9 Best International Schools in Dubai 2025–2026 — Fees, Admission & Reviews

The Indian Academy is a KHDA Good-rated CBSE school in Muhaisanah Fourth, Dubai, serving KG1 to Grade 12 with annual fees of AED 12,008–23,795 and outstanding National Agenda benchmark results for the 2023–2024 academic year.

What You Need to Know

• The Indian Academy achieved an Outstanding score in the National Agenda Parameter for 2023–2024, with PIRLS reading literacy scores exceeding targets by a considerable margin and outstanding science benchmark progression.
• The Indian Academy records Outstanding results in personal development across all phases — KG through Secondary — reflecting a school culture built on strong student-staff relationships and community.
• The Indian Academy's science outcomes are Very Good across every phase, with students in all stages demonstrating sharp observational skills and confidence in experimental investigations.
• The Indian Academy maintains Outstanding links with parents and community, with parents deeply involved in planning personalised learning programmes and enriching cultural activities.

The Indian Academy, School Performance

Source: DSIB Inspection 2023–2024

Summary Report | Full Inspection Report

The Indian Academy, Annual Fees 2025–2026

The Indian Academy, Admission Process

1. Visit the school's official website at www.indianacademydubai.com to check for open admission windows.
2. Submit an online or walk-in application with your child's previous academic records, passport copy, Emirates ID, and transfer certificate (if applicable).
3. Your child may be asked to attend an assessment or grade-placement interaction, particularly for mid-year admissions.
4. Upon acceptance, complete the fee payment and registration formalities to confirm enrolment.
5. Contact the school directly for the latest seat availability and intake deadlines.

GEMS Our Own English High School is a KHDA Very Good-rated CBSE school in Al Warqa, Dubai, serving KG1 to Grade 12 with annual fees of AED 7,828–17,257 and one of the largest Indian curriculum enrolments in the emirate at over 10,400 students for 2023–2024.

What You Need to Know

• GEMS Our Own English High School achieves Outstanding results in English, mathematics and science in the Secondary phase, with benchmark assessments confirming outstanding performance across all three subjects.
• GEMS Our Own English High School records Outstanding personal and social development across all phases, with student leadership described as exceptional and community engagement deeply embedded in school culture.
• GEMS Our Own English High School offers an unusually wide range of vocational and academic pathways, including tourism, beauty and wellness, giving older students flexible and career-focused routes through senior school.
• GEMS Our Own English High School's curriculum is rated Outstanding in Primary, Middle and Secondary phases, with purposeful cross-curricular links enriching students' learning experiences throughout the school.

GEMS Our Own English High School, School Performance

Source: DSIB Inspection 2023–2024

Summary Report | Full Inspection Report

GEMS Our Own English High School, Annual Fees 2025–2026

GEMS Our Own English High School, Admission Process

1. Visit www.gemsoo-dubai.com and use the online enquiry or admission form to register your interest.
2. Submit required documents including passport copy, Emirates ID, birth certificate, previous school reports and transfer certificate.
3. The school may conduct a grade-placement assessment or interaction session depending on your child's age and grade.
4. Upon confirmation of a seat, complete registration formalities and fee payment.
5. Given the school's large enrolment, early application is strongly recommended — contact the admissions team directly for the latest intake windows.

Ambassador School is a KHDA Very Good-rated CISCE school (ICSE/ISC curriculum) in Mankhool, Dubai, serving KG1 to Grade 12 with annual fees of AED 22,848–45,750 and Outstanding English results across all phases for 2023–2024.

What You Need to Know

• Ambassador School achieves Outstanding English results across every phase — KG through Secondary — with PIRLS international reading literacy scores of 591, well above Dubai's school average and classified in the High International band.
• Ambassador School's curriculum design and implementation is rated Outstanding across all phases, with AI lessons, robotics, financial literacy and entrepreneurship woven through the programme from Primary onwards.
• Ambassador School records Outstanding science achievement in Secondary, with students designing experiments to address real-world challenges and demonstrating strong inquiry and critical thinking skills.
• Ambassador School's health and safety provision is rated Outstanding in every phase, with robust safeguarding procedures, detailed risk management and an outstanding personal development culture throughout.

Ambassador School, School Performance

Source: DSIB Inspection 2023–2024

Summary Report | Full Inspection Report

Ambassador School, Annual Fees 2025–2026

Ambassador School, Admission Process

1. Visit www.ambassadorschool.com and complete the online admission enquiry form.
2. Submit documents including your child's birth certificate, passport and Emirates ID copies, previous school records and a transfer certificate where applicable.
3. An assessment or placement session may be arranged depending on grade and timing of application.
4. On offer of a place, complete the enrolment formalities and fee deposit to secure your child's seat.
5. As a mid-sized school with limited seats per grade, early enquiry is advised — contact the admissions office directly for current availability.

GEMS Dubai American Academy (DAA) is Dubai's only KHDA Outstanding-rated American curriculum school — a distinction it has held continuously since 2011 — located in Al Barsha South 1, offering the US curriculum alongside an IB Diploma option for KG1 to Grade 12, with annual fees of AED 66,185 (KG) to AED 93,300 (Grades 1–12) for the 2024–2025 academic year.

What You Need to Know

• GEMS Dubai American Academy is the only KHDA Outstanding-rated American curriculum school in Dubai and has held this distinction uninterrupted since 2011, making it one of the most consistently high-performing schools of any curriculum type in the city.
• GEMS Dubai American Academy earned Outstanding ratings across every single DSIB quality indicator in its 2023–2024 inspection — including Students' Achievement, Teaching & Assessment, Curriculum, Health & Safety, and Leadership & Management — a clean sweep that is exceptionally rare in Dubai school inspections.
• GEMS Dubai American Academy offers both a US High School Diploma pathway and the IB Diploma Programme in Grades 11 and 12, giving students the flexibility to pursue whichever university pathway best suits their goals.
• GEMS Dubai American Academy is part of GEMS Education, one of the world's largest private education providers, which provides robust governance, sustained investment in facilities, and a wide professional development framework for teaching staff.

GEMS Dubai American Academy, School Performance

Source: DSIB Inspection 2023–2024

Summary Report | Full Inspection Report

GEMS Dubai American Academy, Annual Fees 2024–2025

GEMS Dubai American Academy, Admission Process

1. Enquire → Contact the GEMS Dubai American Academy admissions team via www.gemsaa-dubai.com or visit the campus
2. Apply → Submit the online application with required documents (passport copies, academic reports, vaccination records)
3. Assessment → Age-appropriate academic assessment arranged by the admissions office; older students may be required to sit placement tests in core subjects
4. Decision → Outcome communicated to parents; admission is subject to availability and assessment results
5. Enrol → Pay the enrolment fee and required term fees to confirm your child's place before the start of the academic year

American School of Dubai (ASD) is a KHDA Good-rated, independent, not-for-profit US curriculum school in Al Barsha 2, serving PreK to Grade 12 with a college-preparatory American programme including AP courses and SAT/ACT preparation, with annual tuition fees of AED 60,571 (PreK) to AED 89,319 (Grades 1–12) for the 2025–2026 academic year.

What You Need to Know

• American School of Dubai is one of Dubai's oldest and most established international schools, having opened in 1966, and operates as an independent not-for-profit institution — meaning all surplus is reinvested directly into the school's educational programme rather than returning to shareholders.
• American School of Dubai consistently delivers strong Advanced Placement (AP) and standardised test outcomes, with close to 15% of students achieving a GPA above 4.0 and over 30% in the 3.75–3.99 range as of 2024, supporting competitive university applications both in the US and internationally.
• American School of Dubai received a Very Good rating for Wellbeing in the 2023–2024 KHDA Focus Area assessment, reflecting a strong school culture that prioritises student wellbeing alongside academic rigour.
• American School of Dubai charges a one-off Capital Fee of AED 22,000 for new non-corporate students (payable in three annual instalments), which is used to maintain and upgrade school facilities — a structure similar to debenture models used at other not-for-profit schools in Dubai.

American School of Dubai, School Performance

Source: DSIB Inspection 2023–2024

Summary Report | Full Inspection Report

American School of Dubai, Annual Fees 2025–2026

A non-corporate Facility Fee of AED 12,984/year applies for KG2 and above. A one-time Capital Fee of AED 22,000 applies for new students (payable in 3 annual instalments of AED 7,333). Contact the school for full details.

American School of Dubai, Admission Process

1. Apply → Submit an online application via www.asdubai.org; no application fee is charged at this stage
2. Seat Reservation → Once a place is offered, a non-refundable seat reservation is required to confirm the offer
3. Registration → A non-refundable registration fee of AED 1,000 is charged with the first tuition payment
4. Assessment → Placement assessments may be arranged for certain year groups, particularly for mid-year transfers
5. Enrol → June 1 payment of first-term fees and post-dated cheques or direct debit must be received to complete re-enrolment

Universal American School (UAS) is a KHDA Very Good-rated, not-for-profit, co-educational school in Dubai Festival City, offering a blended US and IB curriculum from Pre-KG to Grade 12, with annual fees ranging from AED 39,450 to AED 81,021 for the 2024–2025 academic year.

What You Need to Know

• Universal American School is one of only a small number of American curriculum schools in Dubai to have earned the KHDA's Very Good rating — a significant achievement that places it in the top tier of the city's US-curriculum options and reflects genuine consistency in teaching and learning quality.
• Universal American School operates as a not-for-profit school under the Al Futtaim Education Foundation, meaning any surplus from school fees is reinvested directly into the school in the form of infrastructure upgrades, scholarships, and professional development — a model that places educational mission firmly above financial return.
• Universal American School is triple-accredited by the Middle States Association (MSA), the Council of International Schools (CIS), and the International Baccalaureate Organization, providing strong independent quality assurance across all phases of the school.
• Universal American School has 167 registered students of determination at the time of the most recent inspection, and the inclusion programme received a Very Good rating from KHDA — reflecting a clear commitment to welcoming students of all abilities into the mainstream community.

Universal American School, School Performance

Source: DSIB Inspection 2023–2024

Summary Report | Full Inspection Report

Universal American School, Annual Fees 2024–2025

Fee bands are indicative based on KHDA-published data. Contact Universal American School directly at www.uasdubai.ae for the confirmed 2025–2026 fee schedule.

Universal American School, Admission Process

1. Apply → Submit an online application form via www.uasdubai.ae; no application fee is required
2. Documents → Upload supporting documents including passport copies, previous school reports, and vaccination records (email: admissions@uasdubai.ae)
3. Assessment → Standardised assessments may be arranged where required based on the year group applied for
4. Acceptance → An acceptance letter is issued once the application is successful, along with joining information
5. Enrol → Pay required fees to confirm the place; UAS offers flexible payment options including via the Zenda app and Al Futtaim FAB credit card instalments

Repton School Dubai is a KHDA Very Good-rated British curriculum school in Al Barsha, Dubai, offering GCSE and IGCSE programmes for FS1–Year 11 (with Year 12–13 in development), with annual fees of AED 53,540–89,774 for the 2025–2026 academic year.

What You Need to Know

• Repton School Dubai earned Outstanding ratings from DSIB inspectors in both Personal & Social Development and Health, Safety & Care — reflecting a strong commitment to your child's wellbeing and environment.
• Repton School Dubai is part of the Repton Education Group, which traces its roots to Repton School in Derbyshire, UK, founded in 1557, giving the Dubai campus a distinctive British heritage identity.
• Repton School Dubai is accredited by the British Schools Overseas (BSO) inspectorate and is currently expanding its offering to include Year 12 and Year 13, making it an increasingly complete all-through option for families in Al Barsha.
• Repton School Dubai offers a student-to-teacher ratio supported by 21 teaching assistants across 1,303 enrolled students, providing personalised support at every stage of your child's development.

Repton School Dubai, School Performance

Source: KHDA Inspection 2023–2024

KHDA Profile | Full Inspection Report

Repton School Dubai, Annual Fees 2025–2026

Repton School Dubai, Admission Process

1. Enquire → Submit an enquiry via the online form at reptonalbarsha.org to check year group availability
2. Apply → Complete the online application and pay the non-refundable application fee (AED 500)
3. Assessment → Age-appropriate academic assessment and review of previous school reports
4. Decision → Offer letter issued subject to availability and assessment outcome
5. Enrol → Pay the registration deposit (10% of annual tuition) and submit required KHDA documentation, including Transfer Certificate from previous school

Dubai College is a KHDA Outstanding-rated, not-for-profit British curriculum school in Al Sufouh, Dubai, offering GCSE and A Level programmes for Years 7–13, with annual fees of AED 97,415–110,305 for the 2025–2026 academic year.

What You Need to Know

• Dubai College is one of Dubai's oldest and most established secondary schools, founded in 1978, and has maintained a KHDA Outstanding rating, reflecting a sustained record of academic excellence over decades.
• Dubai College operates as a not-for-profit school and requires new students to pay a refundable debenture of AED 30,000, which is returned in full when the student leaves — a structure that helps fund school development in a parent-led, community-owned model.
• Dubai College achieved Outstanding ratings in six of the seven DSIB inspection criteria, placing it among the very highest-performing schools on Dubai's educational landscape for secondary and sixth form education.
• Dubai College's A Level results consistently place it in the top tier of Dubai schools, with students securing places at leading universities across the UK, USA, and Europe, supported by a dedicated counselling team of three.

Dubai College, School Performance

Source: KHDA Inspection 2023–2024

KHDA Profile | Full Inspection Report

Dubai College, Annual Fees 2025–2026

Note: New students are also required to pay a refundable debenture of AED 30,000, which is returned in full when the student leaves.

Dubai College, Admission Process

1. Apply → Apply via the online admissions portal at dubaicollege.org during the open window (typically October–November for Year 7 entry)
2. Assessment → Competitive academic assessment and review of current school reports; Dubai College is highly oversubscribed, particularly at Year 7 entry
3. Debenture → New students pay a refundable debenture of AED 30,000 to secure a place; this is returned in full on leaving
4. Offer → Conditional offer issued based on assessment result and place availability
5. Enrol → Complete KHDA registration with Transfer Certificate, required documentation, and term fee payment

GEMS Wellington International School is a KHDA Outstanding-rated British and IB curriculum school in Al Sufouh, Dubai, offering GCSE and IB Diploma programmes for FS1–Year 13, with annual fees of AED 47,527–103,399 for the 2025–2026 academic year.

What You Need to Know

• GEMS Wellington International School achieved Outstanding ratings across all seven DSIB inspection criteria in every phase — one of only a small number of schools in Dubai to do so — demonstrating consistent excellence across your child's entire educational journey.
• GEMS Wellington International School offers a dual pathway at sixth form, where students can choose between the IB Diploma Programme or A Level routes, giving your child greater flexibility in preparing for university entry worldwide.
• GEMS Wellington International School is one of the largest British schools in Dubai with 2,904 students and 218 teachers, supported by 100 teaching assistants — providing both the resources of a large institution and the pastoral care of a dedicated team.
• GEMS Wellington International School's location in Al Sufouh places it conveniently for families across the Dubai Marina, JBR, and Jumeirah areas, with well-regarded university placement outcomes year on year.

GEMS Wellington International School, School Performance

Source: KHDA Inspection 2023–2024

KHDA Profile | Full Inspection Report

GEMS Wellington International School, Annual Fees 2025–2026

Admission Process

1. Apply → Submit your application online via gemseducation.com or directly through GEMS Wellington International School's admissions portal
2. Application Fee → Pay the non-refundable application fee (AED 525, VAT inclusive)
3. Assessment → Age-appropriate academic assessment booked by the admissions team after application
4. Offer → Conditional offer letter issued based on assessment and year group availability; registration deposit of 10% of annual tuition payable on acceptance
5. Enrol → Submit required documentation including Transfer Certificate, KHDA registration, passport and Emirates ID copies

Frequently Asked Questions

Which are the best international schools in Dubai overall?

Three schools on this list hold Dubai's highest KHDA Outstanding rating: GEMS Dubai American Academy (the only Outstanding-rated American curriculum school in the city, holding this distinction since 2011), Dubai College (Outstanding across six of seven DSIB criteria, one of Dubai's most respected secondary schools), and GEMS Wellington International School (Outstanding across all seven criteria in every phase — one of the rarest distinctions in Dubai school inspections).

What is the fee range for the best international schools in Dubai?

Fees across the 9 schools in this guide range from AED 7,828 per year at GEMS Our Own English High School (KG1, CBSE, KHDA Very Good) to AED 110,305 per year at Dubai College (Years 12–13, British A Level, KHDA Outstanding). Mid-range options include Universal American School (AED 39,450–81,021), Repton School Dubai (AED 53,540–89,774), and GEMS Wellington International School (AED 47,527–103,399).

Which international school in Dubai is best for Indian families?

GEMS Our Own English High School is the strongest value option for Indian families, offering CBSE education from AED 7,828 per year with a KHDA Very Good rating and Outstanding results in English, maths, and science at the Secondary phase. Ambassador School is the top choice for families specifically seeking the CISCE (ICSE/ISC) pathway, with a KHDA Very Good rating, Outstanding English results across all phases, and fees from AED 22,848 per year.

Which international school in Dubai offers the best IB pathway?

Universal American School offers the most complete IB pathway of any school on this list, covering the full IB continuum — PYP, MYP, and Diploma — from Pre-KG through Grade 12. GEMS Wellington International School offers the IB Diploma alongside an A Level option in Years 12–13, and is one of Dubai's largest and highest-rated British schools. GEMS Dubai American Academy also offers the IB Diploma in Grades 11–12 alongside the US High School Diploma.

When should I apply for international schools in Dubai for September entry?

For most schools on this list, submitting your application between January and March gives you the best chance of securing a place for September. Dubai College is the most time-sensitive — its Year 7 window typically opens in October or November of the preceding year, and the school is highly oversubscribed. GEMS Our Own English High School is also advised to be approached early given its enrolment of over 10,000 students. Repton School Dubai and GEMS Wellington International School operate rolling admissions, but popular year groups fill well ahead of the academic year.

Which is the most affordable KHDA Outstanding international school in Dubai?

Among the three Outstanding-rated schools on this list, GEMS Dubai American Academy has the lowest starting fee at AED 66,185 per year for KG1 and KG2. GEMS Wellington International School starts at AED 47,527 for FS1, making it the most affordable Outstanding-rated entry point for younger children. Dubai College starts from AED 97,415 for Year 7 and is secondary-only, with an additional refundable debenture of AED 30,000 required for new students.

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Conclusion

Dubai's international school landscape spans every curriculum, fee range, and KHDA rating — from GEMS Our Own English High School's CBSE education starting at AED 7,828 per year to Dubai College's Outstanding-rated A Level programme at over AED 110,000. Whether your family is prioritising an Indian, American, or British curriculum, this guide covers nine of the best international schools in Dubai to help you shortlist with confidence. Schedule school tours by early 2026 — Dubai College opens its Year 7 window as early as October, and key year groups across all schools fill well ahead of the academic year.