictions have been lifted. I don't know about nurseries and day care settings but most working families have a nanny, either live in or out, because salaries for helpers are affordable (2500 aed/month). I work full time so summer is usually spent here, but the whole country is geared around the climate so you get used to living like this. Right now it's beautiful although it's actually showery today!

If you're targeting the top academic layer of London day schools/ super selective grammars/boarding schools I'd be prepared to do a fair bit of additional work/ tutoring to prepare for the assessments in Year 6. International schools in Dubai are good but they are just not focused on getting students into those sort of schools for secondary in the way that London preps are.

Spain has lots of international schools and the lifestyle is much freer for children (and adults !) Than Dubai.
Spain also has lots of culture, fiestas etc. Dubai is a fakery world. Not my cup of tea. Too hot to go out for a walk in summer months.

Go for Spain

There is lots to like about Dubai, but if you want a gentler pace of life, less traffic, more greenery and water, try Abu Dhabi instead.