Affordable IB Schools in Dubai 2026: Fees & Ratings
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American
50K - 96K AED
Al Barari
Last updated · Sources: KHDA inspection reports · methodology
Dunecrest American School is a US/IB school established in 2018 in Al Barari. The school caters to boys and girls aged 3 to 18, offering classes from KG 1 to Grade 12, with a current enrollment of 667 students.
The curriculum is a blend of the US/IB programme, equipping students for both IB Diploma Programme and AP qualifications. The school is accredited by MSA and IBDP, ensuring high standards of education.
Annual tuition fees range from AED 49,754 to AED 96,263 based on grade level. The school serves families in Al Barari and surrounding areas. It has received a "Good" rating for the 2023-2024 academic year, reflecting its commitment to quality.
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 Dunecrest American School "Good" in its 2023-2024 inspection, its third consecutive "Good". The school has been inspected 3 times since 2021-2022.
Dunecrest American School was rated good overall by KHDA. Students' personal development, care and support, and management/facilities are particular strengths, alongside very high wellbeing standards. Achievement in Islamic Education and Arabic remains acceptable, and teaching and assessment consistency, along with curriculum implementation, need further improvement.
Source: KHDA inspection report 2023-2024 (PDF, pages 1–21), inspected 05 to 07 December 2023. Restated by BestSchool.ae.
Of the 87 performance indicators rated in both reports, 27 improved, 1 declined and 59 kept the same rating.
and 19 more
Of the 5 recommendations made in 2022-2023, 5 can be checked against the 2023-2024 ratings: 5 show an improvement.
School self-evaluation and improvement planning: Acceptable → Good
School self-evaluation and improvement planning: Acceptable → Good
English — Attainment (KG): Good → Very good · English — Progress (High): Good → Very good · Curriculum adaptation (KG): Good → Very good · Curriculum adaptation (High): Good → Very good
Teaching for effective learning (KG): Good → Very good
Teaching for effective learning (KG): Good → Very good · Assessment (KG): Good → Very good
| Indicator | Phase | 2022-2023 | 2023-2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students' achievement | |||
| Islamic Education — Attainment | Elementary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Islamic Education — Attainment | Middle | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Islamic Education — Attainment | High | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Islamic Education — Progress | Elementary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Islamic Education — Progress | Middle | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Islamic Education — Progress | High | Acceptable | Good |
| Arabic as a First Language — Attainment | Elementary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Arabic as a First Language — Attainment | Middle | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Arabic as a First Language — Attainment | High | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Arabic as a First Language — Progress | Elementary | Acceptable | Good |
| Arabic as a First Language — Progress | Middle | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Arabic as a First Language — Progress | High | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Arabic as an Additional Language — Attainment | Elementary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Arabic as an Additional Language — Attainment | Middle | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Arabic as an Additional Language — Attainment | High | Weak | Acceptable |
| Arabic as an Additional Language — Progress | Elementary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Arabic as an Additional Language — Progress | Middle | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Arabic as an Additional Language — Progress | High | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| English — Attainment | KG | Good | Very good |
| English — Attainment | Elementary | Good | Good |
| English — Attainment | Middle | Good | Good |
| English — Attainment | High | Good | Good |
| English — Progress | KG | Very good | Very good |
| English — Progress | Elementary | Good | Good |
| English — Progress | Middle | Good | Good |
| English — Progress | High | Good | Very good |
| Mathematics — Attainment | KG | Good | Very good |
| Mathematics — Attainment | Elementary | Good | Acceptable |
| Mathematics — Attainment | Middle | Good | Good |
| Mathematics — Attainment | High | Good | Good |
| Mathematics — Progress | KG | Good | Very good |
| Mathematics — Progress | Elementary | Good | Good |
| Mathematics — Progress | Middle | Good | Good |
| Mathematics — Progress | High | Good | Good |
| Science — Attainment | KG | Good | Good |
| Science — Attainment | Elementary | Good | Good |
| Science — Attainment | Middle | Good | Good |
| Science — Attainment | High | Good | Good |
| Science — Progress | KG | Good | Good |
| Science — Progress | Elementary | Good | Good |
| Science — Progress | Middle | Good | Good |
| Science — Progress | High | Good | Good |
| Learning skills | KG | Good | Very good |
| Learning skills | Elementary | Good | Good |
| Learning skills | Middle | Good | Good |
| 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 | Good | Very good |
| Personal development | High | Good | Very good |
| Understanding of Islamic values and awareness of Emirati and world cultures | KG | Good | Very good |
| Understanding of Islamic values and awareness of Emirati and world cultures | Elementary | Good | Very good |
| Understanding of Islamic values and awareness of Emirati and world cultures | Middle | Good | Very good |
| Understanding of Islamic values and awareness of Emirati and world cultures | High | 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 | Very good |
| Teaching for effective learning | Elementary | Good | Good |
| Teaching for effective learning | Middle | Good | Good |
| Teaching for effective learning | High | Good | Good |
| Assessment | KG | Good | Very good |
| Assessment | Elementary | Good | Good |
| Assessment | Middle | Good | Good |
| Assessment | High | Good | Good |
| Curriculum | |||
| Curriculum design and implementation | KG | Good | Good |
| Curriculum design and implementation | Elementary | Good | Good |
| Curriculum design and implementation | Middle | Good | Good |
| Curriculum design and implementation | High | Good | Very good |
| Curriculum adaptation | KG | Good | Very good |
| Curriculum adaptation | Elementary | Good | Good |
| Curriculum adaptation | Middle | Good | Good |
| Curriculum adaptation | High | Good | Very good |
| The protection, care, guidance and support of students | |||
| Health and safety, including arrangements for child protection/safeguarding | KG | Good | Very good |
| Health and safety, including arrangements for child protection/safeguarding | Elementary | Good | Very good |
| Health and safety, including arrangements for child protection/safeguarding | Middle | Good | Very good |
| Health and safety, including arrangements for child protection/safeguarding | High | Good | Very good |
| Care and support | KG | Very good | Very good |
| Care and support | Elementary | Very good | Very good |
| Care and support | Middle | Good | Very good |
| Care and support | High | Good | Very good |
| Leadership and management | |||
| The effectiveness of leadership | Whole school | Good | Good |
| School self-evaluation and improvement planning | Whole school | Acceptable | Good |
| Parents and the community | Whole school | Very good | Very good |
| Governance | Whole school | Good | Good |
| Management, staffing, facilities and resources | Whole school | Very good | Outstanding |
Dunecrest American School is rated good overall. Attainment and progress are generally good, with acceptable results in Arabic and Islamic Education. Teaching and assessment are good but inconsistent, and internal assessments are not always reliable. Leadership provides effective care and facilities, though accountability and academic challenge need strengthening.
Source: KHDA inspection report 2022-2023 (PDF, pages 1–23), inspected 13 to 17 February 2023. Restated by BestSchool.ae.
2023-2024 inspection
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As reported for 2023-2024
