Al Salam Private School & Nursery

Founded with roots dating back to 1986, Al Salam Private School has grown from a small nursery in Deira to become an established British curriculum school serving the Al Nahda 2 community. Under Principal Tasleem Koser, the school offers education from Early Years Foundation Stage through A-levels, with a recent milestone being the launch of Year 10 and IGCSE programmes in 2024-25. The school's leadership structure includes dedicated heads for different key stages and specialized roles including wellbeing, inclusion, and digital learning.

Academic performance demonstrates the school's commitment to literacy development, with 2021 PIRLS results showing students achieving the High International Benchmark and outperforming Dubai private school averages. The school's previous participation in PISA and TIMSS assessments also yielded results above UAE national averages. Recent recognition through SENDIA and Wellbeing Awards highlights the school's focus on student support and inclusion alongside academic achievement. The school has also invested in sports facilities with the launch of Al Salam Sports Ground, reflecting its attention to physical development and extracurricular opportunities.

Strengths

• Strong PIRLS literacy results exceeding Dubai private school averages
• Recent SENDIA and Wellbeing Awards recognition for student support
• Established 35+ year educational heritage in Dubai
• Recently launched IGCSE programme expanding secondary offerings
• Dedicated leadership structure with specialized heads for inclusion and wellbeing
• Investment in sports facilities and extracurricular development

Considerations

• Located in Al Nahda 2, which may require longer commutes from central Dubai areas
• Recently launched IGCSE programme means limited track record for secondary academic outcomes
• Limited public information about specific facilities and resources
• Fee structure and comparative costs not publicly available

• Reviews lean positive, anchored on long-running parent loyalty and affordability. Edarabia carries 17 community reviews going back to 2021, with parents praising principal continuity and the British curriculum at modest fees. KHDA has awarded the school a Good rating for ten consecutive inspections.
• A separate Reddit comment in r/dubai called the school "good - from ratings and experience." Volume of expat-forum signal is low.
• Inspectors highlight strong Secondary maths and science attainment, outstanding Islamic values awareness, and an inclusive ethos. 19 percent of students are registered as students of determination, well above the Dubai average.
• Persistent KHDA criticism centres on inconsistent teaching quality in Foundation Stage and lower Primary, weaker Arabic standards, and use of assessment data. The school has not yet broken into Very Good in ten inspections.
• Tasleem Koser became principal in September 2024, returning as a former Vice Principal. Teacher turnover at 12 percent is below the Dubai average of 20 percent. A first IGCSE cohort graduates in 2026.