Affordable IB Schools in Dubai 2026: Fees & Ratings
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Last updated · Sources: KHDA inspection reports, published 2026-2027 fee schedule · methodology
The Arbor School is a UK curriculum school established in 2018 in Al Furjan, Dubai. The campus provides British education to students from the early years through secondary level.
The school currently enrols 1,229 students, welcoming both boys and girls aged 3 to 15. Classes span from FS1 to Year 11, covering the Early Years Foundation Stage through Key Stage 4.
Students follow the UK National Curriculum and prepare for GCSE examinations. The Arbor School holds accreditation from BSME and BSO, reflecting its commitment to British educational standards. KHDA has awarded the school a "Good" rating in its 2023-2024 inspection.
Annual tuition fees range from AED 58,806 to AED 97,232. The Al Furjan location offers convenient access for families residing in Discovery Gardens.
Facts reported by the school on its own channels, summarised by BestSchool.ae with a link to each source.
The school reported its strongest GCSE results to date: across 283 I/GCSE entries, 23% of grades were Grade 9, 41% at 9–8, 60% at 9–7 and 98% at 9–4. Mathematics saw 76% of grades at 9–7, Science 84% at 9–6, and 100% at 9–7 in Chemistry and Physics.
Source: school websiteArbor School held a graduation ceremony at the Serdaal Ballroom, The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina, marking its first ever Year 13 cohort of 26 graduates. Speeches were given by Principal Gemma Thornley, COO Ken Jones and Head of Sixth Form Christopher Martin.
Source: school websiteAnnual tuition at The Arbor School ranges from AED 58,806 (FS 1) to AED 97,232 (Year 12) for 2026-2027, across 15 year groups, or about AED 4,901 to AED 8,103 a month. All 15 grade fees are unchanged from 2025-2026.
KHDA rated The Arbor School "Good" in its 2023-2024 inspection, its third consecutive "Good". The school has been inspected 3 times since 2021-2022.
The Arbor School was rated good overall by KHDA. Foundation Stage and Primary students achieve very well, with outstanding personal development and safeguarding across all phases. Secondary achievement is less consistent, particularly in Islamic Education and Arabic, and inspectors recommended strengthening secondary teaching, writing skills, and self-evaluation.
Source: KHDA inspection report 2023-2024 (PDF, pages 1-21), inspected 05 to 08 February 2024. Restated by BestSchool.ae.
Of the 65 performance indicators rated in both reports, 26 improved, 0 declined and 39 kept the same rating.
and 18 more
Of the 4 recommendations made in 2022-2023, 3 can be checked against the 2023-2024 ratings: 3 show an improvement.
Teaching for effective learning (Primary): Good → Very good · The effectiveness of leadership: Good → Very good
Teaching for effective learning (Primary): Good → Very good · Assessment (Primary): Good → Very good · Curriculum design and implementation (Primary): Very good → Outstanding · Curriculum adaptation (Foundation Stage): Very good → Outstanding
The effectiveness of leadership: Good → Very good
| Indicator | Phase | 2022-2023 | 2023-2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students' achievement | |||
| Islamic Education — Attainment | Primary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Islamic Education — Attainment | Secondary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Islamic Education — Progress | Primary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Islamic Education — Progress | Secondary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Arabic as a First Language — Attainment | Primary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Arabic as a First Language — Attainment | Secondary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Arabic as a First Language — Progress | Primary | Acceptable | Good |
| Arabic as a First Language — Progress | Secondary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Arabic as an Additional Language — Attainment | Primary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Arabic as an Additional Language — Attainment | Secondary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Arabic as an Additional Language — Progress | Primary | Acceptable | Good |
| Arabic as an Additional Language — Progress | Secondary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| English — Attainment | Foundation Stage | Very good | Very good |
| English — Attainment | Primary | Good | Very good |
| English — Attainment | Secondary | Good | Good |
| English — Progress | Foundation Stage | Very good | Very good |
| English — Progress | Primary | Good | Very good |
| English — Progress | Secondary | Good | Good |
| Mathematics — Attainment | Foundation Stage | Good | Very good |
| Mathematics — Attainment | Primary | Good | Very good |
| Mathematics — Attainment | Secondary | Acceptable | Good |
| Mathematics — Progress | Foundation Stage | Good | Very good |
| Mathematics — Progress | Primary | Good | Very good |
| Mathematics — Progress | Secondary | Good | Good |
| Science — Attainment | Foundation Stage | Very good | Very good |
| Science — Attainment | Primary | Good | Very good |
| Science — Attainment | Secondary | Good | Good |
| Science — Progress | Foundation Stage | Very good | Very good |
| Science — Progress | Primary | Good | Very good |
| Science — Progress | Secondary | Good | Good |
| Learning skills | Foundation Stage | Very good | Very good |
| Learning skills | Primary | Good | Very good |
| Learning skills | Secondary | Good | Good |
| Students' personal and social development | |||
| Personal development | Foundation Stage | Very good | Outstanding |
| Personal development | Primary | Very good | Outstanding |
| Personal development | Secondary | Very good | Outstanding |
| Understanding of Islamic values and awareness of Emirati and world cultures | Foundation Stage | Good | Very good |
| Understanding of Islamic values and awareness of Emirati and world cultures | Primary | Good | Good |
| Understanding of Islamic values and awareness of Emirati and world cultures | Secondary | Good | Good |
| Social responsibility and innovation skills | Foundation Stage | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| Social responsibility and innovation skills | Primary | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| Social responsibility and innovation skills | Secondary | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| Teaching and assessment | |||
| Teaching for effective learning | Foundation Stage | Very good | Very good |
| Teaching for effective learning | Primary | Good | Very good |
| Teaching for effective learning | Secondary | Good | Good |
| Assessment | Foundation Stage | Very good | Very good |
| Assessment | Primary | Good | Very good |
| Assessment | Secondary | Good | Good |
| Curriculum | |||
| Curriculum design and implementation | Foundation Stage | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| Curriculum design and implementation | Primary | Very good | Outstanding |
| Curriculum design and implementation | Secondary | Very good | Very good |
| Curriculum adaptation | Foundation Stage | Very good | Outstanding |
| Curriculum adaptation | Primary | Very good | Very good |
| Curriculum adaptation | Secondary | Good | Good |
| The protection, care, guidance and support of students | |||
| Health and safety, including arrangements for child protection/safeguarding | Foundation Stage | Very good | Outstanding |
| Health and safety, including arrangements for child protection/safeguarding | Primary | Very good | Outstanding |
| Health and safety, including arrangements for child protection/safeguarding | Secondary | Very good | Outstanding |
| Care and support | Foundation Stage | Very good | Very good |
| Care and support | Primary | Very good | Very good |
| Care and support | Secondary | Very good | Very good |
| Leadership and management | |||
| The effectiveness of leadership | Whole school | Good | Very good |
| School self-evaluation and improvement planning | Whole school | Good | Good |
| Parents and the community | Whole school | Very good | Very good |
| Governance | Whole school | Good | Very good |
| Management, staffing, facilities and resources | Whole school | Very good | Outstanding |
The Arbor School was rated good overall. Foundation Stage achievement and teaching are strongest, supported by a vibrant, sustainability-focused ethos and strong wellbeing provision. Attainment elsewhere ranges from acceptable to good. Leadership is effective, but middle leadership, teaching consistency, and use of assessment data need further strengthening as the school grows.
Source: KHDA inspection report 2022-2023 (PDF, pages 2-23), inspected 13 to 17 March 2023. Restated by BestSchool.ae.
2023-2024 inspection
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As reported for 2023-2024
