
Affordable IB Schools in Dubai 2026: Fees & Ratings
Read Article



British
9K - 15K AED
Al Nahda
Last updated · Sources: KHDA inspection reports · methodology
Dubai Carmel School is a UK school established in 1990 in Al Nahda. The school caters to both boys and girls aged 4 to 18, enrolling a total of 653 students across grades FS2 to Year 13.
The curriculum follows the UK programme, preparing students for IGCSE qualifications. The school is rated "Acceptable" by KHDA for the 2023-2024 academic year.
Annual tuition fees range from AED 9,121 to AED 15,479, depending on the grade level. The campus is conveniently located for families in Al Nahda First, Al Nahda Second, and Al Nahda 2.
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 Dubai Carmel School "Acceptable" in its 2023-2024 inspection, its 13th consecutive "Acceptable". The school has been inspected 14 times since 2008-2009; its best rating was "Good" in 2008-2009.
Dubai Carmel School provides an acceptable quality of education. Students behave respectfully and show strong understanding of Islamic values and culture, but English attainment is weak in Primary, self-evaluation and governance are weak, and safeguarding, resources, and staff training need urgent improvement.
Source: KHDA inspection report 2023-2024 (PDF, pages 1–21), inspected 27 to 01 December 2023. Restated by BestSchool.ae.
Of the 83 performance indicators rated in both reports, 1 improved, 17 declined and 65 kept the same rating.
and 9 more
Of the 6 recommendations made in 2022-2023, 6 can be checked against the 2023-2024 ratings: 0 show an improvement, 4 a decline, 2 no change yet.
4 related indicators kept their ratings in 2023-2024
School self-evaluation and improvement planning: Acceptable → Weak
Curriculum design and implementation (Primary): Good → Acceptable · Curriculum design and implementation (Secondary): Good → Acceptable · Curriculum design and implementation (Post-16): Good → Acceptable · Curriculum adaptation (Foundation Stage): Good → Acceptable
4 related indicators kept their ratings in 2023-2024
Curriculum design and implementation (Primary): Good → Acceptable · Curriculum design and implementation (Secondary): Good → Acceptable · Curriculum design and implementation (Post-16): Good → Acceptable · Curriculum adaptation (Foundation Stage): Good → Acceptable
Care and support (Foundation Stage): Good → Acceptable · Care and support (Primary): Good → Acceptable · Care and support (Secondary): Good → Acceptable · Care and support (Post-16): Good → Acceptable
| Indicator | Phase | 2022-2023 | 2023-2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students' achievement | |||
| Islamic Education — Attainment | Primary | Good | Good |
| Islamic Education — Attainment | Secondary | Good | Good |
| Islamic Education — Attainment | Post-16 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Islamic Education — Progress | Primary | Good | Good |
| Islamic Education — Progress | Secondary | Good | Good |
| Islamic Education — Progress | Post-16 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Arabic as a First Language — Attainment | Primary | Good | Good |
| Arabic as a First Language — Attainment | Secondary | Good | Good |
| Arabic as a First Language — Progress | Primary | Good | Good |
| Arabic as a First Language — Progress | Secondary | Good | Good |
| 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 | Acceptable |
| Arabic as an Additional Language — Progress | Secondary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| English — Attainment | Foundation Stage | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| English — Attainment | Primary | Weak | Weak |
| English — Attainment | Secondary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| English — Attainment | Post-16 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| English — Progress | Foundation Stage | Good | Good |
| English — Progress | Primary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| English — Progress | Secondary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| English — Progress | Post-16 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Mathematics — Attainment | Foundation Stage | Good | Acceptable |
| Mathematics — Attainment | Primary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Mathematics — Attainment | Secondary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Mathematics — Attainment | Post-16 | Weak | Acceptable |
| Mathematics — Progress | Foundation Stage | Good | Good |
| Mathematics — Progress | Primary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Mathematics — Progress | Secondary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Mathematics — Progress | Post-16 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Science — Attainment | Foundation Stage | Good | Acceptable |
| Science — Attainment | Primary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Science — Attainment | Secondary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Science — Attainment | Post-16 | Good | Good |
| Science — Progress | Foundation Stage | Good | Good |
| Science — Progress | Primary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Science — Progress | Secondary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Science — Progress | Post-16 | Good | Good |
| Learning skills | Foundation Stage | Good | Good |
| Learning skills | Primary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Learning skills | Secondary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Learning skills | Post-16 | Good | Good |
| Arabic as a First Language — Attainment | Post-16 | — | Good |
| Arabic as a First Language — Progress | Post-16 | — | Good |
| Students' personal and social development | |||
| Personal development | Foundation Stage | Very good | Very good |
| Personal development | Primary | Good | Good |
| Personal development | Secondary | Good | Good |
| Personal development | Post-16 | Very good | Very good |
| Understanding of Islamic values and awareness of Emirati and world cultures | Foundation Stage | Very good | Very good |
| Understanding of Islamic values and awareness of Emirati and world cultures | Primary | Very good | Very good |
| Understanding of Islamic values and awareness of Emirati and world cultures | Secondary | Very good | Very good |
| Understanding of Islamic values and awareness of Emirati and world cultures | Post-16 | Very good | Very good |
| Social responsibility and innovation skills | Foundation Stage | Very good | Very good |
| Social responsibility and innovation skills | Primary | Very good | Very good |
| Social responsibility and innovation skills | Secondary | Very good | Very good |
| Social responsibility and innovation skills | Post-16 | Very good | Very good |
| Teaching and assessment | |||
| Teaching for effective learning | Foundation Stage | Good | Good |
| Teaching for effective learning | Primary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Teaching for effective learning | Secondary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Teaching for effective learning | Post-16 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Assessment | Foundation Stage | Good | Acceptable |
| Assessment | Primary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Assessment | Secondary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Assessment | Post-16 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Curriculum | |||
| Curriculum design and implementation | Foundation Stage | Good | Good |
| Curriculum design and implementation | Primary | Good | Acceptable |
| Curriculum design and implementation | Secondary | Good | Acceptable |
| Curriculum design and implementation | Post-16 | Good | Acceptable |
| Curriculum adaptation | Foundation Stage | Good | Acceptable |
| Curriculum adaptation | Primary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Curriculum adaptation | Secondary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Curriculum adaptation | Post-16 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| The protection, care, guidance and support of students | |||
| Health and safety, including arrangements for child protection/safeguarding | Foundation Stage | Good | Acceptable |
| Health and safety, including arrangements for child protection/safeguarding | Primary | Good | Acceptable |
| Health and safety, including arrangements for child protection/safeguarding | Secondary | Good | Acceptable |
| Health and safety, including arrangements for child protection/safeguarding | Post-16 | Good | Acceptable |
| Care and support | Foundation Stage | Good | Acceptable |
| Care and support | Primary | Good | Acceptable |
| Care and support | Secondary | Good | Acceptable |
| Care and support | Post-16 | Good | Acceptable |
| Leadership and management | |||
| The effectiveness of leadership | Whole school | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| School self-evaluation and improvement planning | Whole school | Acceptable | Weak |
| Parents and the community | Whole school | Good | Good |
| Governance | Whole school | Acceptable | Weak |
| Management, staffing, facilities and resources | Whole school | Acceptable | Acceptable |
Dubai Carmel School is rated acceptable overall. It sustains strong outcomes in Islamic Education and Arabic, with very good personal development and understanding of Islamic values. However, teaching quality, assessment consistency, English attainment in Primary, and leadership accountability need improvement to raise achievement across all phases.
Source: KHDA inspection report 2022-2023 (PDF, pages 2–20), inspected 16 to 20 January 2023. Restated by BestSchool.ae.
2023-2024 inspection
Work at this school?
Claim this profile to update information and respond to reviews.
Personalize this pageFrom the 2023-2024 inspection profile
As reported for 2023-2024