Affordable IB Schools in Dubai 2026: Fees & Ratings
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American
13K - 37K AED
Al Qusais
Last updated · Sources: KHDA inspection reports, published 2026-2027 fee schedule · methodology
Al Maaref American School is an American school established in 1987 in Al Qusais First, Dubai. The school has served families in the area for nearly four decades, offering a US-based education from early years through high school graduation.
The school enrols 1,368 boys and girls aged 4 to 18. Students progress from KG 1 through Grade 12, following the complete American educational pathway within a coeducational environment.
Al Maaref American School follows the US curriculum and prepares students for Advanced Placement (AP) examinations. The school holds US accreditation and received an "Acceptable" rating from KHDA in the 2023-2024 inspection cycle.
Annual tuition fees range from AED 12,906 to AED 37,134. The campus is conveniently located for families residing in Al Qusais, Doha Road, and areas near Emirates Driving Institute.
Annual tuition at Al Maaref American School ranges from AED 12,906 (KG 1) to AED 37,134 (Grade 12) for 2026-2027, across 18 year groups, or about AED 1,076 to AED 3,095 a month. All 18 grade fees are unchanged from 2025-2026.
KHDA rated Al Maaref American School "Acceptable" in its 2023-2024 inspection, its fifth consecutive "Acceptable". The school has been inspected 14 times since 2008-2009.
KHDA rated Al Maaref Private School acceptable overall for 2023-2024. Achievement is acceptable across core subjects, and teaching lacks variety. Strengths include students' personal development, safeguarding, and parent communication, while self-evaluation accuracy, assessment use, and leadership clarity need improvement.
Source: KHDA inspection report 2023-2024 (PDF, pages 1-21), inspected 12 to 16 February 2024. Restated by BestSchool.ae.
Of the 87 performance indicators rated in both reports, 0 improved, 1 declined and 86 kept the same rating.
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.
4 related indicators kept their ratings in 2023-2024
2 related indicators kept their ratings in 2023-2024
| 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 | Acceptable |
| 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 | Acceptable |
| 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 | Acceptable | 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 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| English — Attainment | Elementary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| English — Attainment | Middle | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| English — Attainment | High | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| English — Progress | KG | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| English — Progress | Elementary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| English — Progress | Middle | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| English — Progress | High | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Mathematics — Attainment | KG | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Mathematics — Attainment | Elementary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Mathematics — Attainment | Middle | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Mathematics — Attainment | High | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Mathematics — Progress | KG | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Mathematics — Progress | Elementary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Mathematics — Progress | Middle | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Mathematics — Progress | High | Good | Acceptable |
| Science — Attainment | KG | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Science — Attainment | Elementary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Science — Attainment | Middle | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Science — Attainment | High | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Science — Progress | KG | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Science — Progress | Elementary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Science — Progress | Middle | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Science — Progress | High | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Learning skills | KG | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Learning skills | Elementary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Learning skills | Middle | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Learning skills | High | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Students' personal and social development, and their innovation skills | |||
| Personal development | KG | Very good | Very good |
| Personal development | Elementary | Good | Good |
| Personal development | Middle | Good | Good |
| Personal development | High | 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 | Elementary | Good | Good |
| Understanding of Islamic values and awareness of Emirati and world cultures | Middle | Very good | Very good |
| Understanding of Islamic values and awareness of Emirati and world cultures | High | Very good | Very good |
| Social responsibility and innovation skills | KG | Good | Good |
| Social responsibility and innovation skills | Elementary | Good | Good |
| Social responsibility and innovation skills | Middle | Good | Good |
| Social responsibility and innovation skills | High | Good | Good |
| Teaching and assessment | |||
| Teaching for effective learning | KG | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Teaching for effective learning | Elementary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Teaching for effective learning | Middle | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Teaching for effective learning | High | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Assessment | KG | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Assessment | Elementary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Assessment | Middle | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Assessment | High | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Curriculum | |||
| Curriculum design and implementation | KG | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Curriculum design and implementation | Elementary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Curriculum design and implementation | Middle | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Curriculum design and implementation | High | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Curriculum adaptation | KG | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Curriculum adaptation | Elementary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Curriculum adaptation | Middle | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Curriculum adaptation | High | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| 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 | Elementary | Very good | Very good |
| Health and safety, including arrangements for child protection/safeguarding | Middle | Very good | Very good |
| Health and safety, including arrangements for child protection/safeguarding | High | Very good | Very good |
| Care and support | KG | Good | Good |
| Care and support | Elementary | Good | Good |
| Care and support | Middle | Good | Good |
| Care and support | High | Good | Good |
| Leadership and management | |||
| The effectiveness of leadership | Whole school | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| School self-evaluation and improvement planning | Whole school | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Parents and the community | Whole school | Good | Good |
| Governance | Whole school | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Management, staffing, facilities and resources | Whole school | Acceptable | Acceptable |
Inspectors rated Al Maaref Private School as acceptable overall. Teaching, curriculum and leadership were acceptable, with students making appropriate progress in most subjects. Health and safety and students' personal development were strengths, while low attendance, punctuality issues and the lack of a permanent principal remained key areas for improvement.
Source: KHDA inspection report 2022-2023 (PDF, pages 2-20), inspected 06 to 10 March 2023. Restated by BestSchool.ae.
2023-2024 inspection
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As reported for 2023-2024
