The Guide
Mon, 15 June 2026

Cities / Dubai / Al Mawakeb School Dubai

Al Mawakeb School Dubai

Located in Dubai's Garhoud area, Al Mawakeb School follows the American curriculum pathway and serves a highly diverse student community. The school has operated for over two decades, with alumni dating back to at least 2006.

Al Mawakeb School Dubai campus
Al Mawakeb School Dubai, Dubai. Photograph · School

Curriculum
American
Fees, annual
AED 16k–70k
Ages
4 to 18
Pupils
~1,000
Founded
1979

Located in Dubai's Garhoud area, Al Mawakeb School follows the American curriculum pathway and serves a highly diverse student community. The school has operated for over two decades, with alumni dating back to at least 2006. While comprehensive institutional details remain limited in public sources, the school distinguishes itself through exceptional student achievements that have gained international recognition. Recent standout success includes Grade 12 student Dalia Zidan becoming a top 10 finalist for the prestigious $100,000 Chegg.org Global Student Prize from over 11,000 applicants across 148 countries.

The school demonstrates strong commitment to STEM education and technology integration, with students participating in Boeing-Amideast STEM for Sustainability programs alongside peers from across the UAE. Student-led initiatives include the AMTech technology club, which has raised $9,000 in prizes and partnered with the UAE government for Dubai AI Week events. The school also supports advanced enrichment programs including AP/SAT preparation, coding clubs, and international publishing opportunities, with students reaching global audiences of over 72,000 readers across 12+ countries through various extracurricular projects.

Strengths

  • Exceptional student achievements with international recognition, including global prize finalists
  • Strong STEM and technology programs with government partnerships
  • Highly diverse student body representing multiple nationalities
  • Active participation in UAE-wide educational initiatives and competitions
  • Student-led innovation projects with real-world impact and funding success
  • International publishing and research opportunities for students

Considerations

  • Limited public information available about fees, facilities, and institutional details
  • School maintains relatively low profile compared to other established Dubai international schools
  • Specific curriculum details and university placement data not readily available
  • Leadership and administrative structure not well documented in public sources

Annual fees

Year level Age Fee
KG1 (Garhoud/Barsha) 3 AED 15,726
Pre-K (Khawaneej) 3 AED 36,181
KG 1 (Khawaneej) 3 AED 37,587
KG2 (Garhoud/Barsha) 4 AED 15,726
KG 2 (Khawaneej) 4 AED 39,209
G1 (Garhoud/Barsha) 6 AED 15,982
Grade 1 (Khawaneej) 6 AED 42,238
G2 (Garhoud/Barsha) 7 AED 16,045
Grade 2 (Khawaneej) 7 AED 43,320
G3 (Garhoud/Barsha) 8 AED 16,457
Grade 3 (Khawaneej) 8 AED 46,023
G4 (Garhoud/Barsha) 9 AED 16,805
Grade 4 (Khawaneej) 9 AED 48,186
G5 (Garhoud/Barsha) 10 AED 17,316
Grade 5 (Khawaneej) 10 AED 51,431
G6 (Garhoud/Barsha) 11 AED 17,502
Grade 6 (Khawaneej) 11 AED 55,758
G7 (Garhoud/Barsha) 12 AED 19,406
Grade 7 (Khawaneej) 12 AED 56,839
G8 (Garhoud/Barsha) 13 AED 19,532
Grade 8 (Khawaneej) 13 AED 58,461
G9 (Garhoud/Barsha) 14 AED 21,246
Grade 9 (Khawaneej) 14 AED 63,113
G10 (Garhoud/Barsha) 15 AED 21,436
Grade 10 (Khawaneej) 15 AED 66,033
G11 (Garhoud/Barsha) 16 AED 23,970
Grade 11 (Khawaneej) 16 AED 67,655
G12 (Garhoud/Barsha) 17 AED 25,493
Grade 12 (Khawaneej) 17 AED 69,602

One-time fees

Item Age Fee
Application and Processing Fee AED 525


  • Long-established three-campus Dubai school (Garhoud, Al Barsha, Al Khawaneej) running an American curriculum with AP, run by Academia Management Solution International. Parents describe it as a solid mid-tier option, not premium.
  • KHDA has rated the Garhoud campus Good for six consecutive years through 2023-24. Inspectors flagged library, science labs and learning-technology resources as not sufficiently supporting inquiry-based work, and noted KG and lower-school provision lagging the High School.
  • One parent said "my children are well above their grade level" after four years; another credited "engaging curriculum and dedicated staff" at Al Barsha. An ex-student described it as "overall a good school" but said students "can fuck around as much as you like" compared with stricter alternatives.
  • A 2020 parent comment called it "a terrible school" and flagged bullying and unprofessional teaching; isolated, not echoed in more recent feedback.
  • Discipline and academic rigour read as moderate, not strong. Families pairing the school with home effort report good outcomes; families wanting top-tier rigour route to Choeifat, GEMS or British alternatives.
  • Fees sit well below premium Dubai schools. One parent reported about AED 100,000 a year for two children, which is part of the reason families pick it.

Positives

  • Curriculum and academic outcomes. American curriculum with AP from Grade 10-12, valued by parents reporting children performing above grade level
  • Value. Fees materially below premium Dubai market, treated as a key reason families choose it

Considerations

  • KHDA inspection. Good rating six years running, but library, labs, learning-tech and KG provision repeatedly flagged for improvement
  • Discipline and rigour. Described as less strict than premium peers; some treat that as healthy balance, others as lack of academic edge
  • Tier positioning. Reddit voices consistently place it as mid-tier rather than top-tier

Leadership

Moussa Chahbaz

Moussa Chahbaz has been part of the Al Mawakeb family for over 26 years, serving in roles as a teacher, head of section, and Principal. He emphasizes the importance of community collaboration among parents, students, and staff to foster a nurturing, family-oriented learning environment unique to Al Mawakeb.

Accreditations

  • KHDA 01

Al Mafraq Rd - , Dubai , United Arab Emirates

School website