Affordable IB Schools in Dubai 2026: Fees & Ratings
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British
39K - 73K AED
Umm Al Sheif
Last updated · Sources: KHDA inspection reports · methodology
Horizon International School is a British school established in 2008 in Umm Al Sheif, Dubai. The school delivers the UK National Curriculum to students from FS1 through Year 13.
Currently, 1,383 boys and girls aged 3 to 18 attend the school. The academic programme follows the English National Curriculum framework, beginning with Early Years Foundation Stage and progressing through Key Stages to Sixth Form.
Students prepare for IGCSE, GCSE, and A-Level examinations. The school holds BSME accreditation and received a "Very Good" rating from KHDA in the 2023-2024 inspection.
Annual tuition fees range from AED 38,832 to AED 73,124 depending on grade level.
Facts reported by the school on its own channels, summarised by BestSchool.ae with a link to each source.
The school announced an outstanding 100% pass rate for its Class of 2026, describing the results as exceptional and a proud moment for the entire school community.
Source: InstagramHorizon International School announced Mr Stephen Quinn as its new Principal, taking up the role in Term 3 of the 2024-25 academic year. Described as a familiar face in the school community, he shares his journey and vision for the school's future.
Source: YouTubeThe academic year of some recorded fees has not been verified against its source. Confirm current rates with the school before using them.
KHDA rated Horizon International School "Very good" in its 2023-2024 inspection, up from "Good" at the previous inspection. The school has been inspected 14 times since 2008-2009.
Horizon International School provides a very good quality of education. Foundation Stage children make an outstanding start, and achievement in English, mathematics and science is strong across phases. Care, safety and personal development are outstanding. Islamic Education and Arabic remain acceptable, with recommendations to improve teaching, access, and literacy skills.
Source: KHDA inspection report 2023-2024 (PDF, pages 1–24), inspected 23 to 27 October 2023. Restated by BestSchool.ae.
Of the 85 performance indicators rated in both reports, 24 improved, 0 declined and 61 kept the same rating.
and 16 more
Of the 3 recommendations made in 2022-2023, 3 can be checked against the 2023-2024 ratings: 3 show an improvement.
Arabic as a First Language — Attainment (Primary): Weak → Acceptable · Arabic as a First Language — Attainment (Secondary): Weak → Acceptable · Understanding of Islamic values and awareness of Emirati and world cultures (Secondary): Good → Very good · Understanding of Islamic values and awareness of Emirati and world cultures (Post-16): Good → Very good
Teaching for effective learning (Foundation Stage): Very good → Outstanding · Teaching for effective learning (Secondary): Good → Very good · Teaching for effective learning (Post-16): Good → Very good · Assessment (Foundation Stage): Very good → Outstanding
School self-evaluation and improvement planning: Good → Very good
| Indicator | Phase | 2022-2023 | 2023-2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students' achievement | |||
| Islamic Education — Attainment | Primary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Islamic Education — Attainment | Secondary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Islamic Education — Attainment | Post-16 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Islamic Education — Progress | Primary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Islamic Education — Progress | Secondary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Islamic Education — Progress | Post-16 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Arabic as a First Language — Attainment | Primary | Weak | Acceptable |
| Arabic as a First Language — Attainment | Secondary | Weak | Acceptable |
| Arabic as a First Language — Attainment | Post-16 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Arabic as a First Language — Progress | Primary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Arabic as a First Language — Progress | Secondary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Arabic as a First Language — Progress | Post-16 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| 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 | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| English — Attainment | Primary | Very good | Very good |
| English — Attainment | Secondary | Very good | Very good |
| English — Attainment | Post-16 | Very good | Very good |
| English — Progress | Foundation Stage | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| English — Progress | Primary | Very good | Very good |
| English — Progress | Secondary | Very good | Very good |
| English — Progress | Post-16 | Very good | Very good |
| Mathematics — Attainment | Foundation Stage | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| Mathematics — Attainment | Primary | Very good | Outstanding |
| Mathematics — Attainment | Secondary | Very good | Outstanding |
| Mathematics — Attainment | Post-16 | Very good | Very good |
| Mathematics — Progress | Foundation Stage | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| Mathematics — Progress | Primary | Very good | Outstanding |
| Mathematics — Progress | Secondary | Very good | Outstanding |
| Mathematics — Progress | Post-16 | Very good | Very good |
| Science — Attainment | Foundation Stage | Very good | Outstanding |
| Science — Attainment | Primary | Very good | Very good |
| Science — Attainment | Secondary | Good | Very good |
| Science — Attainment | Post-16 | Acceptable | Good |
| Science — Progress | Foundation Stage | Very good | Outstanding |
| Science — Progress | Primary | Very good | Very good |
| Science — Progress | Secondary | Good | Very good |
| Science — Progress | Post-16 | Good | Good |
| Learning skills | Foundation Stage | Very good | Outstanding |
| Learning skills | Primary | Very good | Very good |
| Learning skills | Secondary | Very good | Very good |
| Learning skills | Post-16 | Good | Very good |
| Students' personal and social development | |||
| Personal development | Foundation Stage | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| Personal development | Primary | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| Personal development | Secondary | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| Personal development | Post-16 | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| 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 | Good | Very good |
| Understanding of Islamic values and awareness of Emirati and world cultures | Post-16 | 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 | Very good | Outstanding |
| Teaching for effective learning | Primary | Very good | Very good |
| Teaching for effective learning | Secondary | Good | Very good |
| Teaching for effective learning | Post-16 | Good | Very good |
| Assessment | Foundation Stage | Very good | Outstanding |
| Assessment | Primary | Very good | Very good |
| Assessment | Secondary | Good | Very good |
| Assessment | Post-16 | Good | Very good |
| Curriculum | |||
| Curriculum design and implementation | Foundation Stage | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| Curriculum design and implementation | Primary | Very good | Very good |
| Curriculum design and implementation | Secondary | Very good | Very good |
| Curriculum design and implementation | Post-16 | Good | Very good |
| Curriculum adaptation | Foundation Stage | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| Curriculum adaptation | Primary | Very good | Very good |
| Curriculum adaptation | Secondary | Very good | Very good |
| Curriculum adaptation | Post-16 | Good | Very good |
| The protection, care, guidance and support of students | |||
| Health and safety, including arrangements for child protection/safeguarding | Foundation Stage | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| Health and safety, including arrangements for child protection/safeguarding | Primary | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| Health and safety, including arrangements for child protection/safeguarding | Secondary | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| Health and safety, including arrangements for child protection/safeguarding | Post-16 | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| Care and support | Foundation Stage | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| Care and support | Primary | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| Care and support | Secondary | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| Care and support | Post-16 | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | |||
| The effectiveness of leadership | Whole school | Very good | Very good |
| School self-evaluation and improvement planning | Whole school | 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 |
Inspectors rated Horizon International School good overall. Foundation Stage, English and mathematics performance are outstanding or very good, and personal development, care and parental engagement are excellent. However, Arabic and Islamic Education teaching remain inconsistent, and self-evaluation and improvement planning need to become more realistic.
Source: KHDA inspection report 2022-2023 (PDF, pages 1–20), inspected 30 October to 03 November 2022. Restated by BestSchool.ae.
2023-2024 inspection
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Personalize this pageFrom the 2023-2024 inspection profile
As reported for 2023-2024
