Affordable IB Schools in Dubai 2026: Fees & Ratings
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American
15K - 24K AED
Al Garhoud
Last updated · Sources: KHDA inspection reports · methodology
Dubai International Private School - Festival City is an American school established in 1985 in Al Garhoud. The school has served families in Dubai for nearly four decades, offering a comprehensive US education from early years through high school graduation.
The school enrols approximately 1,026 boys and girls aged 4 to 17. Students progress through KG 1 to Grade 12, following the American curriculum framework with age-appropriate learning objectives at each stage.
Academic programmes prepare students for AP examinations, SAT assessments, and MAP testing. The school holds NEASC accreditation, demonstrating alignment with US educational standards. KHDA has rated the school as "Acceptable" in its 2023-2024 inspection.
Annual tuition fees range from AED 15,051 to AED 23,629 depending on grade level. The campus offers convenient access for families residing in Dubai Festival City, Garhoud, and areas near GGICO Metro Station.
The academic year of some recorded fees has not been verified against its source. Confirm current rates with the school before using them.
KHDA rated Dubai International Private School - Festival City "Acceptable" in its 2023-2024 inspection, its 13th consecutive "Acceptable". The school has been inspected 13 times since 2008-2009.
This US-curriculum school was rated acceptable overall. Students show very good personal and social development and improving Islamic Education and Arabic results, but teaching quality is inconsistent, attainment in English, mathematics and science remains below expectations, and leadership, governance and inclusion provision require strengthening.
Source: KHDA inspection report 2023-2024 (PDF, pages 1–22), inspected 19 to 23 February 2024. Restated by BestSchool.ae.
Of the 87 performance indicators rated in both reports, 5 improved, 16 declined and 66 kept the same rating.
and 8 more
Of the 4 recommendations made in 2022-2023, 3 can be checked against the 2023-2024 ratings: 1 show an improvement, 1 a decline, 1 no change yet.
4 related indicators kept their ratings in 2023-2024
Arabic as a First Language — Progress (Elementary): Good → Very good · Arabic as a First Language — Progress (High): Good → Very good · English — Progress (High): Acceptable → Good
Management, staffing, facilities and resources: Good → Acceptable
| Indicator | Phase | 2022-2023 | 2023-2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students' achievement | |||
| Islamic Education — Attainment | Elementary | Good | Good |
| Islamic Education — Attainment | Middle | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Islamic Education — Attainment | High | Acceptable | Good |
| Islamic Education — Progress | Elementary | Acceptable | Good |
| Islamic Education — Progress | Middle | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Islamic Education — Progress | High | Good | Good |
| Arabic as a First Language — Attainment | Elementary | Good | Good |
| Arabic as a First Language — Attainment | Middle | Good | Good |
| Arabic as a First Language — Attainment | High | Good | Good |
| Arabic as a First Language — Progress | Elementary | Good | Very good |
| Arabic as a First Language — Progress | Middle | Good | Good |
| Arabic as a First Language — Progress | High | Good | Very good |
| Arabic as an Additional Language — Attainment | Elementary | Good | Good |
| Arabic as an Additional Language — Attainment | Middle | Good | Good |
| Arabic as an Additional Language — Attainment | High | Good | Good |
| Arabic as an Additional Language — Progress | Elementary | Good | Good |
| Arabic as an Additional Language — Progress | Middle | Good | Good |
| Arabic as an Additional Language — Progress | High | Good | Good |
| English — Attainment | KG | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| English — Attainment | Elementary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| English — Attainment | Middle | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| English — Attainment | High | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| English — Progress | KG | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| English — Progress | Elementary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| English — Progress | Middle | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| English — Progress | High | Acceptable | Good |
| Mathematics — Attainment | KG | Good | Acceptable |
| Mathematics — Attainment | Elementary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Mathematics — Attainment | Middle | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Mathematics — Attainment | High | Good | Good |
| Mathematics — Progress | KG | Good | Acceptable |
| Mathematics — Progress | Elementary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Mathematics — Progress | Middle | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Mathematics — Progress | High | Good | Good |
| Science — Attainment | KG | Good | Acceptable |
| Science — Attainment | Elementary | Good | Acceptable |
| Science — Attainment | Middle | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Science — Attainment | High | Good | Good |
| Science — Progress | KG | Good | Acceptable |
| Science — Progress | Elementary | Good | Acceptable |
| Science — Progress | Middle | Good | Good |
| Science — Progress | High | Good | Good |
| Learning skills | KG | Good | Good |
| Learning skills | Elementary | Good | Good |
| Learning skills | Middle | Good | Acceptable |
| Learning skills | High | Good | Good |
| Students' personal and social development | |||
| Personal development | KG | Very good | Very good |
| Personal development | Elementary | Very good | Very good |
| Personal development | Middle | Very good | Very good |
| Personal development | High | Very good | Very good |
| Understanding of Islamic values and awareness of Emirati and world cultures | KG | Very good | Very good |
| Understanding of Islamic values and awareness of Emirati and world cultures | Elementary | Very good | Very good |
| Understanding of Islamic values and awareness of Emirati and world cultures | Middle | Very good | Very good |
| Understanding of Islamic values and awareness of Emirati and world cultures | High | Very good | Very good |
| Social responsibility and innovation skills | KG | Very good | Very good |
| Social responsibility and innovation skills | Elementary | Very good | Very good |
| Social responsibility and innovation skills | Middle | Very good | Very good |
| Social responsibility and innovation skills | High | Very good | Very good |
| Teaching and assessment | |||
| Teaching for effective learning | KG | Good | Acceptable |
| Teaching for effective learning | Elementary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Teaching for effective learning | Middle | Good | Acceptable |
| Teaching for effective learning | High | Good | Good |
| Assessment | KG | Good | Good |
| Assessment | Elementary | Good | Good |
| Assessment | Middle | Good | Good |
| Assessment | High | Good | Good |
| Curriculum | |||
| Curriculum design and implementation | KG | Good | Acceptable |
| Curriculum design and implementation | Elementary | Good | Acceptable |
| Curriculum design and implementation | Middle | Good | Acceptable |
| Curriculum design and implementation | High | Good | Acceptable |
| Curriculum adaptation | KG | Good | Acceptable |
| Curriculum adaptation | Elementary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Curriculum adaptation | Middle | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Curriculum adaptation | High | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| The protection, care, guidance and support of students | |||
| Health and safety, including arrangements for child protection/safeguarding | KG | Good | Good |
| Health and safety, including arrangements for child protection/safeguarding | Elementary | Good | Good |
| Health and safety, including arrangements for child protection/safeguarding | Middle | Good | Good |
| Health and safety, including arrangements for child protection/safeguarding | High | Good | Good |
| Care and support | KG | Good | Good |
| Care and support | Elementary | Good | Good |
| Care and support | Middle | Good | Good |
| Care and support | High | Good | Good |
| Leadership and management | |||
| The effectiveness of leadership | Whole school | Good | Acceptable |
| School self-evaluation and improvement planning | Whole school | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Parents and the community | Whole school | Very good | Very good |
| Governance | Whole school | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Management, staffing, facilities and resources | Whole school | Good | Acceptable |
This school was rated acceptable overall. Personal development, understanding of Islamic values, and Arabic achievement were strong, while English attainment remained inconsistent with weak reading and writing skills. Inspectors called for accelerated progress across subjects, more data-driven interventions, improved reading levels, and better library resources.
Source: KHDA inspection report 2022-2023 (PDF, pages 1–20), inspected 23 to 27 January 2023. Restated by BestSchool.ae.
2023-2024 inspection
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As reported for 2023-2024
