What curriculum does Handprint follow at City Walk?

The French national early years programme, delivered in French and English, with Arabic offered across all programmes.

What ages does Handprint take?

From 14 months to 6 years, grouped by age: 14-23 months, 2-3, 3-4, 4-5 and 5-6 years.

Monday to Friday from 7:30am. Choose a finish at 12:30pm, 2pm or 4pm, on a 3- or 5-day week depending on your child's age.

How much are the fees?

Fees aren't published on the website - ask the provider. Families who refer a friend who enrols get 5% off their next tuition fee.

Can I visit before enrolling?

Yes - book a tour through the website form, by phone on +971 4 256 0012 or on WhatsApp at +971 56 418 8699.

Villa 13, Street 71b, City Walk, Dubai. A second branch in Umm Suqeim 1 follows the British EYFS framework.

Handprint Early Childhood Center — photo

Handprint Early Childhood Center — bilingual nursery in City Walk

Early YearsPlaygroupAcademics

Checked Oct 2026Details checked October 2026

Al Satwa

Book online

Handprint Early Childhood Center is a private French-English bilingual nursery and preschool at Villa 13, Street 71b, City Walk, with Arabic offered across all programmes. Its curriculum follows the French national early years programme, delivered through a play-based, curiosity-led approach that also draws on thinkers such as Loris Malaguzzi. Children are grouped into "communities" by age, from 14 months up to 5-6 years, each led by early years staff the centre calls mediators. The centre is run by its founder and principal, Nathalie Salem Barsoumian. Daily life mixes indoor spaces such as a library, a sensory room and a role-play village with an outdoor forest, mud kitchen, sandpit, greenhouse and bike track. Music, soccer, yoga, art and cooking are part of the timetable, and the centre runs spring, summer and winter camps. Families pick a 3- or 5-day week and a finish time of 12:30pm, 2pm or 4pm. Handprint also has a second branch in Umm Suqeim 1 that follows the British EYFS framework.

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The activity

Playgroup, explained

An early years nursery gives babies, toddlers and preschoolers a structured but play-based start before big school. Days mix free play with adult-led activities: songs, stories, art, outdoor play, early language and number games. Children build speech, social confidence, independence and fine and gross motor skills, and learn to settle into a group routine away from home. In Dubai, nurseries follow different frameworks, most often the British Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) or the French maternelle programme, and many are bilingual. Some take babies from around one year old; the usual pre-school years run up to age five or six.

Who it's for

Babies and young children from 14 months to 6 years at the City Walk centre, in age communities: 14-23 months, 2-3 years, 3-4 years, 4-5 years and 5-6 years. Suits families wanting a French-English bilingual start with Arabic added. Ask the provider about support for children with additional needs.

What to expect

The first step is a tour: fill in the form on the website or message the centre and the team arranges a visit. Children are welcomed Monday to Friday from 7:30am, and you choose a short morning to 12:30pm, a full morning to 2pm or an extended day to 4pm, on a 3- or 5-day week depending on age. A typical day balances child-led and adult-initiated activities, with plenty of time outdoors. To enrol you'll need the immunisation record, 4 passport photos, the birth certificate, passport and visa copies for child and parents, and the signed terms and permissions pack. Ask the provider about settling-in and trial days.

Highlights

French national early years programme, taught in French and English, with Arabic across all programmes (handprintecc.com)
Age communities from 14 months to 6 years (handprintecc.com)
Short morning, full morning or extended day to 4pm, on a 3- or 5-day week (handprintecc.com)
Outdoor forest, mud kitchen, sandpit, greenhouse and bike track (handprintecc.com)
Music, soccer, yoga, art and cooking in the day, plus spring, summer and winter camps (handprintecc.com)
4.8 on Google from 26 reviews

The facts

Ages: 14 months to 6 years (handprintecc.com)
Not published yet: Ask about prices and trials
Schedule: Monday-Friday; short morning 7:30AM-12:30PM, full morning 7:30AM-2PM or extended day 7:30AM-4PM; 3- or 5-day week depending on age (handprintecc.com)
Languages: French, English, Arabic
Where: Villa 13, Street 71b, City Walk, Dubai
How to book: handprintecc.com/en/parent-contact · +971 56 418 8699 · +971 4 256 0012 · [email protected]
Opening hours: Mon–Fri7:30am–4pm
Sat–SunClosed

Guide · 8 min readRead: New to Dubai? How to find clubs and activities for your kids

Questions parents ask

Good to know

Wheelchair-accessible car park and entrance (Google listing)
Refer a friend who enrols and get 5% off your next tuition fee (handprintecc.com)
Second branch in Umm Suqeim 1 follows the British EYFS framework - a different centre (handprintecc.com)
Enrolment documents: immunisation record, 4 passport photos, birth certificate, child and parents' passport and visa copies (handprintecc.com)