Affordable American Schools Dubai 2026: Fees & Ratings
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American
30K - 41K AED
Shakhbout City
Last updated · Sources: ADEK inspection reports · methodology
International Academic School is an American school located in Shakhbout City, Abu Dhabi. The school provides education based on the US Common Core State Standards and Core Knowledge Sequence, offering a structured learning pathway from early years through secondary education.
The school welcomes both boys and girls across four educational stages: Kindergarten, Elementary, Middle, and High School. Children begin Kindergarten at age three, progressing through a two-year programme before entering the five-year Elementary phase covering Grade 1 to Grade 5. Classrooms feature interactive whiteboards and modern educational resources designed for hands-on learning experiences.
The curriculum integrates science and social studies with core subjects including English, Mathematics, and Arts. Sciences align with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Arabic language instruction is available for both native and non-native speakers, while Islamic Studies follows Ministry of Education standards for Muslim students.
Annual tuition fees range from AED 30,270 to AED 40,720. The campus on 8th Street is easily accessible for families residing in Khalifa City B, MFW-31, and surrounding Shakhbout City communities.
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 International Academic School ranges from AED 30,270 (KG1/FS2) to AED 40,720 (G10/Y11) for 2026-2027, across 14 year groups, or about AED 2,523 to AED 3,393 a month.
| Grade Level | Annual Fees (recorded) | Est. Monthly | Fact Sheet |
|---|---|---|---|
| KG1/FS22026-2027 (year unverified) | 30,270 AED | ~2,523 AED | - |
| KG2/Y12026-2027 (year unverified) | 30,270 AED | ~2,523 AED | - |
| G1/Y22026-2027 (year unverified) | 33,410 AED | ~2,784 AED | - |
| G2/Y32026-2027 (year unverified) | 33,410 AED | ~2,784 AED | - |
| G3/Y42026-2027 (year unverified) | 33,410 AED | ~2,784 AED | - |
| G4/Y52026-2027 (year unverified) | 33,410 AED | ~2,784 AED | - |
| G5/Y62026-2027 (year unverified) | 33,410 AED | ~2,784 AED | - |
| G6/Y72026-2027 (year unverified) | 36,540 AED | ~3,045 AED | - |
| G7/Y82026-2027 (year unverified) | 36,540 AED | ~3,045 AED | - |
| G8/Y92026-2027 (year unverified) | 36,540 AED | ~3,045 AED | - |
| G9/Y102026-2027 (year unverified) | 36,540 AED | ~3,045 AED | - |
| G10/Y112026-2027 (year unverified) | 40,720 AED | ~3,393 AED | - |
| G11/Y122026-2027 (year unverified) | 40,720 AED | ~3,393 AED | - |
| G12/Y132026-2027 (year unverified) | 40,720 AED | ~3,393 AED | - |
ADEK rated International Academic School "Acceptable" in its 2023-2024 inspection, its fourth consecutive "Acceptable". The school has been inspected 4 times since 2015-2016.
Inspectors rated this American-curriculum school Acceptable overall, unchanged since the previous inspection. Kindergarten and English progress were stronger, but achievement in Arabic, science, and mathematics needs improvement across grades. Leadership's self-evaluation lacks accuracy, and teaching, assessment, and accountability structures require strengthening to reach good levels.
Source: ADEK inspection report 2023-2024 (PDF, pages 2-40), inspected 16 to 18 Jan 2024. Restated by BestSchool.ae.
Of the 37 performance indicators rated in both reports, 4 improved, 1 declined and 32 kept the same rating.
| Indicator | Phase | 2021-2022 | 2023-2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students' achievement | |||
| Islamic Education — Attainment | Cycle 1 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Islamic Education — Attainment | Cycle 2 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Islamic Education — Attainment | Senior | Acceptable | - |
| Arabic as a first language — Attainment | Cycle 1 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Arabic as a first language — Attainment | Cycle 2 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Arabic First Language — Attainment | Senior | Acceptable | - |
| Arabic Second Language — Attainment | Senior | Acceptable | - |
| UAE Social Studies — Attainment | Cycle 1 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| UAE Social Studies — Attainment | Cycle 2 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| English — Attainment | KG | Good | Good |
| English — Attainment | Cycle 1 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| English — Attainment | Cycle 2 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| English — Attainment | Senior | Acceptable | - |
| Mathematics — Attainment | KG | Good | Good |
| Mathematics — Attainment | Cycle 1 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Mathematics — Attainment | Cycle 2 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Mathematics — Attainment | Senior | Acceptable | - |
| Science — Attainment | KG | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Science — Attainment | Cycle 1 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Science — Attainment | Cycle 2 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Sciences — Attainment | Senior | Good | - |
| Islamic Education — Progress | Cycle 1 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Islamic Education — Progress | Cycle 2 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Islamic Education — Progress | Senior | Acceptable | - |
| Arabic as a first language — Progress | Cycle 1 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Arabic as a first language — Progress | Cycle 2 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Arabic First Language — Progress | Senior | Acceptable | - |
| Arabic Second Language — Progress | Senior | Acceptable | - |
| UAE Social Studies — Progress | Cycle 1 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| UAE Social Studies — Progress | Cycle 2 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| English — Progress | KG | Good | Good |
| English — Progress | Cycle 1 | Acceptable | Good |
| English — Progress | Cycle 2 | Acceptable | Good |
| English — Progress | Senior | Acceptable | - |
| Mathematics — Progress | KG | Good | Good |
| Mathematics — Progress | Cycle 1 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Mathematics — Progress | Cycle 2 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Mathematics — Progress | Senior | Acceptable | - |
| Science — Progress | KG | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Science — Progress | Cycle 1 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Science — Progress | Cycle 2 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Sciences — Progress | Senior | Good | - |
| Learning Skills | KG | Acceptable | Good |
| Learning Skills | Cycle 1 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Learning Skills | Cycle 2 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Learning skills | Senior | Acceptable | - |
| Islamic Education — Attainment | Cycle 3 | - | Acceptable |
| Islamic Education — Progress | Cycle 3 | - | Acceptable |
| Arabic as a first language — Attainment | KG | - | Good |
| Arabic as a first language — Attainment | Cycle 3 | - | Acceptable |
| Arabic as a first language — Progress | KG | - | Good |
| Arabic as a first language — Progress | Cycle 3 | - | Acceptable |
| Arabic as a second language — Attainment | Cycle 1 | - | Acceptable |
| Arabic as a second language — Attainment | Cycle 2 | - | Acceptable |
| Arabic as a second language — Attainment | Cycle 3 | - | Acceptable |
| Arabic as a second language — Progress | Cycle 1 | - | Acceptable |
| Arabic as a second language — Progress | Cycle 2 | - | Acceptable |
| Arabic as a second language — Progress | Cycle 3 | - | Acceptable |
| UAE Social Studies — Attainment | Cycle 3 | - | Acceptable |
| UAE Social Studies — Progress | Cycle 3 | - | Acceptable |
| English — Attainment | Cycle 3 | - | Acceptable |
| English — Progress | Cycle 3 | - | Acceptable |
| Mathematics — Attainment | Cycle 3 | - | Acceptable |
| Mathematics — Progress | Cycle 3 | - | Acceptable |
| Science — Attainment | Cycle 3 | - | Acceptable |
| Science — Progress | Cycle 3 | - | Acceptable |
| Learning Skills | Cycle 3 | - | Acceptable |
| Teaching and assessment | |||
| Teaching | KG | Acceptable | - |
| Teaching | Primary | Acceptable | - |
| Teaching | Middle | Acceptable | - |
| Teaching | Senior | Acceptable | - |
| Assessment | KG | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Assessment | Cycle 1 | Good | Acceptable |
| Assessment | Cycle 2 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Assessment | Senior | Good | - |
| Teaching for effective learning | KG | - | Good |
| Teaching for effective learning | Cycle 1 | - | Acceptable |
| Teaching for effective learning | Cycle 2 | - | Acceptable |
| Teaching for effective learning | Cycle 3 | - | Acceptable |
| Assessment | Cycle 3 | - | Acceptable |
| Protection, care, guidance and support | |||
| Health & safety | KG | Good | - |
| Health & safety | Primary | Good | - |
| Health & safety | Middle | Good | - |
| Health & safety | Senior | Good | - |
| Care & support | KG | Good | - |
| Care & support | Primary | Good | - |
| Care & support | Middle | Good | - |
| Care & support | Senior | Acceptable | - |
| Health and safety, including arrangements for child protection/safeguarding | KG | - | Good |
| Health and safety, including arrangements for child protection/safeguarding | Cycle 1 | - | Good |
| Health and safety, including arrangements for child protection/safeguarding | Cycle 2 | - | Good |
| Health and safety, including arrangements for child protection/safeguarding | Cycle 3 | - | Good |
| Care and support | KG | - | Good |
| Care and support | Cycle 1 | - | Good |
| Care and support | Cycle 2 | - | Good |
| Care and support | Cycle 3 | - | Good |
| Leadership and management | |||
| Effectiveness of leadership | Whole school | Acceptable | - |
| Self-evaluation & improvement | Whole school | Acceptable | - |
| Partnerships with parents | Whole school | Good | - |
| Governance | Whole school | Acceptable | Good |
| Management | Whole school | Good | - |
| The effectiveness of leadership | Whole school | - | Acceptable |
| School self-evaluation and improvement planning | Whole school | - | Acceptable |
| Parents and the community | Whole school | - | Good |
| Management, staffing, facilities and resources | Whole school | - | Acceptable |
| Personal and social development | |||
| Personal Development | KG | - | Good |
| Personal Development | Cycle 1 | - | Good |
| Personal Development | Cycle 2 | - | Good |
| Personal Development | Cycle 3 | - | Good |
| Understanding of Islamic values and awareness of Emirati and world cultures | KG | - | Good |
| Understanding of Islamic values and awareness of Emirati and world cultures | Cycle 1 | - | Good |
| Understanding of Islamic values and awareness of Emirati and world cultures | Cycle 2 | - | Good |
| Understanding of Islamic values and awareness of Emirati and world cultures | Cycle 3 | - | Good |
| Social responsibility and innovation skills | KG | - | Acceptable |
| Social responsibility and innovation skills | Cycle 1 | - | Acceptable |
| Social responsibility and innovation skills | Cycle 2 | - | Acceptable |
| Social responsibility and innovation skills | Cycle 3 | - | Acceptable |
| Curriculum | |||
| Curriculum design and implementation | KG | - | Good |
| Curriculum design and implementation | Cycle 1 | - | Acceptable |
| Curriculum design and implementation | Cycle 2 | - | Acceptable |
| Curriculum design and implementation | Cycle 3 | - | Acceptable |
| Curriculum adaptation | KG | - | Acceptable |
| Curriculum adaptation | Cycle 1 | - | Acceptable |
| Curriculum adaptation | Cycle 2 | - | Acceptable |
| Curriculum adaptation | Cycle 3 | - | Acceptable |
Inspectors rated International Academic School, an American-curriculum school in Abu Dhabi, Acceptable overall. Attainment and progress were mostly Acceptable, with Good results in English and Mathematics in Kindergarten and in Sciences in the senior phase. Health and safety and management were Good, while leadership, self-evaluation and governance remained Acceptable.
Source: ADEK inspection report 2021-2022 (PDF, pages 1-8), inspected 01-Feb-2022 to 03-Feb-2022. Restated by BestSchool.ae.
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