Affordable IB Schools in Dubai 2026: Fees & Ratings
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IB
66K - 101K AED
Al Khawaneej
Last updated · Sources: KHDA inspection reports, published 2026-2027 fee schedule · methodology
Dar Al Marefa Private School is an IB school that has been operating since 2008 in Al Khawaneej 1. The school offers classes from KG 1 to Grade 12, serving a total of 1,225 boys and girls aged 3 to 18.
The curriculum is based on the IB programme, providing pathways for students to achieve IB qualifications. The school is accredited with IBDP, IBMYP, and IBPYP, ensuring a comprehensive educational framework for all grade levels.
Students prepare for various IB examinations and the school has received a "Good" rating for the 2023-2024 academic year. This recognition reflects the school’s commitment to delivering quality standards.
Annual tuition fees range from AED 65,968 to AED 101,121, making it accessible for families residing in Al Khawaneej 1 and surrounding areas.
Annual tuition at Dar Al Marefa Private School ranges from AED 65,968 (Pre primary) to AED 101,121 (Grade 11) for 2026-2027, across 15 year groups, or about AED 5,497 to AED 8,427 a month. All 15 grade fees are unchanged from 2025-2026.
KHDA rated Dar Al Marefa Private School "Good" in its 2023-2024 inspection, its eighth consecutive "Good". The school has been inspected 13 times since 2008-2009.
Dar Al Marefa Private School is a good school with strong Islamic values, very good personal development, and improved outcomes in the Diploma Programme. Teaching is good in KG, PYP and MYP, and very good in DP. Leaders' self-evaluation is overgenerous and does not fully identify inconsistencies in provision.
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, 12 improved, 0 declined and 73 kept the same rating.
and 4 more
Of the 3 recommendations made in 2022-2023, 2 can be checked against the 2023-2024 ratings: 0 show an improvement, 2 no change yet.
6 related indicators kept their ratings in 2023-2024
3 related indicators kept their ratings in 2023-2024
| Indicator | Phase | 2022-2023 | 2023-2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students' achievement | |||
| Islamic Education — Attainment | PYP | Good | Good |
| Islamic Education — Attainment | MYP | Good | Good |
| Islamic Education — Attainment | DP | Good | Good |
| Islamic Education — Progress | PYP | Very good | Very good |
| Islamic Education — Progress | MYP | Good | Good |
| Islamic Education — Progress | DP | Good | Good |
| Arabic as a First Language — Attainment | PYP | Good | Good |
| Arabic as a First Language — Attainment | MYP | Good | Good |
| Arabic as a First Language — Attainment | DP | Good | Good |
| Arabic as a First Language — Progress | PYP | Good | Good |
| Arabic as a First Language — Progress | MYP | Good | Good |
| Arabic as a First Language — Progress | DP | Good | Very good |
| Arabic as an Additional Language — Attainment | PYP | Good | Good |
| Arabic as an Additional Language — Attainment | MYP | Good | Good |
| Arabic as an Additional Language — Progress | PYP | Good | Good |
| Arabic as an Additional Language — Progress | MYP | Good | Good |
| English — Attainment | KG | Good | Good |
| English — Attainment | PYP | Good | Good |
| English — Attainment | MYP | Acceptable | Good |
| English — Attainment | DP | Very good | Very good |
| English — Progress | KG | Good | Good |
| English — Progress | PYP | Good | Good |
| English — Progress | MYP | Good | Good |
| English — Progress | DP | Very good | Outstanding |
| Mathematics — Attainment | KG | Very good | Very good |
| Mathematics — Attainment | PYP | Good | Good |
| Mathematics — Attainment | MYP | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Mathematics — Attainment | DP | Good | Good |
| Mathematics — Progress | KG | Very good | Very good |
| Mathematics — Progress | PYP | Good | Good |
| Mathematics — Progress | MYP | Good | Good |
| Mathematics — Progress | DP | Good | Very good |
| Science — Attainment | KG | Good | Good |
| Science — Attainment | PYP | Good | Good |
| Science — Attainment | MYP | Good | Good |
| Science — Attainment | DP | Good | Good |
| Science — Progress | KG | Good | Good |
| Science — Progress | PYP | Good | Good |
| Science — Progress | MYP | Good | Good |
| Science — Progress | DP | Good | Very good |
| Learning skills | KG | Good | Good |
| Learning skills | PYP | Good | Good |
| Learning skills | MYP | Good | Good |
| Learning skills | DP | Good | Very good |
| Students' personal and social development | |||
| Personal development | KG | Very good | Very good |
| Personal development | PYP | Very good | Very good |
| Personal development | MYP | Very good | Very good |
| Personal development | DP | 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 | PYP | Very good | Very good |
| Understanding of Islamic values and awareness of Emirati and world cultures | MYP | Very good | Very good |
| Understanding of Islamic values and awareness of Emirati and world cultures | DP | Very good | Outstanding |
| Social responsibility and innovation skills | KG | Very good | Very good |
| Social responsibility and innovation skills | PYP | Very good | Very good |
| Social responsibility and innovation skills | MYP | Very good | Very good |
| Social responsibility and innovation skills | DP | Very good | Outstanding |
| Teaching and assessment | |||
| Teaching for effective learning | KG | Good | Good |
| Teaching for effective learning | PYP | Good | Good |
| Teaching for effective learning | MYP | Good | Good |
| Teaching for effective learning | DP | Good | Very good |
| Assessment | KG | Good | Good |
| Assessment | PYP | Good | Good |
| Assessment | MYP | Good | Good |
| Assessment | DP | Good | Very good |
| Curriculum | |||
| Curriculum design and implementation | KG | Very good | Very good |
| Curriculum design and implementation | PYP | Very good | Very good |
| Curriculum design and implementation | MYP | Very good | Very good |
| Curriculum design and implementation | DP | Very good | Very good |
| Curriculum adaptation | KG | Very good | Very good |
| Curriculum adaptation | PYP | Very good | Very good |
| Curriculum adaptation | MYP | Good | Very good |
| Curriculum adaptation | DP | Very good | Very good |
| The protection, care, guidance and support of students | |||
| Health and safety, including arrangements for child protection/safeguarding | KG | Very good | Very good |
| Health and safety, including arrangements for child protection/safeguarding | PYP | Very good | Very good |
| Health and safety, including arrangements for child protection/safeguarding | MYP | Very good | Very good |
| Health and safety, including arrangements for child protection/safeguarding | DP | Very good | Very good |
| Care and support | KG | Very good | Very good |
| Care and support | PYP | Very good | Very good |
| Care and support | MYP | Good | Very good |
| Care and support | DP | Very good | Very good |
| Leadership and management | |||
| The effectiveness of leadership | Whole school | Good | 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 | Good |
| Management, staffing, facilities and resources | Whole school | Very good | Very good |
Dar Al Marefa is a good school with excellent Diploma Programme results and strong bilingual provision in KG and PYP. Teaching, curriculum and care are good overall, but English and mathematics attainment in MYP is only acceptable, and boys' behaviour and attendance in lower MYP grades need improvement.
Source: KHDA inspection report 2022-2023 (PDF, pages 2-20), inspected 30 January to 03 February 2023. Restated by BestSchool.ae.
2023-2024 inspection
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As reported for 2023-2024
