Affordable IB Schools in Dubai 2026: Fees & Ratings
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IB / American
57K - 99K AED
Al Khalidiyah
Last updated · Sources: ADEK inspection reports · methodology
American Community School of Abu Dhabi (ACS) is an American school and IB World School located in Khalidiya Area. Operating as a nonprofit institution since 1972, the school delivers an American standards-based curriculum alongside the International Baccalaureate programme.
The school serves approximately 1,200 students from KG1 through Grade 12, welcoming both boys and girls from over 80 nationalities. The academic year runs across two semesters, from late August to December and January to June.
ACS holds accreditation from the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. The curriculum offers instruction in English, with Spanish, French and Arabic available as foreign languages. High school students can pursue Advanced Placement courses and the IB Diploma Programme. Beyond academics, the school provides opportunities in arts, athletics and community service.
Annual tuition fees range from AED 56,526 to AED 99,060. The campus is accessible for families residing in Khalidyah.
The academic year of some recorded fees has not been verified against its source. Confirm current rates with the school before using them.
Annual tuition at American Community School of Abu Dhabi (ACS) ranges from AED 56,526 (KG1/FS2) to AED 99,060 (G9/Y10) for 2026-2027, across 14 year groups, or about AED 4,711 to AED 8,255 a month.
| Grade Level | Annual Fees (recorded) | Est. Monthly | Fact Sheet |
|---|---|---|---|
| KG1/FS22026-2027 (year unverified) | 56,526 AED | ~4,711 AED | - |
| KG2/Y12026-2027 (year unverified) | 81,912 AED | ~6,826 AED | - |
| G1/Y22026-2027 (year unverified) | 81,912 AED | ~6,826 AED | - |
| G2/Y32026-2027 (year unverified) | 81,912 AED | ~6,826 AED | - |
| G3/Y42026-2027 (year unverified) | 81,912 AED | ~6,826 AED | - |
| G4/Y52026-2027 (year unverified) | 81,912 AED | ~6,826 AED | - |
| G5/Y62026-2027 (year unverified) | 81,912 AED | ~6,826 AED | - |
| G6/Y72026-2027 (year unverified) | 85,627 AED | ~7,136 AED | - |
| G7/Y82026-2027 (year unverified) | 85,627 AED | ~7,136 AED | - |
| G8/Y92026-2027 (year unverified) | 85,627 AED | ~7,136 AED | - |
| G9/Y102026-2027 (year unverified) | 99,060 AED | ~8,255 AED | - |
| G10/Y112026-2027 (year unverified) | 91,148 AED | ~7,596 AED | - |
| G11/Y122026-2027 (year unverified) | 99,060 AED | ~8,255 AED | - |
| G12/Y132026-2027 (year unverified) | 99,060 AED | ~8,255 AED | - |
ADEK rated American Community School of Abu Dhabi (ACS) "Outstanding" in its 2022-2023 inspection, up from "Very good" at the previous inspection. The school has been inspected 4 times since 2012-2013.
Inspectors rated the American Community School of Abu Dhabi Outstanding overall. English, Mathematics and Science attainment and progress ranged from Very Good to Outstanding across phases, teaching, assessment and health and safety were rated Outstanding or Very Good, and leadership was Outstanding, while Arabic and Islamic Education attainment stayed Acceptable.
Source: ADEK inspection report 2022-2023 (PDF, pages 1-8), inspected 22-May-2023 to 25-May-2023. Restated by BestSchool.ae.
Of the 50 performance indicators rated in both reports, 18 improved, 0 declined and 32 kept the same rating.
and 10 more
Of the 3 recommendations made in 2016-2017, 2 can be checked against the 2022-2023 ratings: 2 show an improvement.
Attainment in Arabic First Language (Primary): Weak → Acceptable · Progress in Arabic Second Language (Primary): Acceptable → Good · Progress in Arabic Second Language (Phase 3 (S/M/C2)): Acceptable → Good · Progress in Arabic Second Language (Phase 4 (P-16/HS/C3)): Acceptable → Good
Attainment in Arabic First Language (Primary): Weak → Acceptable · Progress in Arabic Second Language (Primary): Acceptable → Good · Progress in Arabic Second Language (Phase 3 (S/M/C2)): Acceptable → Good · Progress in Arabic Second Language (Phase 4 (P-16/HS/C3)): Acceptable → Good
| Indicator | Phase | 2016-2017 | 2022-2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students' achievement | |||
| Attainment in Islamic Education | Primary | Weak | Acceptable |
| Attainment in Islamic Education | Phase 3 (S/M/C2) | Weak | Acceptable |
| Attainment in Islamic Education | Phase 4 (P-16/HS/C3) | Weak | Acceptable |
| Progress in Islamic Education | Primary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Progress in Islamic Education | Phase 3 (S/M/C2) | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Progress in Islamic Education | Phase 4 (P-16/HS/C3) | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Arabic (First Language) — Attainment | KG | Weak | - |
| Attainment in Arabic First Language | Primary | Weak | Acceptable |
| Attainment in Arabic First Language | Phase 3 (S/M/C2) | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Attainment in Arabic First Language | Phase 4 (P-16/HS/C3) | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Arabic (First Language) — Progress | KG | Acceptable | - |
| Progress in Arabic First Language | Primary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Progress in Arabic First Language | Phase 3 (S/M/C2) | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Progress in Arabic First Language | Phase 4 (P-16/HS/C3) | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Arabic (Second Language) — Attainment | KG | Acceptable | - |
| Attainment in Arabic Second Language | Primary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Attainment in Arabic Second Language | Phase 3 (S/M/C2) | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Attainment in Arabic Second Language | Phase 4 (P-16/HS/C3) | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Arabic (Second Language) — Progress | KG | Good | - |
| Progress in Arabic Second Language | Primary | Acceptable | Good |
| Progress in Arabic Second Language | Phase 3 (S/M/C2) | Acceptable | Good |
| Progress in Arabic Second Language | Phase 4 (P-16/HS/C3) | Acceptable | Good |
| Social Studies — Attainment | Primary | Acceptable | - |
| Social Studies — Attainment | Middle | Weak | - |
| Social Studies — Progress | Primary | Acceptable | - |
| Social Studies — Progress | Middle | Weak | - |
| Attainment in English | Foundation Stage | Very good | Very good |
| Attainment in English | Primary | Very good | Very good |
| Attainment in English | Phase 3 (S/M/C2) | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| Attainment in English | Phase 4 (P-16/HS/C3) | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| Progress in English | Foundation Stage | Very good | Very good |
| Progress in English | Primary | Very good | Very good |
| Progress in English | Phase 3 (S/M/C2) | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| Progress in English | Phase 4 (P-16/HS/C3) | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| Attainment in Mathematics | Foundation Stage | Very good | Very good |
| Attainment in Mathematics | Primary | Very good | Very good |
| Attainment in Mathematics | Phase 3 (S/M/C2) | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| Attainment in Mathematics | Phase 4 (P-16/HS/C3) | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| Progress in Mathematics | Foundation Stage | Very good | Very good |
| Progress in Mathematics | Primary | Very good | Very good |
| Progress in Mathematics | Phase 3 (S/M/C2) | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| Progress in Mathematics | Phase 4 (P-16/HS/C3) | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| Attainment in Sciences | Foundation Stage | Good | Very good |
| Attainment in Sciences | Primary | Good | Very good |
| Attainment in Sciences | Phase 3 (S/M/C2) | Very good | Outstanding |
| Attainment in Sciences | Phase 4 (P-16/HS/C3) | Very good | Outstanding |
| Progress in Sciences | Foundation Stage | Good | Very good |
| Progress in Sciences | Primary | Good | Very good |
| Progress in Sciences | Phase 3 (S/M/C2) | Very good | Outstanding |
| Progress in Sciences | Phase 4 (P-16/HS/C3) | Very good | Outstanding |
| Other subjects (Art, Music, PE) — Attainment | KG | Very good | - |
| Other subjects (Art, Music, PE) — Attainment | Primary | Very good | - |
| Other subjects (Art, Music, PE) — Attainment | Middle | Outstanding | - |
| Other subjects (Art, Music, PE) — Attainment | High | Outstanding | - |
| Other subjects (Art, Music, PE) — Progress | KG | Very good | - |
| Other subjects (Art, Music, PE) — Progress | Primary | Very good | - |
| Other subjects (Art, Music, PE) — Progress | Middle | Outstanding | - |
| Other subjects (Art, Music, PE) — Progress | High | Outstanding | - |
| Students' learning skills | Foundation Stage | Very good | Very good |
| Students' learning skills | Primary | Very good | Very good |
| Students' learning skills | Phase 3 (S/M/C2) | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| Students' learning skills | Phase 4 (P-16/HS/C3) | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| Students' personal and social development, and their innovation skills | |||
| Personal development | KG | Outstanding | - |
| Personal development | Primary | Outstanding | - |
| Personal development | Middle | Outstanding | - |
| Personal development | High | Outstanding | - |
| Understanding of Islamic values and awareness of Emirati and world cultures | KG | Good | - |
| Understanding of Islamic values and awareness of Emirati and world cultures | Primary | Good | - |
| Understanding of Islamic values and awareness of Emirati and world cultures | Middle | Good | - |
| Understanding of Islamic values and awareness of Emirati and world cultures | High | Good | - |
| Social responsibility and innovation skills | KG | Outstanding | - |
| Social responsibility and innovation skills | Primary | Outstanding | - |
| Social responsibility and innovation skills | Middle | Outstanding | - |
| Social responsibility and innovation skills | High | Outstanding | - |
| Teaching and assessment | |||
| Teaching for effective learning | KG | Good | - |
| Teaching for effective learning | Primary | Good | - |
| Teaching for effective learning | Middle | Very good | - |
| Teaching for effective learning | High | Very good | - |
| Assessment | Foundation Stage | Very good | Very good |
| Assessment | Primary | Good | Very good |
| Assessment | Phase 3 (S/M/C2) | Very good | Outstanding |
| Assessment | Phase 4 (P-16/HS/C3) | Very good | Outstanding |
| Teaching | Foundation Stage | - | Very good |
| Teaching | Primary | - | Very good |
| Teaching | Phase 3 (S/M/C2) | - | Outstanding |
| Teaching | Phase 4 (P-16/HS/C3) | - | Outstanding |
| Protection, care, guidance and support | |||
| Health & safety | Foundation Stage | - | Outstanding |
| Health & safety | Primary | - | Outstanding |
| Health & safety | Phase 3 (S/M/C2) | - | Outstanding |
| Health & safety | Phase 4 (P-16/HS/C3) | - | Outstanding |
| Care & support | Foundation Stage | - | Very good |
| Care & support | Primary | - | Very good |
| Care & support | Phase 3 (S/M/C2) | - | Very good |
| Care & support | Phase 4 (P-16/HS/C3) | - | Very good |
| Leadership and management | |||
| Effectiveness of leadership | Whole school | - | Outstanding |
| Self evaluation & improvement | Whole school | - | Outstanding |
| Partnerships with parents | Whole school | - | Outstanding |
| Governance | Whole school | - | Very good |
| Management | Whole school | - | Very good |
ACS Abu Dhabi is rated very good overall, with outstanding personal development, innovation and resources. English, mathematics and science achievement is very good to outstanding, especially in middle and high school, but Arabic and Islamic education remain weak to acceptable, and governance has not resolved this since the last inspection.
Source: ADEK inspection report 2016-2017 (PDF, pages 2-17), inspected October 31, 2016 to November 3, 2016. Restated by BestSchool.ae.
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