Cities / Dubai / Australian International School, Dubai (AIS Dubai)
Australian International School, Dubai (AIS Dubai)
IB school. 2025/2026 fees AED 52,000 - 90,000/year. Discounts: 5% new enrolment, 5% early payment, 5% - 15% sibling.
In brief
The first Australian-curriculum school in Dubai, opened in 2021 in Al Barsha South. Sister school to the long-established AIS Sharjah, with capacity to grow to 2,000 students.
Owned by Al Sharif Investment Trading Group with Queensland-government roots through Sharjah, run by Karen McCord from Bundaberg High. KHDA awarded Good at the first DSIB inspection in 2024. Currently runs to Year 10, adds Year 11 in 2026-27 and Year 12 in 2027-28. Around 450 students on a 350,000 sq ft campus built for far more, so classes are small for now.
Premium tier fees of roughly AED 52,000 to 90,000. Curriculum is Australian with the IB Diploma at the top end. Parents speak warmly of the community feel and communication, and families wanting curriculum continuity to Australia find this the only realistic option in Dubai. Inspectors flagged Arabic and Islamic Studies as weaker than other subjects and noted teaching quality is uneven across departments, common at a school still in build-out.
Fees
| Fee | Age | Type | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-KG | 3 | Annual | AED 52,000 |
| KG1 | 3 | Annual | AED 52,000 |
| KG2 (Prep) | 4 | Annual | AED 52,000 |
| Year 1 | 5 | Annual | AED 56,000 |
| Year 2 | 6 | Annual | AED 56,000 |
| Year 3 | 7 | Annual | AED 60,000 |
| Year 4 | 8 | Annual | AED 63,000 |
| Year 5 | 9 | Annual | AED 63,000 |
| Year 6 | 10 | Annual | AED 71,000 |
| Year 7 | 11 | Annual | AED 81,000 |
| Year 8 | 12 | Annual | AED 81,000 |
| Year 9 | 13 | Annual | AED 85,000 |
| Year 10 | 14 | Annual | AED 85,000 |
| Year 11 | 15 | Annual | AED 90,000 |
| Year 12 | 16 | Annual | AED 90,000 |
| Enrolment Application Fee | One-time | AED 500 |
Reviews
- Public parent feedback is limited and largely positive, but the sample is small. One aggregator records a from six reviews, a thin pool to draw conclusions from.
- Parents describe a warm, communicative community: an active Friends of AIS group, frequent updates and a school that feels small enough for staff to know children.
- Families of students of determination report being well supported, with regular reporting on academic and personal progress.
- The KHDA inspection (March 2024) rated the school overall Good and gave Very Good for personal development and behaviour, but flagged inconsistent teaching across phases and Islamic Education and Arabic lagging behind English, Maths and Science.
- Some parents praise gentle, low-pressure teaching; the inspector frames the same picture as classroom delivery not yet matching the school's stated inquiry-based vision.
Head of school
Karen McCord
Welcome to the first Australian Curriculum International School in Dubai. We are committed to delivering high-quality education from Nursery onward, grounded in excellence, innovation, and care. We believe in cultivating lifelong learners, empowering every student to realise their individual potential, and fostering responsible global citizens.
Accreditations
- KHDA 01