Dubai Dhaham Pasala – ඩුබායි දහම් පාසල

Dubai Dhaham Pasala is a volunteer-run Buddhist Dhamma school for Sri Lankan children living in the UAE. Since 2001 it has taught Sinhala, Sri Lankan heritage and Buddhism in weekly classes, from its own building beside the Sri Lanka Consulate General in Al Hudaiba, Dubai.

What the school teaches

According to its mission statement, the school teaches Sri Lankan children in Dubai and the Northern Emirates:

• Sinhala: speaking, reading and writing
• Sinhala heritage, ethics and traditions
• Buddhism and its practice, including mindfulness, wisdom and compassion
• self-esteem and social skills based on the Buddhist way of life

Alongside lessons it holds events such as Vesak, the Sinhala New Year, Independence Day and its own anniversary, as well as children’s art competitions. The school is registered with Sri Lanka’s Department of Buddhist Affairs.

History and classes

Classes began on 20 April 2001 inside the consulate, with 120 children in 4 classes and 8 volunteer teachers. The foundation stone of the school’s own hall beside the consulate was laid on 7 February 2003. The school says it now has about 600 active students and 30 volunteer teachers. Classes meet every Friday for about 4 hours, in a morning and an afternoon session.

Admissions

Applications for the 2026–2027 year closed on 31 August 2026. The rules published for that intake were:

• Grade 1: children who turn 6 by 31 December 2026 and live in the UAE.
• No admissions to Grades 2 and 3.
• Grades 4 to 8: children aged 9 by 31 December 2026, placed after a simple written and oral test in Sinhala, Buddhism and heritage.
• Parents applied through an online form with the required documents, a photo of the child and a photo of a parent or guardian, then attended a meeting with the organising committee in September.

Good to know

• Address as published: Al Hudaiba, Al Mankool Street, Plot B-44, Street 322B, Villa No. 2, at the Sri Lanka Consulate General.
• Phone +971 4 398 6535; email [email protected].
• Fees and the class timetable are not published on the website; ask the school.
• Late applications, or applications that skip a step, are not accepted.

Description written from official sources, checked 17 October 2026: dhahampasala.org. Confirm details with the business before you go.