Cities / Dubai / North London Collegiate School, Dubai (NLCS)
North London Collegiate School, Dubai (NLCS)
2025/26 fees AED 91,735 - 143,681/year. Sibling discounts 5% - 15%. Early payment discount up to 7%.
In brief
Selective IB-only school in Sobha Hartland, opened 2017, the second campus of the historic North London Collegiate School. Dubai's most expensive school and consistently KHDA Very Good.
Full IB Continuum from PYP through MYP to DP, no British curriculum stream. Around 1,600 students from age 3 to 18. Led by Mr James Monaghan. Campus is genuinely premium, a 750-seat performing arts centre with fly tower, an eight-lane indoor pool, 13 science labs, six tennis courts and dedicated rugby and cricket pitches. Fees run from roughly AED 92,000 to AED 144,000 depending on year group.
2025 IB Diploma cohort averaged 36.5 points with a quarter scoring 40 plus and a top score of 45, strong but from a small and selective DP cohort of around 32 students. Parents speak warmly of the staff and describe genuine community, with several families having moved here from other top Dubai schools specifically for the IB and not regretted it. Selectivity at admission is real, particularly higher up the school. The proposition is academic depth at a price.
Fees
| Fee | Age | Type | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-KG | 3 | Annual | AED 91,735 |
| KG 1 | 3 | Annual | AED 96,157 |
| KG 2 | 4 | Annual | AED 104,999 |
| Grade 1 | 6 | Annual | AED 104,999 |
| Grade 2 | 7 | Annual | AED 104,999 |
| Grade 3 | 8 | Annual | AED 104,999 |
| Grade 4 | 9 | Annual | AED 108,314 |
| Grade 5 | 10 | Annual | AED 108,314 |
| Grade 6 | 11 | Annual | AED 127,103 |
| Grade 7 | 12 | Annual | AED 127,103 |
| Grade 8 | 13 | Annual | AED 127,103 |
| Grade 9 | 14 | Annual | AED 132,629 |
| Grade 10 | 15 | Annual | AED 132,629 |
| Grade 11 | 16 | Annual | AED 143,681 |
| Grade 12 | 17 | Annual | AED 143,681 |
| Application Fee | One-time | AED 525 | |
| Confirmation Deposit | One-time | AED 10,000 |
Reviews
- NLCS Dubai is a regular pick for top-tier IB-route families in Dubai discussions and is repeatedly named alongside Dubai College, JESS and GEMS Wellington for academic ambition.
- Mumsnet parents report class sizes have grown, teacher turnover is high and feedback is not absorbed by senior leadership; comparisons to RGS, Brighton and Dubai College are unfavourable.
- One teacher said "avoid NLCS Dubai, the work life balance does not exist, and SLT never backs teachers up", a recurring tone in the international teachers subreddit.
- Reddit fee threads flag NLCS Dubai as one of the most expensive schools in the city, with Year 12 fees over AED 115,000.
- Positive reviews highlight strong IB delivery and a genuinely academic ethos; negative reviews concentrate on workload, leadership responsiveness and pastoral pressure.
Head of school
Mr. Jonathan Locke
Mr. Jonathan Locke is the new Principal of NLCS Dubai, effective September 2023. He graduated from the University of Cambridge with a PGCE in Mathematics and has extensive experience in educational leadership, having previously served as Executive Principal at The British School of Barcelona. His focus is on fostering academic excellence and a holistic educational approach.
Accreditations
- KHDA 01
- British Schools Overseas (DfE) 02
Academic results
- IB Diploma 2025 average 36.8
- IB Diploma 2024 average 37.2
- IB Diploma 2023 average 37.2
- IB Diploma 2022 average 38.1
- IB Diploma 2021 average 40.1
Location
Nad Al Sheba,, Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum City,, PO Box 242773, Dubai, United Arab Emirates