11 Best Private Schools in Dubai 2026-27 — Fees, Admission & KHDA Reviews

Nord Anglia International School Dubai (NAS Dubai) is a KHDA Outstanding-rated, co-educational school in Al Barsha South, operated by Nord Anglia Education, serving FS1 to Year 13 with annual fees of AED 69,625 (FS1–FS2) to AED 105,288 (Years 12–13) for 2025–2026 — the first school in Dubai to achieve KHDA Outstanding in every single assessment criterion across every phase in 2023–2024.

What You Need to Know

• Nord Anglia International School Dubai achieved Outstanding in every single DSIB quality indicator across every phase in 2023–2024 — the most comprehensive Outstanding inspection result in Dubai — with Outstanding English, Mathematics, and Science attainment and progress across all four phases (Foundation Stage, Primary, Secondary, Post-16).
• Nord Anglia International School Dubai is part of the global Nord Anglia Education group of 80+ schools, which provides exclusive worldwide learning partnerships including collaborative programmes with MIT and Juilliard School, giving NAS Dubai students access to learning experiences that no standalone school can match.
• Nord Anglia International School Dubai offers both the IB Diploma Programme and an A-Level pathway in Years 12–13, giving students genuine flexibility in their post-16 qualification — a rare dual-track Sixth Form that caters to both IB-oriented and A-Level-oriented universities and career paths.
• Nord Anglia International School Dubai has consistently improved from Good (2016–2017) through Very Good (2017–2020) to Outstanding (2022–2023 and 2023–2024), confirming that the school's quality trajectory is not a one-inspection result but an embedded and sustained culture of improvement.

Nord Anglia International School Dubai — School Performance

Source: DSIB Inspection 2023–2024

Summary Report | Full Inspection Report

Nord Anglia International School Dubai — Annual Fees 2025–2026

Fees confirmed directly from the KHDA profile page for NAS Dubai (CenterID=2222). Contact NAS Dubai at www.nasdubai.ae for the confirmed 2025–2026 schedule. Application fee AED 525 (VAT inclusive); registration deposit 10% of annual tuition due on acceptance.

Nord Anglia International School Dubai — Admission Process

1. Enquire → Submit an online enquiry form at www.nasdubai.ae; the admissions team will respond to arrange a school visit and initial consultation
2. Apply → Complete the online application with required documents: passport, Emirates ID, school reports (last two years), transfer certificate, and vaccination records; pay the application fee of AED 525
3. Assessment → Age-appropriate academic assessment arranged for all year groups; FS assessments are observational; secondary assessments include academic testing
4. Decision → Offer letter issued following successful assessment and KHDA enrolment approval; places are limited and demand is high across all year groups
5. Enrol → Pay 10% registration deposit (non-refundable, non-transferable); term fees payable at start of September, January, and April

Jumeirah College is a KHDA Outstanding-rated, co-educational British secondary school in Al Safa, operated by GEMS Education, serving Year 7 to Year 13 only, with annual fees of AED 78,946 (Years 7–9) to AED 98,681 (Years 12–13) for 2025–2026 — one of the most academically prestigious secondary schools in Dubai, holding Outstanding KHDA ratings across every inspection since 2010–2011.

What You Need to Know

• Jumeirah College has held a KHDA Outstanding rating in every single inspection since 2010–2011 — now fourteen consecutive Outstanding ratings — making it one of the most consistently highly-rated IGCSE and A-Level schools in Dubai's history.
• Jumeirah College is a secondary school only, serving Year 7 to Year 13 — families with younger children will need a separate primary arrangement before transitioning to Jumeirah College at Year 7, which makes it ideal for families arriving in Dubai with children of secondary age.
• Jumeirah College achieved Outstanding mathematics and science attainment and progress in both Secondary and Post-16 phases in 2023–2024, with Outstanding English across both phases — a top-tier academic profile that places it among the strongest examination schools in the region.
• Jumeirah College is the A-Level counterpart to the primary and secondary pipeline: many families enrol children at Kings' School Dubai (FS1–Year 6, also Outstanding) or other GEMS primary schools, then transition to Jumeirah College for Year 7, creating a coherent GEMS-ecosystem academic journey.

Jumeirah College — School Performance

Source: DSIB Inspection 2023–2024

Summary Report | Full Inspection Report

Jumeirah College — Annual Fees 2025–2026

Fees confirmed directly from the KHDA profile page for Jumeirah College (CenterID=71). Contact Jumeirah College at www.gemsjc.com for the confirmed 2025–2026 schedule. GEMS Education application fee AED 525 (VAT inclusive); 10% registration deposit due on acceptance.

Jumeirah College — Admission Process

1. Apply → Submit an online application via GEMS Education at www.gemsjc.com; Jumeirah College is Year 7 entry only — there is no primary section
2. Assessment → Competitive academic assessment in English, Mathematics, and Science; entry at Year 7 is highly competitive with more applicants than places in most years
3. Sixth Form Entry → Year 12 entry is available for external applicants who meet the GCSE/IGCSE grade requirements for A-Level subjects of choice (typically grade 6 or above in relevant subjects)
4. Decision → Offer letter issued subject to assessment results and availability; Year 7 cohort composition is determined each April
5. Enrol → Complete KHDA documentation and pay registration deposit; term fees payable at start of September, January, and April; applications for September 2026 should be submitted by January 2026

Dubai College is a KHDA Outstanding-rated, co-educational British secondary school in Al Sufouh, operating as a not-for-profit institution, serving Year 7 to Year 13 only, with annual fees of AED 97,415 (Years 7–11) to AED 110,305 (Years 12–13) for 2025–2026 — Dubai's oldest continuously-operating international secondary school (founded 1978) and consistently Outstanding for more than a decade.

What You Need to Know

• Dubai College is a not-for-profit school — the only not-for-profit secondary school on this list — meaning fee income is reinvested directly into the school rather than returned to shareholders, and it operates with a charitable-style governance structure that gives parent governors a genuine seat at the table.
• Dubai College requires new students to pay a refundable debenture of AED 30,000 upon admission, which is returned when the student leaves the school — a distinctive financial mechanism that partially funds capital investment and is repayable in full, making the effective entry cost higher than the listed annual tuition but partially recoverable.
• Dubai College has held a KHDA Outstanding rating in every inspection since 2010–2011 — the same length of consecutive Outstanding ratings as Jumeirah College — with Outstanding scores across English, Mathematics, Science, Curriculum, Teaching, and Leadership in 2023–2024.
• Dubai College is the most expensive school on this list with Year 12–13 fees at AED 110,305 per year, reflecting its status as one of the most selective and prestigious A-Level schools in the UAE — a school that alumni consistently describe as one of the closest experiences to a top UK independent school available in Dubai.

Dubai College — School Performance

Source: DSIB Inspection 2023–2024

Summary Report | Full Inspection Report

Dubai College — Annual Fees 2025–2026

Fees confirmed directly from the KHDA profile page for Dubai College (CenterID=70). Note: a refundable debenture of AED 30,000 is payable by new students on admission, in addition to annual tuition. Contact Dubai College at www.dubaicollege.org for the confirmed 2025–2026 schedule and debenture terms.

Dubai College — Admission Process

1. Register → Contact Dubai College at www.dubaicollege.org; Year 7 places are allocated in February–March for the following September; applications should be submitted by December of the year prior to intended entry
2. Assessment → Competitive academic assessment in English, Mathematics, and Science; entry is highly selective with demand significantly outpacing availability
3. Sixth Form Entry → External applicants to Year 12 must meet A-Level subject requirements (typically GCSE grade 6 or above in relevant subjects) and attend an interview
4. Debenture → New students pay a AED 30,000 refundable debenture (non-interest bearing) to secure the place; this is returned when the student leaves
5. Enrol → Complete KHDA enrolment documentation; term fees payable at start of September, January, and April

Repton School Dubai is a KHDA Outstanding-rated, co-educational boarding and day school in Nad Al Sheba 3, part of the Cognita group, serving FS1 to Year 13 with annual fees of AED 52,863 (FS1) to AED 95,000 (Year 13) for 2025–2026 — the first overseas sister school of historic Repton UK (founded 1557), and one of only two schools in the UAE to offer full boarding facilities.

What You Need to Know

• Repton School Dubai is one of only two schools in the UAE to offer a full boarding programme, with separate boarding houses for boys and girls, providing full-time and weekly boarding options for students from Year 7 onwards — making it the school of choice for families who need or want a boarding environment within the UAE.
• Repton School Dubai offers three distinct post-16 pathways — the IB Diploma Programme, A-Level, and BTEC — a breadth of qualification options that is rare even among premium schools in Dubai and allows students to choose the pathway that best suits their academic profile and university aspirations.
• Repton School Dubai has maintained a KHDA Outstanding rating across every inspection since 2014–2015, now spanning seven consecutive inspection cycles, making it one of the most consistently-rated schools in the emirate and confirming the sustained quality of its educational provision across a full FS1 to Year 13 programme.
• Repton School Dubai has the largest Emirati student community of any school on this list with 458 Emirati students (approximately 19% of the total student body) — a significant indicator of the school's standing within the UAE national community and its cultural sensitivity, which the DSIB inspection has consistently highlighted.

Repton School Dubai — School Performance

Source: DSIB Inspection 2023–2024

Full Inspection Report

Repton School Dubai — Annual Fees 2025–2026

Fee range confirmed as AED 52,863–95,000 from squareyards.ae and multiple published sources. Contact Repton School Dubai at www.reptondubai.org for the full confirmed 2025–2026 per-grade schedule. A 5% advance payment discount is available; 5% sibling discount from the third child onwards. Boarding fees are charged additionally.

Repton School Dubai — Admission Process

1. Enquire → Submit an online enquiry at www.reptondubai.org or call 800 REPTON (737866); the school will contact you to arrange a campus visit
2. Assessment → Age-appropriate academic assessment arranged by the admissions team; the school contacts parents within three business days following the assessment
3. Decision → Offer issued subject to assessment outcome and seat availability; new students pay a registration deposit of 10% of annual tuition; current students pay 5%
4. Boarding → Families interested in boarding should contact the admissions team to discuss boarding house availability and requirements; boarding is available from Year 7
5. Enrol → Complete KHDA documentation and pay required fees before the September academic year start; a 5% discount is applied if full annual tuition is paid upfront

Safa Community School (SCS) is a KHDA Outstanding-rated, co-educational British curriculum school in Al Barsha South, sister school to the established Safa British School, serving FS1 to Year 13 with annual fees of AED 54,437 (FS1–FS2) to AED 89,440 (Year 13) for 2025–2026 — a school that achieved Outstanding for the first time in 2023–2024 after three consecutive Very Good inspections, and holds both KHDA and BSO Outstanding accreditations.

What You Need to Know

• Safa Community School achieved both KHDA Outstanding and BSO Outstanding in the same inspection cycle — the highest possible ratings from two independent regulatory bodies simultaneously — confirming that its quality is not limited to one measurement framework but is genuinely systemic across all aspects of provision.
• Safa Community School won the prestigious Happiest School in the UAE award at the 2023–2024 Top Schools Awards, an accolade that reflects the school's extraordinary PIRLS reading score of 610 (exceeding its DSIB target of 567 by 43 points) and its consistently high student and parent satisfaction surveys.
• Safa Community School is the only school on this list that offers a 50% tuition fee scholarship for students progressing from Year 11 to Year 12 who maintain grades of 8 or above — a genuinely accessible financial support mechanism for families at the point of Sixth Form entry.
• Safa Community School is heavily oversubscribed across all year groups — with particular waiting lists in Foundation Stage and Years 1–4 — meaning families should apply as early as possible; the school currently has more applications than places in almost every year group.

Safa Community School — School Performance

Source: DSIB Inspection 2023–2024

Full Inspection Report

Safa Community School — Annual Fees 2025–2026

Fee range confirmed as AED 54,437–89,440 from Khaleej Times and squareyards.ae. Contact Safa Community School at www.safacommunityschool.com for the confirmed 2025–2026 per-grade schedule. Year 11–12 scholarship: 50% fee waiver for students with grade 8 or above who progress internally. Payments by cash, cheque, or bank transfer.

Safa Community School — Admission Process

1. Enquire → Visit www.safacommunityschool.com and submit an enquiry; note that SCS is heavily oversubscribed — most year groups operate on waiting lists; early enquiry is essential
2. Apply → Complete the online application form with required documents: passport, Emirates ID, school reports, vaccination records, and any SEND/EAL documentation where relevant
3. Assessment → Age-appropriate academic assessment arranged by the admissions team
4. Decision → Offers communicated following assessment and review; families on the waiting list are informed as places become available
5. Enrol → Pay required deposit and complete KHDA documentation before the September academic year start

Deira International School (DIS) is a KHDA Outstanding-rated, co-educational school in Dubai Festival City, managed by the not-for-profit Al Futtaim Education Foundation, serving FS1 to Year 13, with annual fees of AED 43,592 (FS1) to AED 87,825 (Year 13) for 2025–2026 — the most affordable Outstanding school on this list, and the only Outstanding IGCSE and IB Diploma school in Dubai accessible at under AED 45,000 per year at Foundation Stage entry.

What You Need to Know

• Deira International School achieved KHDA Outstanding for the second consecutive year in 2023–2024, having followed an exceptional long-term improvement journey from Acceptable through Good, Very Good, and finally Outstanding — one of the most compelling school improvement stories in Dubai.
• Deira International School is one of only a handful of schools globally to offer both the IB Diploma Programme (IBDP) and the IB Career-related Programme (IBCP) — the latter integrating BTEC Level 3 qualifications in Business and Travel & Tourism alongside IB core elements — providing a genuinely multi-pathway Sixth Form.
• Deira International School is managed by the Al Futtaim Education Foundation, a not-for-profit arm of the Al Futtaim Group (developers of Dubai Festival City), which means the school's surpluses are reinvested into educational provision rather than distributed to investors — a governance structure that supports long-term educational quality.
• Deira International School has recorded IB results consistently above UAE IB norms in recent years, including a 100% pass rate for the IB Diploma and IB Career-related Programme in the 2025 examination session — a result that positions DIS among the strongest IB providers in the UAE.

Deira International School — School Performance

Source: DSIB Inspection 2023–2024

Full Inspection Report

Deira International School — Annual Fees 2025–2026

Fee range confirmed as AED 43,592–87,825 (Bayut) / AED 44,616–89,889 (Khaleej Times) from published sources. Contact DIS at www.disdubai.ae for the confirmed 2025–2026 per-grade schedule and detailed fee fact sheets. Scholarships available for outstanding IB academic achievement, creative arts, sporting excellence, and Emirati students.

Deira International School — Admission Process

1. Apply → Complete the online application form at www.disdubai.ae; DIS operates rolling admissions year-round and can accommodate mid-year transfers
2. Documents → Submit passport, Emirates ID, previous school reports, transfer certificate, and vaccination records
3. Assessment → Age-appropriate academic assessment arranged by the admissions team
4. Decision → Parents notified of the outcome; the school accommodates applicants at any time subject to year group availability
5. Enrol → Pay the required fees and complete KHDA enrolment documentation; transport via MAVERICK ranges from AED 4,700–9,300 per year (two-way service)

Jumeirah English Speaking School (JESS) Arabian Ranches is a KHDA Outstanding-rated, co-educational school in Arabian Ranches, a not-for-profit school managed by the Al Futtaim Education Foundation, serving FS1 to Year 11 with British curriculum then IB Diploma in Grades 12–13, with annual fees of AED 54,130 (FS1) to AED 105,607 (IB Grades 12–13) for 2025–2026.

What You Need to Know

• JESS Arabian Ranches has held a KHDA Outstanding rating in every inspection since 2013–2014, with the exception of a single Very Good year in 2017–2018, making it one of the most consistently high-performing all-through schools in Dubai and a school with deep community roots in the Arabian Ranches and wider Dubailand residential corridor.
• JESS Arabian Ranches transitions from the British curriculum (FS1–Year 11) to the IB Diploma Programme exclusively in Grades 12–13, rather than offering a parallel A-Level option — families should be aware of this when planning university applications, as the IB pathway requires students to commit to six subjects across two years rather than three or four A-Level subjects.
• JESS Arabian Ranches is managed by the Al Futtaim Education Foundation on a not-for-profit basis, a governance structure shared with Deira International School, which means educational surpluses are directed back into the school's provision rather than to investors.
• JESS Arabian Ranches achieved Outstanding Mathematics and Science attainment and progress across all four phases in 2023–2024, Outstanding Curriculum across all phases, and Outstanding Teaching & Assessment across almost all phases — a comprehensive quality result that confirms the school's strength is institution-wide rather than phase-specific.

JESS Arabian Ranches — School Performance

Source: DSIB Inspection 2023–2024

Full Inspection Report

JESS Arabian Ranches — Annual Fees 2025–2026

Fees confirmed directly from the KHDA profile page for JESS Arabian Ranches (CenterID=131). Contact JESS at www.jess.sch.ae for the confirmed 2025–2026 schedule. Note the significant fee step-up from Year 6 (AED 65,100) to Year 7 (AED 92,857); plan budgets accordingly. Application fee AED 525.

JESS Arabian Ranches — Admission Process

1. Enquire → Submit an online enquiry at www.jess.sch.ae; JESS operates a waiting list for most year groups and Foundation Stage in particular
2. Apply → Complete the application form with required documents; contact the admissions team at director@jess.sch.ae
3. Assessment → Age-appropriate placement assessment for all year groups; FS1 entry involves a developmental observation; secondary entry includes academic testing
4. Decision → Offer issued subject to assessment results and seat availability
5. Enrol → Pay registration deposit and complete KHDA documentation; all-through families should note that Grades 12–13 switch exclusively to the IB Diploma — there is no A-Level option at this campus

Kings' School Dubai is a KHDA Outstanding-rated, co-educational British primary school in Umm Suqeim 3, serving FS1 to Year 6 only, with annual fees of AED 47,179 (FS1–FS2) to AED 71,801 (Years 5–6) for 2025–2026 — a primary school only, with no IGCSE programme at this campus; students progress to Kings' School Al Barsha for secondary.

What You Need to Know

• Kings' School Dubai is a primary school only (FS1–Year 6) and does not offer IGCSE — it is included in this guide because it feeds a significant proportion of its Year 6 leavers into secondary IGCSE schools, including the Outstanding-rated Kings' School Al Barsha, and is widely sought by families planning for secondary school in Dubai.
• Kings' School Dubai has held a KHDA Outstanding rating in every inspection since 2008–2009 — now fifteen consecutive Outstanding ratings — the longest uninterrupted streak of Outstanding ratings of any school on this list, and one of the most sustained records of quality in all of Dubai's private education sector.
• Kings' School Dubai's 2023–2024 inspection gave Outstanding scores across every single criterion — English, Mathematics, Science, Curriculum, Teaching, Health & Safety, Leadership, Personal Development, and Learning Skills — across both Foundation Stage and Primary phases, with no exceptions.
• Kings' School Dubai is a natural feeder school for Kings' School Al Barsha (also KHDA Outstanding, serving Years 7–13 with IGCSE and A-Levels) — families who want the full Kings' journey from FS1 through to A-Level typically begin here and transfer at Year 7.

Kings' School Dubai — School Performance

Source: DSIB Inspection 2023–2024

Full Inspection Report

Kings' School Dubai — Annual Fees 2025–2026

Fees confirmed directly from the KHDA profile page for Kings' School Dubai (CenterID=115). Contact Kings' School Dubai at kings-edu.com/dubai/ for the confirmed 2025–2026 schedule. Note: IGCSE is available at Kings' School Al Barsha (separate school, Outstanding-rated) from Year 7 onwards.

Kings' School Dubai — Admission Process

1. Apply → Contact the admissions team at kings-edu.com/dubai/; Kings' Dubai is consistently oversubscribed — FS1 places fill early in the year
2. Assessment → Age-appropriate placement assessment for all year groups; FS assessments are observational
3. Decision → Offer communicated subject to assessment and seat availability; demand is highest for FS1 and Year 1
4. Enrol → Complete KHDA enrolment documentation and pay required fees; all fees payable in three terms (September, January, April)
5. Secondary Planning → At Year 6 exit, families should note that Kings' Al Barsha (secondary, Outstanding, IGCSE + A-Level) is the natural progression — admission to Kings' Al Barsha is not automatic and involves a separate assessment process

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.

The Westminster School Dubai — School Performance

Source: DSIB Inspection 2023–2024

Full Inspection Report

The Westminster School Dubai — Annual Fees 2025–2026

Contact The Westminster School Dubai at www.gemsws-ghusais.com for the 2025–2026 KHDA-approved per-grade schedule. Application fee AED 525.

The Westminster School Dubai — 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

GEMS Wellington International School is a KHDA Outstanding-rated, co-educational British and IB curriculum school in Al Sufouh, operated by GEMS Education, serving FS1 to Year 13 with annual fees of AED 47,527 (FS1) to AED 103,399 (Years 12–13) for 2025–2026 — one of only two English schools in Dubai to offer the IB Diploma Programme as the exclusive post-16 pathway alongside A-Levels in Years 12–13, with Outstanding KHDA ratings in every inspection since 2009–2010.

What You Need to Know

• GEMS Wellington International School has held a KHDA Outstanding rating in every inspection since 2009–2010 — now fifteen consecutive Outstanding ratings — achieving Outstanding Mathematics, Science, English, Curriculum, Teaching, Personal Development, and Leadership across all four phases (Foundation Stage, Primary, Secondary, Post-16) in 2023–2024.
• GEMS Wellington International School offers the IB Diploma Programme in Years 12–13 as one of two post-16 routes — a dual-track Sixth Form that gives students a genuine choice between the internationally recognised IB qualification and the UK A-Level pathway, depending on their university targets and learning preferences.
• GEMS Wellington International School's 2023–2024 inspection awarded Outstanding across every single assessment criterion in every phase, including both Wellbeing and Inclusion at Outstanding — a comprehensive result placing it firmly among Dubai's highest-performing all-through English curriculum schools.
• GEMS Wellington International School is located in Al Sufouh 1, close to Sheikh Zayed Road, making it highly accessible for families living in the Marina, JBR, JLT, Al Barsha, and Jumeirah areas — one of the most commuter-friendly locations of any Outstanding school in Dubai.

GEMS Wellington International School — School Performance

Source: DSIB Inspection 2023–2024

Summary Report | Full Inspection Report

GEMS Wellington International School — Annual Fees 2025–2026

Fees confirmed directly from the KHDA profile page for GEMS Wellington International School (CenterID=122). Contact the school at www.wellingtoninternationalschool.com for the confirmed 2025–2026 schedule. Application fee AED 525 (VAT inclusive). Registration deposit 10% of annual tuition.

GEMS Wellington International School — Admission Process

1. Apply → Submit an online application via the GEMS Education admissions portal at www.wellingtoninternationalschool.com; pay the application fee of AED 525
2. Documents → Passport, Emirates ID, previous school reports (last two years), transfer certificate, and vaccination records
3. Assessment → Age-appropriate academic assessment arranged for all year groups; FS assessment is observational; secondary assessments include English, Mathematics, and Science
4. Decision → Offer letter issued following assessment and review; demand is high across all year groups
5. Enrol → Pay the 10% registration deposit and complete KHDA enrolment documentation; term fees payable in September, January, and April

Cambridge International School Dubai (CIS) is a KHDA Good-rated, co-educational British curriculum school in Al Twar 1, operated by GEMS Education, serving FS1 to Year 13 with annual fees of AED 23,249 (FS1) to AED 35,931 (Years 12–13) for 2025–2026 — the most affordable all-through private school on this list offering IGCSE and A-Level pathways, with over four decades of examination history and individual students placing first in the World and first in the UAE in Cambridge IGCSE and A-Level examinations.

What You Need to Know

• Cambridge International School Dubai has delivered individual IGCSE and A-Level results placing students first in the World and first in the UAE — over the last three years, three CIS students have topped the World and 18 have topped the UAE in IGCSE and A-Level examinations, receiving the University of Cambridge Outstanding Learner Award — a remarkable examination outcome for a mid-range private school.
• Cambridge International School Dubai offers one of the widest A-Level and IGCSE subject menus of any mid-range private school in Dubai, with A-Level options spanning Accounting, Biology, Business Studies, Chemistry, Computing, Economics, Mathematics, Physics, Psychology, Sociology, and over 20 further subjects across Science, Commerce, and Arts streams.
• Cambridge International School Dubai's 2024 A-Level results show a 98% pass rate across 635 examination entries from 200 students, with 7% at A* grade — and at IGCSE, 469 students sat 1,645 examinations with 88% achieving A*-C (Grades 9–4) — examination outcomes that significantly exceed what the school's Good KHDA rating might lead parents to expect.
• Cambridge International School Dubai's KHDA 2023–2024 inspection awarded Outstanding for Personal and Social Development (10 of 12 indicators) and Outstanding for Curriculum quality in Secondary and Post-16 — confirming that in the phases most relevant to IGCSE and A-Level families, the school's provision is meaningfully stronger than its overall Good rating suggests.

Cambridge International School Dubai — School Performance

Source: DSIB Inspection 2023–2024

Full Inspection Report

Cambridge International School Dubai — Annual Fees 2025–2026

Fee range confirmed as AED 23,249–35,931 from published sources. Contact Cambridge International School Dubai at www.gemscis-dubai.com for the confirmed 2025–2026 KHDA-approved per-grade schedule. Application fee AED 525 (VAT inclusive). Registration deposit 10% of annual tuition, adjusted against first term fees. GEMS scholarships available in Academic Excellence, Creative and Performing Arts, Sports, Innovative and Digital Technology, and Arabic Studies.

Cambridge International School Dubai — Admission Process

1. Register → Submit an online enquiry at www.gemscis-dubai.com to generate a student inquiry ID number
2. Apply → Pay the AED 525 application fee (VAT inclusive); submit required documents: Emirates ID, vaccination card, previous school reports, and transfer certificate
3. Assessment → Age-appropriate academic placement assessment arranged by the admissions team
4. Decision → Offer letter communicated following assessment; registration deposit (10% of annual tuition) due within 7 days of acceptance, adjusted against first term fees
5. Enrol → Complete KHDA enrolment documentation; fees payable in three terms before September start; GEMS Enrichment 365 programme provides optional additional subject classes including Cambridge English, French, and Cisco IT qualifications

Frequently Asked Questions

How does KHDA regulate private schools in Dubai? The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) is Dubai's government regulatory body responsible for the quality of all private schools in the emirate. It inspects private schools annually through its Dubai Schools Inspection Bureau (DSIB) and rates them on a six-point scale: Outstanding, Very Good, Good, Acceptable, Weak, and Very Weak. Inspections assess seven key criteria — Students' Achievement, Personal and Social Development, Teaching and Assessment, Curriculum, Health Safety and Care, Leadership and Management, and Wellbeing — as well as performance in English, Mathematics, Science, Arabic, and Islamic Education. Importantly, private schools in Dubai will not undergo full KHDA inspections in 2024–25 or 2025–26, except for newly opened schools; the 2023–24 ratings on this list are the most current available and will remain valid until inspections resume.

What is the fee range for private schools in Dubai? Private school fees in Dubai span an exceptionally wide range. On this list alone, annual fees run from AED 7,860 (The Westminster School Dubai, FS1) to AED 117,933 (Brighton College Dubai, Years 9–13). Across Dubai's 209 inspected private schools, fees range from below AED 10,000 per year for some community schools to over AED 120,000 at the most premium campuses. The fee level a school charges is linked to its KHDA rating — schools that improve their rating are permitted to increase fees by up to 5.2%, while those that decline may face fee restrictions. As a general guide, KHDA Outstanding-rated British curriculum schools on this list range from AED 43,592 (Deira International School, FS1) to AED 110,305 (Dubai College, Year 12–13).

Which private schools in Dubai have the best KHDA ratings? Eight of the eleven schools on this list hold a KHDA Outstanding rating — the highest possible classification — based on the 2023–2024 inspection round: Nord Anglia International School Dubai, Jumeirah College, Dubai College, Repton School Dubai, Safa Community School, Deira International School, JESS Arabian Ranches, and Kings' School Dubai. Brighton College Dubai is rated Very Good, while The Westminster School Dubai and Cambridge International School Dubai are rated Good. For sustained Outstanding performance, Kings' School Dubai (15 consecutive Outstanding ratings since 2008–09) and GEMS Wellington International School (15 consecutive Outstanding ratings since 2009–10) hold the longest unbroken Outstanding records of any school on this list.

What curriculum do private schools in Dubai follow? The schools on this list all follow the British National Curriculum for England as their primary framework, making them the largest curriculum group in Dubai's private school sector. British curriculum schools follow the National Curriculum through primary, leading to IGCSE (Years 10–11) and A-Levels or IB Diploma (Years 12–13). Several schools on this list — NAS Dubai, GEMS Wellington International School, JESS Arabian Ranches, Repton School Dubai, Safa Community School, and Deira International School — are also IB World Schools, offering the IB Diploma Programme post-16. Dubai also has private schools following American, Indian (CBSE and ICSE), French, and other international curricula, though these are not represented on this list.

When should I apply to private schools in Dubai for September 2026 entry? For September 2026 entry, applications should be submitted between October 2025 and March 2026 for most year groups. The most time-critical deadlines are: Dubai College (Year 7 only — applications by December 2025); Jumeirah College (Year 7 only — applications by January 2026); Safa Community School, NAS Dubai, and JESS Arabian Ranches (heavily oversubscribed — apply immediately, especially for Foundation Stage and primary year groups); Kings' School Dubai (FS1 fills early — apply by January 2026 at the latest). Deira International School and Cambridge International School Dubai operate rolling admissions year-round and can accommodate mid-year applicants across most year groups. The Westminster School Dubai, given its large capacity of 5,241 students, typically has greater availability across year groups than smaller, more selective private schools on this list.

Conclusion

Dubai's private school sector encompasses 209 KHDA-inspected institutions, and this guide covers 11 of the most established British curriculum private schools — spanning fee levels from AED 7,860 (The Westminster School Dubai, FS1) to AED 117,933 (Brighton College Dubai, Years 9–13). Eight schools on this list hold KHDA Outstanding ratings, with Kings' School Dubai and GEMS Wellington International School both carrying 15 consecutive Outstanding rating records. For families seeking the most affordable Outstanding private school, Deira International School (from AED 43,592) delivers Outstanding quality with IB Diploma post-16 at a not-for-profit fee structure. For families where examination results matter most at a mid-range price, Cambridge International School Dubai (from AED 23,249, world-topping IGCSE results) is a strong consideration. Apply between October 2025 and March 2026 for September 2026 entry — the most in-demand private schools on this list fill their FS1 and Year 7 cohorts well before the academic year starts.