Affordable IB Schools in Dubai 2026: Fees & Ratings
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UAE Ministry of Education
9K - 18K AED
Al Barsha
Last updated · Sources: KHDA inspection reports · methodology
Al Arqm Private School is a MoE school located in Al Barsha, serving the Dubai community since 1990. The school accommodates 987 boys and girls aged 4 to 18, offering classes from KG 1 to Grade 12.
The curriculum is based on the MoE programme, preparing students for MoE and IBT qualifications. The school holds MoE accreditation and has received an "Acceptable" rating for the 2023-2024 inspection period.
Annual tuition fees range from AED 8,601 to AED 18,346. The Al Barsha campus is conveniently accessible for residents of Al Barsha First, Al Barsha Second, and Al Barsha South.
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 Al Arqm Private School "Acceptable" in its 2023-2024 inspection, its seventh consecutive "Acceptable". The school has been inspected 14 times since 2008-2009.
Al Arqm Private School is rated acceptable overall. Islamic Education, Arabic and mathematics achievement is good in KG and strong in Cycle 3, and personal development is good, but assessment, curriculum adaptation, governance and self-evaluation remain weak, limiting progress and leadership effectiveness.
Source: KHDA inspection report 2023-2024 (PDF, pages 1–21), inspected 15 to 19 January 2024. Restated by BestSchool.ae.
Of the 85 performance indicators rated in both reports, 5 improved, 1 declined and 79 kept the same rating.
Of the 5 recommendations made in 2022-2023, 5 can be checked against the 2023-2024 ratings: 3 show an improvement, 1 a decline, 1 no change yet.
The effectiveness of leadership: Weak → Acceptable
8 related indicators kept their ratings in 2023-2024
The effectiveness of leadership: Weak → Acceptable
Curriculum adaptation (KG): Acceptable → Weak
The effectiveness of leadership: Weak → Acceptable
| Indicator | Phase | 2022-2023 | 2023-2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students' achievement | |||
| Islamic Education — Attainment | KG | Good | Good |
| Islamic Education — Attainment | Cycle 1 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Islamic Education — Attainment | Cycle 2 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Islamic Education — Attainment | Cycle 3 | Acceptable | Good |
| Islamic Education — Progress | KG | Good | Good |
| Islamic Education — Progress | Cycle 1 | Good | Good |
| Islamic Education — Progress | Cycle 2 | Acceptable | Good |
| Islamic Education — Progress | Cycle 3 | Good | Good |
| Arabic as a First Language — Attainment | KG | Good | Good |
| Arabic as a First Language — Attainment | Cycle 1 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Arabic as a First Language — Attainment | Cycle 2 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Arabic as a First Language — Attainment | Cycle 3 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Arabic as a First Language — Progress | KG | Good | Good |
| Arabic as a First Language — Progress | Cycle 1 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Arabic as a First Language — Progress | Cycle 2 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Arabic as a First Language — Progress | Cycle 3 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Arabic as an Additional Language — Attainment | KG | N/A | — |
| Arabic as an Additional Language — Attainment | Cycle 1 | N/A | — |
| Arabic as an Additional Language — Attainment | Cycle 2 | N/A | — |
| Arabic as an Additional Language — Attainment | Cycle 3 | N/A | — |
| Arabic as an Additional Language — Progress | KG | N/A | — |
| Arabic as an Additional Language — Progress | Cycle 1 | N/A | — |
| Arabic as an Additional Language — Progress | Cycle 2 | N/A | — |
| Arabic as an Additional Language — Progress | Cycle 3 | N/A | — |
| English — Attainment | KG | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| English — Attainment | Cycle 1 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| English — Attainment | Cycle 2 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| English — Attainment | Cycle 3 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| English — Progress | KG | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| English — Progress | Cycle 1 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| English — Progress | Cycle 2 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| English — Progress | Cycle 3 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Mathematics — Attainment | KG | Good | Good |
| Mathematics — Attainment | Cycle 1 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Mathematics — Attainment | Cycle 2 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Mathematics — Attainment | Cycle 3 | Acceptable | Good |
| Mathematics — Progress | KG | Good | Good |
| Mathematics — Progress | Cycle 1 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Mathematics — Progress | Cycle 2 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Mathematics — Progress | Cycle 3 | Acceptable | Good |
| Science — Attainment | KG | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Science — Attainment | Cycle 1 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Science — Attainment | Cycle 2 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Science — Attainment | Cycle 3 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Science — Progress | KG | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Science — Progress | Cycle 1 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Science — Progress | Cycle 2 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Science — Progress | Cycle 3 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Learning skills | KG | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Learning skills | Cycle 1 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Learning skills | Cycle 2 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Learning skills | Cycle 3 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Students' personal and social development | |||
| Personal development | KG | Good | Good |
| Personal development | Cycle 1 | Good | Good |
| Personal development | Cycle 2 | Good | Good |
| Personal development | Cycle 3 | Good | Good |
| Understanding of Islamic values and awareness of Emirati and world cultures | KG | Good | Good |
| Understanding of Islamic values and awareness of Emirati and world cultures | Cycle 1 | Good | Good |
| Understanding of Islamic values and awareness of Emirati and world cultures | Cycle 2 | Good | Good |
| Understanding of Islamic values and awareness of Emirati and world cultures | Cycle 3 | Very good | Very good |
| Social responsibility and innovation skills | KG | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Social responsibility and innovation skills | Cycle 1 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Social responsibility and innovation skills | Cycle 2 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Social responsibility and innovation skills | Cycle 3 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Teaching and assessment | |||
| Teaching for effective learning | KG | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Teaching for effective learning | Cycle 1 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Teaching for effective learning | Cycle 2 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Teaching for effective learning | Cycle 3 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Assessment | KG | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Assessment | Cycle 1 | Weak | Weak |
| Assessment | Cycle 2 | Weak | Weak |
| Assessment | Cycle 3 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Curriculum | |||
| Curriculum design and implementation | KG | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Curriculum design and implementation | Cycle 1 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Curriculum design and implementation | Cycle 2 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Curriculum design and implementation | Cycle 3 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Curriculum adaptation | KG | Acceptable | Weak |
| Curriculum adaptation | Cycle 1 | Weak | Weak |
| Curriculum adaptation | Cycle 2 | Weak | Weak |
| Curriculum adaptation | Cycle 3 | Weak | Weak |
| The protection, care, guidance and support of students | |||
| Health and safety, including arrangements for child protection/safeguarding | KG | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Health and safety, including arrangements for child protection/safeguarding | Cycle 1 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Health and safety, including arrangements for child protection/safeguarding | Cycle 2 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Health and safety, including arrangements for child protection/safeguarding | Cycle 3 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Care and support | KG | Good | Good |
| Care and support | Cycle 1 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Care and support | Cycle 2 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Care and support | Cycle 3 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Leadership and management | |||
| The effectiveness of leadership | Whole school | Weak | Acceptable |
| School self-evaluation and improvement planning | Whole school | Weak | Weak |
| Parents and the community | Whole school | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Governance | Whole school | Weak | Weak |
| Management, staffing, facilities and resources | Whole school | Acceptable | Acceptable |
Al Arqm Private School was rated acceptable overall. Islamic education, Arabic and mathematics progress are strong in Kindergarten, but English, assessment and curriculum adaptation are weak in several cycles. Leadership and governance are weak, with limited self-evaluation, though personal development and parental satisfaction are notable strengths.
Source: KHDA inspection report 2022-2023 (PDF, pages 2–19), inspected 06 to 10 February 2023. Restated by BestSchool.ae.
2023-2024 inspection
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As reported for 2023-2024
