Affordable IB Schools in Dubai 2026: Fees & Ratings
Read Article
Indian
4K - 7K AED
Al Nahda
Last updated · Sources: KHDA inspection reports, published 2026-2027 fee schedule · methodology
The Central School is an Indian school established in 1981 in Al Nahda Second, Dubai. For over four decades, the school has served families seeking quality Indian education in the area.
The school enrols 3,552 boys and girls aged 4 to 18. Students attend classes from KG 1 through Grade 12, following the Indian curriculum framework from early childhood through senior secondary levels.
Academic programmes prepare students for CBSE board examinations. The school holds KHDA accreditation and received an "Acceptable" rating in the 2023-2024 inspection cycle.
Annual tuition fees range from AED 4,177 to AED 7,352. The Al Nahda Second campus is conveniently located for families residing in Al Nahda First, Al Nahda 2, and Al Ghusais.
Annual tuition at The Central School ranges from AED 4,177 (KG 1) to AED 7,352 (Grade 11) for 2026-2027, across 14 year groups, or about AED 348 to AED 613 a month. All 14 grade fees are unchanged from 2025-2026.
KHDA rated The Central School "Acceptable" in its 2023-2024 inspection, its 13th consecutive "Acceptable". The school has been inspected 13 times since 2009-2010.
This large Indian curriculum school was judged acceptable overall. Personal development, care and parent relationships are strengths, with good secondary teaching, but Arabic outcomes are weak, teaching and curriculum matching are inconsistent across phases, and leadership self-evaluation needs to become more accurate and rigorous.
Source: KHDA inspection report 2023-2024 (PDF, pages 1-21), inspected 09 to 13 October 2023. Restated by BestSchool.ae.
Of the 61 performance indicators rated in both reports, 0 improved, 10 declined and 51 kept the same rating.
and 2 more
Of the 5 recommendations made in 2022-2023, 4 can be checked against the 2023-2024 ratings: 0 show an improvement, 2 a decline, 2 no change yet.
2 related indicators kept their ratings in 2023-2024
2 related indicators kept their ratings in 2023-2024
Teaching for effective learning (Middle): Good → Acceptable
Teaching for effective learning (Middle): Good → Acceptable · Curriculum design and implementation (Middle): Good → Acceptable · Curriculum adaptation (Middle): Good → Acceptable
| Indicator | Phase | 2022-2023 | 2023-2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students' achievement | |||
| Islamic Education — Attainment | Primary | Good | Good |
| Islamic Education — Attainment | Secondary | Good | Good |
| Islamic Education — Progress | Primary | Good | Good |
| Islamic Education — Progress | Secondary | Good | Good |
| Arabic as an Additional Language — Attainment | Primary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Arabic as an Additional Language — Attainment | Secondary | Acceptable | Weak |
| Arabic as an Additional Language — Progress | Primary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Arabic as an Additional Language — Progress | Secondary | Acceptable | Weak |
| English — Attainment | KG | Good | Good |
| English — Attainment | Primary | Good | Good |
| English — Attainment | Secondary | Good | Good |
| English — Progress | KG | Good | Good |
| English — Progress | Primary | Good | Good |
| English — Progress | Secondary | Good | Good |
| Mathematics — Attainment | KG | Good | Good |
| Mathematics — Attainment | Primary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Mathematics — Attainment | Secondary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Mathematics — Progress | KG | Good | Good |
| Mathematics — Progress | Primary | Good | Good |
| Mathematics — Progress | Secondary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Science — Attainment | KG | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Science — Attainment | Primary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Science — Attainment | Secondary | Good | Acceptable |
| Science — Progress | KG | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Science — Progress | Primary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Science — Progress | Secondary | Good | Good |
| Learning skills | KG | Good | Good |
| Learning skills | Primary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Learning skills | Secondary | Good | Good |
| Students' personal and social development, and their innovation skills | |||
| Personal development | KG | Very good | Very good |
| Personal development | Primary | Very good | Very good |
| Personal development | Secondary | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| 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 | Primary | Very good | Very good |
| Understanding of Islamic values and awareness of Emirati and world cultures | Secondary | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| Social responsibility and innovation skills | KG | Very good | Very good |
| Social responsibility and innovation skills | Primary | Very good | Very good |
| Social responsibility and innovation skills | Secondary | Very good | Very good |
| Teaching and assessment | |||
| Teaching for effective learning | KG | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Teaching for effective learning | Primary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Teaching for effective learning | Secondary | Good | Good |
| Assessment | KG | Good | Good |
| Assessment | Primary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Assessment | Secondary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Curriculum | |||
| Curriculum design and implementation | KG | Good | Good |
| Curriculum design and implementation | Primary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Curriculum design and implementation | Secondary | Good | Good |
| Curriculum adaptation | KG | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Curriculum adaptation | Primary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Curriculum adaptation | Secondary | Good | 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 | Primary | Very good | Very good |
| Health and safety, including arrangements for child protection/safeguarding | Secondary | Very good | Very good |
| Care and support | KG | Good | Good |
| Care and support | Primary | Good | Good |
| Care and support | Secondary | 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 |
The Central School's overall performance is acceptable. Teaching and assessment are mostly acceptable, with secondary teaching rated good. Students show very strong personal development, understanding of Islamic values, and appreciation of Emirati and world cultures. Leadership is acceptable, but improvement planning needs to be more specific, measurable, and closely monitored to strengthen the school's progress.
Source: KHDA inspection report 2022-2023 (PDF, pages 2-19), inspected 09 to 13 October 2022. 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
