Eight new schools are to open in Dubai by 2020, the emirate's education regulator has announced.

The Knowledge and Human Development Authority said the move would create 13,000 additional places for pupils.

Under the plans, five new schools will open in the 2019-20 academic year with a further three ready by the beginning of the September 2020 year.

The new schools are intended to benefit a wide catchment area and will be built in Al Twar, Al Qusais, Jumeirah Village Triangle, Al Quoz and Jebel Ali.

“The opening of eight new schools by 2020 will further strengthen Dubai’s private education sector and add to the wide variety of education offerings available to parents,” said Mohammed Darwish of KHDA.

“Every new school adds to the variety on offer in Dubai and it empowers parents with choice.

“Dubai has seen a steady increase in the number of schools offering good or better quality education, with an increase from 38 in schools in 2008 to 119 this year.”

Last year, 13 new schools opened in Dubai, six of which follow the UK curriculum with the remainder following American and Indian curriculums or the International Baccalaureate system.

Over the last three years, a total of 41 new schools have opened in the emirate, leading to an increasingly competitive education sector.