An Iranian School in Sharjah Has Been Closed

Ali Hosseini, the Deputy for International Affairs of Schools Abroad, announced in an interview with Tasnim News Agency on Sunday, September 10, that the operating license for an Iranian school in Sharjah has not been renewed recently, leading to its closure. He also denied the UAE government's claims regarding construction at the school without the necessary permits. According to Mr. Hosseini, this school was rented and had 1,500 Afghan students enrolled. This education official emphasized that all Iranian students in Dubai schools have been 'organized,' and only some Afghan students remain. He added, 'Tuition fees in Dubai schools are higher than those in Sharjah, and therefore most Afghan families are facing difficulties due to the number of children and have complained about this situation.' He also announced that the mission period for Iranian teachers in Sharjah has ended, and local staff are now working in Iranian schools in Dubai. This education official also stated that the UAE has exerted 'pressures' to close Iranian schools in Sharjah and Abu Dhabi. In previous years, the issue of Iranian schools operating in the UAE has made headlines. For instance, 22 Iranian school teachers were arrested in 2015 for lacking 'business cards and work permits' in the Al Ain region of Abu Dhabi and were later released. The arrest of these teachers led to the summoning of the UAE chargé d'affaires in Tehran to the Iranian Foreign Ministry. After that, Iranian news agencies reported that eight Iranian schools are operating in the UAE, with a history dating back 61 years. Relations between Iran and the UAE have soured following the escalation of tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE Foreign Minister, had called on Iran and Turkey on Monday, September 28, to end what he described as their 'colonial' actions in Syria. Two days later, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson called the UAE Foreign Minister's statements 'incorrect, unconstructive, and delusional.' The UAE, alongside Saudi Arabia, stands against Bashar al-Assad, the President of Syria, and his supporter, the Iranian government, and is concerned about the actions of the Turkish government, which supports Islamic forces that the UAE opposes regionally. Additionally, after the blockade of Qatar by Saudi Arabia and its allies, including the UAE, Iran and Turkey were the two countries that established special lines to deliver essential goods to Qatar.