9 Best Affordable Schools in Dubai 2026-27 — Fees, Admission & KHDA Reviews

GEMS Our Own Indian School Al Quoz (OIS) is a KHDA Very Good-rated, co-educational CBSE school in Al Quoz 1, operated by GEMS Education, serving KG1 to Grade 12 with annual fees of AED 7,209 (KG1–KG2) to AED 14,696 (Grades 11–12) for 2025–2026 — one of the highest-rated affordable Indian curriculum schools in Dubai, with Outstanding science attainment across all phases and two consecutive Very Good KHDA ratings.

What You Need to Know

• GEMS Our Own Indian School Al Quoz has held a KHDA Very Good rating for two consecutive inspection cycles (2022–2023 and 2023–2024), having improved from Good — placing it among the strongest-rated CBSE schools in its fee bracket in Dubai.
• GEMS Our Own Indian School Al Quoz achieved Outstanding science attainment and progress in both Primary and Secondary phases, and Outstanding mathematics progress in KG and Secondary — exceptional academic scores for a school where fees start at AED 7,209 per year.
• GEMS Our Own Indian School Al Quoz earned Outstanding Curriculum Quality across all four phases in 2023–2024, and Outstanding Health & Safety across the school — quality indicators that sit well above what is typical at this price point.
• GEMS Our Own Indian School Al Quoz offers all three CBSE senior streams — Science, Commerce, and Humanities — in Grades 11 and 12, and benefits from GEMS Education's institutional infrastructure for professional development, enrichment activities, and parent communication.

School Performance

Source: DSIB Inspection 2023–2024

Summary Report | Full Inspection Report

Annual Fees 2025–2026

Fees confirmed directly from the KHDA profile page (CenterID=89). An application fee of AED 525 applies. Contact the school at www.gemsoo-alquoz.com for the 2025–2026 schedule.

Admission Process

1. Apply → Submit online via the GEMS admissions portal at www.gemsoo-alquoz.com; pay the AED 525 application fee
2. Assessment → Age-appropriate academic placement assessment for all year groups
3. Decision → Offer issued subject to assessment and seat availability; registration deposit of 10% of annual tuition required on acceptance
4. Enrol → Complete KHDA documentation before the April year start; fees payable at the start of each term (September, January, April framework does not apply — Indian curriculum runs April–March)

Indian High School (IHS) Oud Metha is a KHDA Very Good-rated, co-educational CBSE school in Oud Metha, Bur Dubai, operated on a not-for-profit basis by a philanthropic Board of Trustees, serving Grades 5 to 12 (senior campus), with annual fees of AED 5,525 (Grade 5) to AED 10,465 (Grades 11–12) for 2025–2026 — one of Dubai's most storied and respected Indian schools, founded in 1961.

What You Need to Know

• Indian High School was founded in 1961 with nine students on land donated by the late H.H. Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, making it the oldest established Indian school in the UAE — a school that generations of Dubai's Indian expatriate community have attended and returned to enrol their own children.
• Indian High School operates as a not-for-profit institution under a philanthropic Board of Trustees, keeping fees among the most affordable for Very Good-rated education in Dubai — Grade 5 tuition at AED 5,525 is the lowest entry fee of any Very Good-rated school on this list.
• Indian High School achieved Outstanding science attainment and progress in Middle and Secondary, Outstanding curriculum quality, and Outstanding health and safety across all phases in 2023–2024 — inspection scores that match or exceed schools charging three to four times the fee level.
• Indian High School Oud Metha is a senior-only campus (Grades 5–12); children in KG1 to Grade 4 attend the separate Indian High School Branch campus in Al Garhoud (KHDA Good-rated) before transitioning to Oud Metha for secondary education.

School Performance

Source: DSIB Inspection 2023–2024

Summary Report | Full Inspection Report

Annual Fees 2025–2026

Fees confirmed directly from the KHDA profile page (CenterID=81). This table is for the senior Oud Metha campus (Grades 5–12) only. Contact the school at ihsom.ihsdubai.org for the confirmed 2025–2026 schedule.

Admission Process

1. Apply → Submit the application at ihsom.ihsdubai.org; the school is consistently oversubscribed
2. Documents → Passport copies, UAE residence visa, birth certificate, school reports, transfer certificate (attested if required)
3. Assessment → Placement assessment or eligibility test arranged for eligible applicants
4. Decision → Parents notified; waiting lists are common at Grade 5 entry
5. Enrol → Complete KHDA formalities and pay fees before the April academic year start

GEMS Our Own English High School Al Warqa'a (OOD) is a KHDA Very Good-rated, co-educational CBSE school in Al Warqa 1, operated by GEMS Education, serving Pre-Primary to Grade 12 with annual fees of AED 7,828 (KG1–KG2) to AED 17,257 (Grade 11 Science) for 2025–2026 — one of Dubai's longest-established Indian curriculum schools, operational since 1972, with Outstanding secondary English, Mathematics, and Science scores.

What You Need to Know

• GEMS Our Own English High School Al Warqa'a achieved Outstanding English attainment and progress in Middle and Secondary, and Outstanding mathematics and science attainment and progress in Secondary in 2023–2024 — among the strongest secondary academic profiles of any affordable school in Dubai.
• GEMS Our Own English High School Al Warqa'a has held KHDA Very Good ratings since 2016–2017 — nearly a decade of consistent very high performance — making it one of the most stable quality-rated CBSE schools in Dubai's eastern corridor.
• GEMS Our Own English High School Al Warqa'a has been operational since 1972, giving it over 50 years of continuous delivery of Indian curriculum education in Dubai — a depth of institutional knowledge and community trust that few other schools in the city can match.
• GEMS Our Own English High School Al Warqa'a earned Outstanding Curriculum Quality across all four phases and Outstanding Health & Safety across the school in 2023–2024, reinforcing its position as the best-performing CBSE school on this list by inspection score.

School Performance

Source: DSIB Inspection 2023–2024

Summary Report | Full Inspection Report

Annual Fees 2025–2026

Fees confirmed directly from the KHDA profile page (CenterID=77). Application fee AED 525. Contact the school at www.gemsoo-dubai.com for the confirmed 2025–2026 schedule.

Admission Process

1. Apply → Submit online at www.gemsoo-dubai.com via the GEMS admissions system; pay the AED 525 application fee
2. Assessment → Age-appropriate placement assessment arranged by the admissions team
3. Decision → Offer issued subject to assessment and seat availability; 10% registration deposit required on acceptance
4. Enrol → Complete all KHDA documentation and pay term fees before the April academic year start

Al Mawakeb School Al Barsha is a KHDA Good-rated, co-educational American curriculum school in Al Barsha, Dubai, managed by AMSI (Academia Management Solution International), serving KG1 to Grade 12 with tuition fees of AED 15,726 (KG1–KG2) to AED 25,493 (Grade 12) for 2026–2027 — a trilingual school (English, Arabic, French) that has held a Good KHDA rating for seven consecutive inspection cycles and now offers Advanced Placement (AP) courses.

What You Need to Know

• Al Mawakeb School Al Barsha has been rated Good by KHDA for seven consecutive inspection rounds — the most consistently rated affordable school on this list — with the 2023–2024 inspection noting the first time that significant improvement in student outcomes was documented, with achievement rated at least Good in core subjects across almost all phases.
• Al Mawakeb School Al Barsha delivers a trilingual education from KG1 — English as the medium of instruction, with Arabic and French taught as additional languages throughout the school — making it a distinctive choice for Arab families, particularly those from Lebanese, Syrian, and broader Arab expatriate communities.
• Al Mawakeb School Al Barsha offers Advanced Placement (AP) courses in Grades 11 and 12 alongside the AMSI American High School Diploma, and the school is NEASC-accredited — a designation required for the KHDA to recognise the diploma for university applications in the United States and internationally.
• Al Mawakeb School Al Barsha separates boys and girls from Grade 5 onward, and has a notably high proportion of Emirati students (around one in six) — a community profile that reflects both the school's Arabic-language strength and its long-standing reputation in Dubai's Arab expatriate community.

School Performance

Source: DSIB Inspection 2023–2024

Full Inspection Report

Annual Fees 2026–2027

Fees confirmed directly from the school's official fees page at almawakeb.sch.ae/admissions-barsha/school-fees (2026–2027). Note: tuition fees above exclude books, curricular activities, and school gear (total per grade ranges from AED 25,100 for KG1 to AED 44,225 for Grade 12 all-inclusive). A sibling discount of AED 700 per second or subsequent sibling applies. Registration deposit is 10% of annual tuition for new students.

Admission Process

1. Apply → Register online at almawakeb.sch.ae via the New Family Registration portal; registration for 2026–2027 opened February 2026
2. Assessment & Interview → All new students from KG to Grade 12 must sit an assessment and interview; Grade 9–12 applicants must provide a Letter of Good Conduct from their previous school
3. Documents → Passport and Emirates ID copies (student and parent), birth certificate, previous school reports (last two years), transfer certificate, and vaccination records; transfer certificates from outside Dubai must be attested by the MoE before the end of September
4. Decision → Results and admission decision are not disclosed until all documents are submitted to the registrar; parents are notified following the complete review
5. Enrol → Pay the 10% registration deposit and complete all KHDA documentation before the September start of term; the school follows a September–June academic year

Apple International Community School (AICS) is a KHDA Acceptable-rated, co-educational British curriculum school in Al Karama, Dubai, operated by LEAMS Education, offering FS1 to Year 9 (expanding annually), with discounted fees of AED 14,900 (FS1–FS2) to AED 17,980 (Years 7–8) for 2023–2024 — a brand new school that opened in September 2021 and received its first DSIB inspection in 2023–2024.

What You Need to Know

• Apple International Community School is the newest school on this list, having opened in September 2021, and received its first DSIB inspection in 2023–2024 where it was rated Acceptable — a rating that is common for schools in their first inspection cycle, with the inspection's concerns focused primarily on administrative systems and data tracking consistency rather than teaching quality or student safety.
• Apple International Community School's discounted fees of AED 14,900–17,980 include books, uniform, e-learning resources, computer and lab resources, and external exams — one of the most inclusive fee structures on this list, meaning the published fee is genuinely the total cost without separate mandatory add-ons for most families.
• Apple International Community School follows the Cambridge Primary and Secondary curriculum — a global framework recognised by universities and schools worldwide — making it a credible British education option for families who may need to relocate internationally during or after their child's Dubai schooling years.
• Apple International Community School is located in the heart of Karama, within easy commuting distance of Bur Dubai, Oud Metha, Mankhool, Al Jafiliya, and Jumeirah — a central Dubai location that benefits families who live or work in the older, established residential neighbourhoods of the city.

School Performance

Source: DSIB Inspection 2023–2024 (first inspection)

Full Inspection Report

Annual Fees 2025–2026

The discounted fees shown reflect the school's KHDA-approved discounts on the published KHDA-approved rate. Fees include books, uniform (1 set), PE uniform, e-learning resources, online apps, computer/lab resources, and medical fees. Optional books and Ministry books are charged separately. Application fee AED 525 (non-refundable); registration deposit 10% of annual tuition. Contact AICS at applecommunityschool.ae for the confirmed 2025–2026 schedule. Note: fee table above is based on 2023–2024 data with projected Year 9 fee; contact the school directly for current pricing.

Admission Process

1. Enquire → Book a school tour at applecommunityschool.ae; the school encourages campus visits before applying
2. Apply → Complete the online admissions form; pay the AED 525 application fee; receive a reference number
3. Documents → Submit passport, Emirates ID, previous school reports (last 2 years from Year 1+, plus CAT4 report for Year 3+), transfer certificate, and vaccination records
4. Assessment → FS1–Year 8: interview with the admissions team · Year 9+: assessment and interview · Inclusion team may join where special educational needs are identified
5. Enrol → Pay the 10% registration deposit and complete KHDA enrolment before the September academic year start; fees payable in three instalments (40% Term 1, 30% Term 2, 30% Term 3)

St. Mary's Catholic High School is a KHDA Good-rated, co-educational British curriculum school in Oud Metha, Bur Dubai, founded in 1968, serving Year 1 to Year 13 with no Foundation Stage, with annual fees of AED 9,956 (Year 1) to AED 19,221 (Years 12–13) — one of Dubai's most historic affordable schools, operated under the St. Mary's Education Group.

What You Need to Know

• St. Mary's Catholic High School does not offer a Foundation Stage — children join directly into Year 1 from external nurseries at age 5 or 6 — making it a school best suited to families with primary-age children and above seeking British education at a significantly lower cost than premium British schools.
• St. Mary's Catholic High School was founded in 1968 on land donated by the late H.H. Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, and operates as a not-for-profit institution under the St. Mary's Education Group, which also manages St. Mary High School Muhaisnah — giving it a governance structure that reinvests resources into the school community.
• St. Mary's Catholic High School follows a September–June academic year (unlike the CBSE schools on this list which follow April–March), and offers IGCSE examinations in Year 11 alongside nine A-Level subjects in Years 12 and 13, preparing students for UK and international university entry.
• St. Mary's Catholic High School has maintained a KHDA Good rating for eight consecutive years since 2012, with DSIB inspectors consistently praising student behaviour, community ethos, and pastoral care as genuine school strengths across every inspection cycle.

School Performance

Source: DSIB Inspection 2023–2024

Full Inspection Report

Annual Fees 2025–2026

Fee bands sourced from published school data (WhichSchoolAdvisor). Contact St. Mary's at www.stmarysdubai.com for the confirmed 2025–2026 KHDA-approved schedule.

Admission Process

1. Apply → Complete the online application at www.stmarysdubai.com; shortlisted candidate lists and assessment dates are published on the website
2. Assessment → Formal assessments in English and Mathematics for all year groups
3. Interview → Shortlisted candidates attend an interview with the Principal or admissions team
4. Decision → Names of successful candidates posted on the school website following the interview
5. Enrol → Parents pay the deposit to confirm the seat and complete KHDA documentation; apply by January–March for September entry

GEMS Founders School Al Barsha is a KHDA Very Good-rated, co-educational British curriculum school in Al Barsha South, operated by GEMS Education, serving FS1 to Year 13 with tuition fees of AED 24,749 (FS1) to AED 37,124 (Year 13) for 2025–2026 — the UAE's largest British curriculum school by enrolment (~6,200 students), and the only affordable British school on this list to hold both a KHDA Very Good rating and a BSO Outstanding accreditation from the UK Government.

What You Need to Know

• GEMS Founders School Al Barsha achieved a KHDA Very Good rating in 2023–2024 (improving from Good) alongside a BSO Outstanding accreditation from the UK Government's Department of Education — making it the only school in this guide to achieve top marks from two separate quality regulators.
• GEMS Founders School Al Barsha's Inclusion provision was rated Outstanding by DSIB inspectors in 2023–2024, with 860 students of determination enrolled and receiving structured support — one of the most comprehensive inclusion programmes in the affordable British school sector in Dubai.
• GEMS Founders School Al Barsha publishes tuition fees that include books and curricular materials — unlike many affordable schools where these are charged separately — making the true comparison cost lower than the headline fee might suggest against competing schools.
• GEMS Founders School Al Barsha is the UAE's largest National Curriculum for England school, having grown from 1,800 students at launch in 2016 to approximately 6,200 by 2024, demonstrating that a large school can simultaneously be affordable, well-rated, and genuinely improving.

School Performance

Source: DSIB Inspection 2023–2024

Full Inspection Report

Annual Fees 2025–2026

Annual fees calculated from the 2025–2026 term schedule published at www.gemsfoundersschool-dubai.com/en/Admissions/Tuition-Fees. Application fee AED 525; registration deposit 10% of annual tuition on acceptance.

Admission Process

1. Enquire → Submit an online enquiry at www.gemsfoundersschool-dubai.com
2. Apply → Complete the online enrolment form and pay AED 525 application fee (non-refundable if a place is offered)
3. Assessment → Age-appropriate placement assessment arranged by the admissions team
4. Decision → Formal offer issued; confirm within the specified window
5. Enrol → Pay the 10% registration deposit; term fees payable in advance at the start of September, January, and April

Arab Unity School is a KHDA Acceptable-rated, co-educational British curriculum school in Al Mizhar 1, Dubai, founded in 1975 by the Al Taher family, offering FS2 to Year 13 with annual fees of AED 6,462 (FS2) to AED 10,808 (Year 13) — the most affordable school on this list offering a complete British curriculum pathway from early years to A-Level, with Cambridge IGCSE accreditation since 2002.

What You Need to Know

• Arab Unity School is the most affordable school on this list offering a complete British curriculum FS2 to Year 13 pathway with Cambridge IGCSE and A-Level accreditation — fees starting at AED 6,462 per year for FS2 represent genuine value for families who need to sustain British education costs across multiple children.
• Arab Unity School became the first school in the Middle East to obtain Cambridge International 'Fellowship Centre' status in 2002, a distinction that confirms the credibility of its IGCSE and A-Level delivery for 50 years.
• Arab Unity School's Secondary and Post-16 academic outcomes are considerably stronger than the overall Acceptable KHDA rating suggests: Secondary English, Mathematics, and Science are Good; Post-16 Mathematics and Science are Very Good; and Post-16 Personal Development is Outstanding — making it a meaningful option specifically for secondary-age enrolment.
• Arab Unity School begins IGCSE coursework in Year 9 — a three-year preparation model — which benefits students who need additional support embedding the examination content when studying in English as an additional language.

School Performance

Source: DSIB Inspection 2023–2024

Full Inspection Report

Annual Fees 2025–2026

Fees confirmed from KHDA-approved data (edcare.ae). Contact Arab Unity School at www.arabunityschool.ae for the 2025–2026 schedule. September–June academic year.

Admission Process

1. Apply → Complete the online form at www.arabunityschool.ae; rolling year-round applications
2. Assessment → FS2: playdate · Years 1–2: written English and Maths · Years 3–10: online CAT-style assessment · Post-16: academic records review
3. Decision → Admission offered subject to assessment and seat availability
4. Enrol → Complete KHDA formalities and pay fees before September start; mid-year transfers accepted

The Westminster School Dubai is a KHDA Good-rated, co-educational British curriculum school in Al Qusais 1, operated by GEMS Education, offering FS1 to Year 13 with annual fees of AED 7,860 (FS1) to AED 15,281 (Years 12–13) for 2025–2026 — the largest English curriculum school in the UAE (5,000+ students) and a Microsoft Showcase School.

What You Need to Know

• The Westminster School Dubai is the largest English curriculum school in the UAE by student numbers, with over 5,241 students taught by approximately 300 teachers — making it, by scale, one of the most significant affordable British education institutions in the region, with FS1 fees starting at only AED 7,860.
• The Westminster School Dubai is the first and only school in the Middle East to hold the 'Centre of Excellence in Sustainability and Climate Change Learning' designation globally, and is a Microsoft Showcase School — a combination of technology and environmental credentials that distinguishes it from other affordable British schools.
• The Westminster School Dubai uses the International Middle Years Curriculum (IMYC) in Years 7–9 — an inquiry-based framework that supplements the National Curriculum and develops critical thinking across disciplines — alongside IGCSE with three exam board options (Cambridge, Oxford AQA, Pearson Edexcel) for maximum flexibility.
• The Westminster School Dubai separates boys and girls into separate facilities from Year 5 onwards — a structural feature that reflects the school's predominantly South Asian and Middle Eastern student community and is a meaningful pastoral consideration for families where this arrangement is preferred.

School Performance

Source: DSIB Inspection 2023–2024

Full Inspection Report

Annual Fees 2025–2026

Fee range confirmed from published data (WhichSchoolAdvisor: AED 9,466–17,869; Yallaschools: AED 7,860–15,281). Contact The Westminster School Dubai at www.gemsws-ghusais.com for the 2025–2026 KHDA-approved per-grade schedule. Application fee AED 525.

Admission Process

1. Apply → Submit the online application at www.gemsws-ghusais.com with required documents; pay AED 525 application fee
2. Documents → Passport, Emirates ID, residence visa, transfer certificate (attested where required), previous school reports
3. Assessment → Age-appropriate academic placement assessment
4. Decision → Acceptance subject to assessment and seat availability
5. Enrol → Complete KHDA enrolment and pay term fees before September start

Frequently Asked Questions

Which affordable school in Dubai has the best KHDA rating? Three schools on this list hold KHDA Very Good ratings — GEMS Our Own Indian School Al Quoz, Indian High School Oud Metha, and GEMS Our Own English High School Al Warqa'a (all CBSE, Indian curriculum) — plus GEMS Founders School Al Barsha (British curriculum). Among these, Indian High School Oud Metha has the lowest entry fee at AED 5,525 per year for Grade 5, making it the most affordable Very Good-rated school on this list, and the school's not-for-profit governance means fee increases are modest. For British curriculum specifically, GEMS Founders School Al Barsha is the only affordable British school in Dubai to hold both a KHDA Very Good rating and a BSO Outstanding accreditation from the UK Government.

Which affordable schools follow the British curriculum? Five schools on this list follow the British curriculum: Apple International Community School (FS1–Year 9, from AED 14,900, Acceptable), St. Mary's Catholic High School (Year 1–Year 13, from AED 9,956, Good), GEMS Founders School Al Barsha (FS1–Year 13, from AED 24,749, Very Good), Arab Unity School (FS2–Year 13, from AED 6,462, Acceptable), and The Westminster School Dubai (FS1–Year 13, from AED 7,860, Good). Springfield International School also follows the British curriculum but has not yet been inspected.

What is the difference between CBSE, American, and British curricula? CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) is India's national curriculum, leading to Indian board examinations in Grades 10 and 12, and is widely recognised for university admission in India and Indian-credentialed professions globally. Schools follow an April–March academic year. The American curriculum at Al Mawakeb follows Massachusetts/California state standards, leading to an internationally recognised High School Diploma with Advanced Placement (AP) courses, and follows a September–June year. The British curriculum follows the UK National Curriculum, leading to IGCSE/GCSE at Year 11 and A-Levels at Year 13 — the most widely recognised qualification for universities in the UK, Europe, and the UAE. Schools follow a September–June year.

When should I apply for September and April intake schools? For schools following an April–March academic year (GEMS OO Indian, Indian High School, GEMS OO English High School), applications should ideally be submitted from November to February for April intake. For schools following a September–June academic year (Al Mawakeb, AICS, St. Mary's, GEMS Founders, Arab Unity, Westminster, Springfield), applications for September intake should be submitted between January and April. The most popular affordable schools — Indian High School Oud Metha and GEMS Founders Al Barsha — are consistently oversubscribed, and early application is strongly recommended.

Conclusion

Dubai's affordable schools span curricula, locations, and KHDA ratings — from CBSE Very Good-rated institutions like Indian High School Oud Metha (from AED 5,525) to accessible British options like The Westminster School Dubai (from AED 7,860) and mid-range performers like Al Mawakeb Al Barsha (from AED 15,726 tuition). Springfield International School is the newest entry, offering early-stage British education in Al Awir without an inspection rating yet. For CBSE families, apply to the Most Popular GEMS and IHS schools by November; for British curriculum, apply by February–March for September 2026 entry.