Universal American School

Q: Where is Universal American School - Branch located in Dubai?

Universal American School Dubai is located in Airport & Festival City , operating in Ras Al Khor within the Festival City area providing American education with IB options to families across Festival City, Business Bay , Creek Harbour , and Garhoud.

Q: What curriculum does Universal American School - Branch offer?

The school delivers the American curriculum , structured around US educational standards with grade-level instruction from elementary through high school, preparing students for American college admissions.

Q: What age groups and grade levels are available at Universal American School - Branch?

Students enrol from KG1 to Grade 12 , covering ages 4 to 18 across elementary, middle, and high school divisions.

Q: What are the tuition fees at Universal American School - Branch?

Tuition ranges from AED 40,377 to AED 81,834 per year, based on grade level. Additional costs may apply.

Q: Who is Universal American School - Branch best suited for?

Universal American School Dubai is best suited for families seeking American education with IB Diploma pathway flexibility in the Festival City corridor. The school attracts residents of Festival City , Ras Al Khor , Business Bay , and Creek Harbour who value American curriculum with international qualification options.

3.5

2023-2024Very good

Curriculum

American & IB

Annual Fees

40K - 82K AED

Location

Ras Al Khor

About Universal American School

Last updated 15 September 2026 · Sources: KHDA inspection reports · methodology

Universal American School is a US/IB school established in 2005 in Ras Al Khor. The school caters to the Dubai community, offering classes from KG 1 to Grade 12 for students aged 4 to 18.

The school has an enrollment of 1,243 boys and girls, providing a balanced environment for all students. The curriculum combines elements of the US and IB frameworks, ensuring a comprehensive academic experience.

Students at Universal American School prepare for various assessments, including MAP, CAT4, and NGRT, with IB accreditation affirming the school’s commitment to high academic standards. The school has received a "Very Good" rating for the 2023-2024 inspection period.

Annual tuition fees range from AED 40,377 to AED 81,834 based on grade level. Families from Ras Al Khor and surrounding areas benefit from the school's convenient location and quality offerings.

Location

Ras Al Khor

Fees & Admissions

The academic year of some recorded fees has not been verified against its source. Confirm current rates with the school before using them.

Grade Level	Annual Fees (recorded)	Est. Monthly
Pre primary2026-2027 (year unverified)	40,377 AED	~3,365 AED
KG 12026-2027 (year unverified)	43,103 AED	~3,592 AED
KG 22026-2027 (year unverified)	48,960 AED	~4,080 AED
GRADE 12026-2027 (year unverified)	65,022 AED	~5,419 AED
GRADE 22026-2027 (year unverified)	65,022 AED	~5,419 AED
GRADE 32026-2027 (year unverified)	65,022 AED	~5,419 AED
GRADE 42026-2027 (year unverified)	65,022 AED	~5,419 AED
GRADE 52026-2027 (year unverified)	72,328 AED	~6,027 AED
GRADE 62026-2027 (year unverified)	72,328 AED	~6,027 AED
GRADE 72026-2027 (year unverified)	72,328 AED	~6,027 AED
GRADE 82026-2027 (year unverified)	72,328 AED	~6,027 AED
GRADE 92026-2027 (year unverified)	81,834 AED	~6,820 AED
GRADE 102026-2027 (year unverified)	81,834 AED	~6,820 AED
GRADE 112026-2027 (year unverified)	81,834 AED	~6,820 AED
GRADE 122026-2027 (year unverified)	81,834 AED	~6,820 AED

Inspection Report

KHDA rated Universal American School "Very good" in its 2023-2024 inspection, its fifth consecutive "Very good". The school has been inspected 14 times since 2008-2009.

Latest Rating (2023-2024)

Very good

Download Report

What inspectors found in 2023-2024

Strengths noted by inspectors

Students' exemplary behavior and deep respect for and modeling of Islamic values
Very good teaching and learning in KG, elementary and high school
Outstanding facilities which promote a positive learning experience
Very good performance in English, mathematics and science with improving Islamic Education outcomes
Excellent parental commitment, support and respect for students' wellbeing and inclusion

What the school was asked to improve

Prioritize the gaps in teaching, learning and students' progress
Involve governors fully in the self-evaluation process
Base self-evaluation outcomes securely on evidence from the school's assessment processes
Measure the capacity and competence of leaders in terms of impact on provision and outcomes
Ensure governors have secure oversight of risk assessment and performance analysis

Source: KHDA inspection report 2023-2024 (PDF, pages 1–22), inspected 19 to 23 February 2024. Restated by BestSchool.ae.

Since the 2022-2023 inspection

Of the 87 performance indicators rated in both reports, 5 improved, 1 declined and 81 kept the same rating.

Students

1,093 → 1,243

+150 (+14%)

Teachers

92 → 103

+11 (+12%)

Students of determination

242 → 167

-75 (-31%)

Emirati students

83 → 90

+7 (+8%)

Improved

Islamic Education — Attainment · Middle: Acceptable → Good
Islamic Education — Attainment · High: Acceptable → Good
Arabic as an Additional Language — Attainment · High: Acceptable → Good
Learning skills · High: Good → Very good
Teaching for effective learning · High: Good → Very good

Declined

Arabic as a First Language — Attainment · Middle: Good → Acceptable

Did Universal American School act on the 2022-2023 recommendations?

Of the 3 recommendations made in 2022-2023, 3 can be checked against the 2023-2024 ratings: 1 show an improvement, 1 a mixed picture, 1 no change yet.

Improve teaching and learning quality, especially in middle and high schools, by encouraging independent and collaborative learning skills and raising challengeImproved
Learning skills (High): Good → Very good · Teaching for effective learning (High): Good → Very good
Review the KG management structure to enhance leadership and coherence across the phaseNo change yet
3 related indicators kept their ratings in 2023-2024
Raise attainment in Arabic as an additional languageMixed
Arabic as a First Language — Attainment (Middle): Good → Acceptable · Arabic as an Additional Language — Attainment (High): Acceptable → Good

Performance standards by year (88 indicators, 2 inspections)

Indicator	Phase	2022-2023	2023-2024
Students' achievement
Islamic Education — Attainment	Elementary	Good	Good
Islamic Education — Attainment	Middle	Acceptable	Good
Islamic Education — Attainment	High	Acceptable	Good
Islamic Education — Progress	Elementary	Good	Good
Islamic Education — Progress	Middle	Good	Good
Islamic Education — Progress	High	Good	Good
Arabic as a First Language — Attainment	Elementary	Good	Good
Arabic as a First Language — Attainment	Middle	Good	Acceptable
Arabic as a First Language — Attainment	High	Good	Good
Arabic as a First Language — Progress	Elementary	Very good	Very good
Arabic as a First Language — Progress	Middle	Good	Good
Arabic as a First Language — Progress	High	Good	Good
Arabic as an Additional Language — Attainment	Elementary	Good	Good
Arabic as an Additional Language — Attainment	Middle	Acceptable	Acceptable
Arabic as an Additional Language — Attainment	High	Acceptable	Good
Arabic as an Additional Language — Progress	Elementary	Very good	Very good
Arabic as an Additional Language — Progress	Middle	Good	Good
Arabic as an Additional Language — Progress	High	Good	Good
English — Attainment	KG	Very good	Very good
English — Attainment	Elementary	Very good	Very good
English — Attainment	Middle	Very good	Very good
English — Attainment	High	Very good	Very good
English — Progress	KG	Very good	Very good
English — Progress	Elementary	Very good	Very good
English — Progress	Middle	Very good	Very good
English — Progress	High	Very good	Very good
Mathematics — Attainment	KG	Very good	Very good
Mathematics — Attainment	Elementary	Very good	Very good
Mathematics — Attainment	Middle	Good	Good
Mathematics — Attainment	High	Very good	Very good
Mathematics — Progress	KG	Very good	Very good
Mathematics — Progress	Elementary	Very good	Very good
Mathematics — Progress	Middle	Good	Good
Mathematics — Progress	High	Very good	Very good
Science — Attainment	KG	Very good	Very good
Science — Attainment	Elementary	Very good	Very good
Science — Attainment	Middle	Very good	Very good
Science — Attainment	High	Very good	Very good
Science — Progress	KG	Very good	Very good
Science — Progress	Elementary	Very good	Very good
Science — Progress	Middle	Very good	Very good
Science — Progress	High	Very good	Very good
Learning skills	KG	Very good	Very good
Learning skills	Elementary	Very good	Very good
Learning skills	Middle	Good	Good
Learning skills	High	Good	Very good
Students' personal and social development
Personal development	KG	Outstanding	Outstanding
Personal development	Elementary	Outstanding	Outstanding
Personal development	Middle	Outstanding	Outstanding
Personal development	High	Outstanding	Outstanding
Understanding of Islamic values and awareness of Emirati and world cultures	KG	Outstanding	Outstanding
Understanding of Islamic values and awareness of Emirati and world cultures	Elementary	Outstanding	Outstanding
Understanding of Islamic values and awareness of Emirati and world cultures	Middle	Outstanding	Outstanding
Understanding of Islamic values and awareness of Emirati and world cultures	High	Outstanding	Outstanding
Social responsibility and innovation skills	KG	Outstanding	Outstanding
Social responsibility and innovation skills	Elementary	Outstanding	Outstanding
Social responsibility and innovation skills	Middle	Outstanding	Outstanding
Social responsibility and innovation skills	High	Outstanding	Outstanding
Teaching and assessment
Teaching for effective learning	KG	Very good	Very good
Teaching for effective learning	Elementary	Very good	Very good
Teaching for effective learning	Middle	Good	Good
Teaching for effective learning	High	Good	Very good
Assessment	KG	Very good	Very good
Assessment	Elementary	Very good	Very good
Assessment	Middle	Very good	Very good
Assessment	High	Very good	Very good
Curriculum
Curriculum design and implementation	KG	Very good	Very good
Curriculum design and implementation	Elementary	Very good	Very good
Curriculum design and implementation	Middle	Very good	Very good
Curriculum design and implementation	High	Very good	Very good
Curriculum adaptation	KG	Very good	Very good
Curriculum adaptation	Elementary	Very good	Very good
Curriculum adaptation	Middle	Very good	Very good
Curriculum adaptation	High	Very good	Very good
The protection, care, guidance and support of students
Health and safety, including arrangements for child protection/safeguarding	KG	Outstanding	Outstanding
Health and safety, including arrangements for child protection/safeguarding	Elementary	Outstanding	Outstanding
Health and safety, including arrangements for child protection/safeguarding	Middle	Outstanding	Outstanding
Health and safety, including arrangements for child protection/safeguarding	High	Outstanding	Outstanding
Care and support	KG	Very good	Very good
Care and support	Elementary	Very good	Very good
Care and support	Middle	Very good	Very good
Care and support	High	Very good	Very good
Leadership and management
The effectiveness of leadership	Whole school	Very good	Very good
School self-evaluation and improvement planning	Whole school	Very good	Very good
Parents and the community	Whole school	Outstanding	Outstanding
Governance	Whole school	Very good	Very good
Management, staffing, facilities, and resources	Whole school	Outstanding	Outstanding
Inclusion
Provision and outcomes for students of determination	Whole school	Very good	—

Earlier inspections

2022-2023Very good

Inspectors rated Universal American School Very good overall. English, mathematics and science attainment and progress were very good, while Islamic education and Arabic were improving but inconsistent. Personal development and understanding of Islamic and world cultures were outstanding, supported by strong leadership, safeguarding and community engagement.

Strengths noted by inspectors

Very good and improving attainment and progress in English, mathematics and science, with improving Islamic education and Arabic outcomes
Outstanding understanding of Islamic values and world cultures, personal development, social responsibility and competent use of technology
Strong health, safety and protection arrangements supporting students' wellbeing and academic success
Purposeful leadership vision with active engagement of parents and the community
Effective leadership and management of staffing, resources, premises, facilities and staff coaching

What the school was asked to improve

Improve teaching and learning quality, especially in middle and high schools, by encouraging independent and collaborative learning skills and raising challenge
Review the KG management structure to enhance leadership and coherence across the phase
Raise attainment in Arabic as an additional language

Source: KHDA inspection report 2022-2023 (PDF, pages 1–22), inspected 20 to 24 February 2023. Restated by BestSchool.ae.

Rating History

2022-2023Very good

2019-2020Very good

2018-2019Very good

2017-2018Very good

Quality Indicators

2023-2024 inspection

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Universal American School - Branch located in Dubai?

Universal American School Dubai is located in Airport & Festival City, operating in Ras Al Khor within the Festival City area providing American education with IB options to families across Festival City, Business Bay, Creek Harbour, and Garhoud.

What curriculum does Universal American School - Branch offer?

The school delivers the American curriculum, structured around US educational standards with grade-level instruction from elementary through high school, preparing students for American college admissions.

What age groups and grade levels are available at Universal American School - Branch?

Students enrol from KG1 to Grade 12, covering ages 4 to 18 across elementary, middle, and high school divisions.

What are the tuition fees at Universal American School - Branch?

Tuition ranges from AED 40,377 to AED 81,834 per year, based on grade level. Additional costs may apply.

Who is Universal American School - Branch best suited for?

Universal American School Dubai is best suited for families seeking American education with IB Diploma pathway flexibility in the Festival City corridor. The school attracts residents of Festival City, Ras Al Khor, Business Bay, and Creek Harbour who value American curriculum with international qualification options.

What is Universal American School's KHDA inspection rating?

KHDA rated Universal American School "Very good" in its 2023-2024 inspection, its fifth consecutive "Very good". The school has been inspected 14 times since 2008-2009.

What did KHDA inspectors say about Universal American School in 2023-2024?

Inspectors rated Universal American School very good overall. Students showed outstanding personal development and strong performance in English, mathematics and science, supported by very good teaching and outstanding facilities. Leadership needs to strengthen self-evaluation, governance oversight of risk, and consistency in Arabic language teaching and outcomes. Strengths noted by the inspectors in 2023-2024: students' exemplary behavior and deep respect for and modeling of Islamic values; very good teaching and learning in KG, elementary and high school; outstanding facilities which promote a positive learning experience; very good performance in English, mathematics and science with improving Islamic Education outcomes; excellent parental commitment, support and respect for students' wellbeing and inclusion.

What was Universal American School asked to improve in its 2023-2024 inspection?

The 2023-2024 KHDA report recommended that the school: prioritize the gaps in teaching, learning and students' progress; involve governors fully in the self-evaluation process; base self-evaluation outcomes securely on evidence from the school's assessment processes; measure the capacity and competence of leaders in terms of impact on provision and outcomes; ensure governors have secure oversight of risk assessment and performance analysis.

Has Universal American School improved since its 2022-2023 inspection?

Between the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 inspections, 5 of the 87 indicators rated in both reports improved, 1 declined and 81 kept the same rating. Improvements include Islamic Education — Attainment (Middle) from Acceptable to Good, Islamic Education — Attainment (High) from Acceptable to Good, Arabic as an Additional Language — Attainment (High) from Acceptable to Good. Enrolment went from 1,093 to 1,243 students (+14%). Of the 3 recommendations made in 2022-2023, 3 can be checked against the 2023-2024 ratings and 1 was followed by a measurable improvement.

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At a Glance

From the 2023-2024 inspection profile

Grades

KG 1 to Grade 12

Age

4 to 18

Students

1,243

Genders

Boys and girls

Curriculum

US/IB

Language

English

School Profile

As reported for 2023-2024

Principal

Kevin Loft

Since 1/1/2022

Opening year

2005

Teachers

103 (+42 assistants)

Counsellors

Largest nationality teachers

USA

Largest nationality students

Arabic

Emirati students

Determination students

167

Accreditation

Curriculum examinations

MAP, CAT4,NGRT

Last inspection: 19 to 23 February 2024

About Universal American School

Last updated 15 September 2026 · Sources: KHDA inspection reports · methodology

Universal American School is a US/IB school established in 2005 in Ras Al Khor. The school caters to the Dubai community, offering classes from KG 1 to Grade 12 for students aged 4 to 18.

Annual tuition fees range from AED 40,377 to AED 81,834 based on grade level. Families from Ras Al Khor and surrounding areas benefit from the school's convenient location and quality offerings.

Grade Level

Annual Fees (recorded)

Est. Monthly

Fact Sheet

Pre primary2026-2027 (year unverified)

40,377 AED

~3,365 AED

KG 12026-2027 (year unverified)

43,103 AED

~3,592 AED

KG 22026-2027 (year unverified)

48,960 AED

~4,080 AED

GRADE 12026-2027 (year unverified)

65,022 AED

~5,419 AED

GRADE 22026-2027 (year unverified)

65,022 AED

~5,419 AED

GRADE 32026-2027 (year unverified)

65,022 AED

~5,419 AED

GRADE 42026-2027 (year unverified)

65,022 AED

~5,419 AED

GRADE 52026-2027 (year unverified)

72,328 AED

~6,027 AED

GRADE 62026-2027 (year unverified)

72,328 AED

~6,027 AED

GRADE 72026-2027 (year unverified)

72,328 AED

~6,027 AED

GRADE 82026-2027 (year unverified)

72,328 AED

~6,027 AED

GRADE 92026-2027 (year unverified)

81,834 AED

~6,820 AED

GRADE 102026-2027 (year unverified)

81,834 AED

~6,820 AED

GRADE 112026-2027 (year unverified)

81,834 AED

~6,820 AED

GRADE 122026-2027 (year unverified)

81,834 AED

~6,820 AED

Inspection Report

KHDA rated Universal American School "Very good" in its 2023-2024 inspection, its fifth consecutive "Very good". The school has been inspected 14 times since 2008-2009.

Latest Rating (2023-2024)

Very good

Download Report