Cities / Dubai / Dubai Arabian American Private School (DAAPS)
Dubai Arabian American Private School (DAAPS)
Established in 2006 and located in Muhaisnah 1, Dubai, Arabian American Private School follows the American curriculum while incorporating elements of Arab culture into its educational approach, serving students from kindergarten through Grade 12.
In brief
Established in 2006 and located in Muhaisnah 1, Dubai Arabian American Private School follows the American curriculum while incorporating elements of Arab culture into its educational approach. The school serves students from kindergarten through Grade 12, with annual fees ranging from approximately AED 14,260 to AED 31,790 according to available information. Despite operating for nearly two decades, the school has struggled to establish itself as a competitive option within Dubai's crowded American curriculum market.
The school's most recent KHDA inspection resulted in a 'Weak' rating, placing it among the lower-performing institutions in Dubai's education sector. Parent discussions from 2018 ranked it unfavorably compared to other American curriculum schools, with one detailed comparison giving it a score of 0 out of 3. While the school has attempted to differentiate itself by emphasizing both American educational standards and Arab cultural values, this positioning has not translated into strong academic outcomes or parent satisfaction based on available feedback.
Strengths
- Offers American curriculum education with cultural integration
- Serves full age range from kindergarten through Grade 12
- Located in established residential area of Muhaisnah
- Relatively affordable fees compared to premium American schools
Considerations
- Received 'Weak' KHDA rating in most recent inspection
- Scored poorly (0/3) in parent evaluations compared to other American schools
- Limited positive feedback in parent discussions and reviews
- Faces strong competition from better-regarded American curriculum schools in Dubai
Fees
Annual fees
| Year level | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| KG 1 | 3 | AED 15,134 |
| KG 2 | 4 | AED 15,920 |
| Grade 1 | 6 | AED 18,215 |
| Grade 2 | 7 | AED 18,998 |
| Grade 3 | 8 | AED 19,783 |
| Grade 4 | 9 | AED 20,568 |
| Grade 5 | 10 | AED 21,353 |
| Grade 6 | 11 | AED 22,009 |
| Grade 7 | 12 | AED 24,197 |
| Grade 8 | 13 | AED 25,637 |
| Grade 9 | 14 | AED 27,206 |
| Grade 10 | 15 | AED 30,179 |
| Grade 11 | 16 | AED 32,795 |
| Grade 12 | 17 | AED 35,411 |
One-time fees
| Item | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Application Fee | AED 350 |
Reviews
A US-curriculum school in Al Muhaisnah serving a largely Emirati intake, with fees at the lower end of the Dubai American bracket. The KHDA picture is the dominant one: a Weak rating in 2023-24, with governance graded Very Weak and English, maths and science all sitting at Weak across elementary, middle and high school. Leadership has changed repeatedly, enrolment has roughly halved from its 2018-19 peak, and a new principal arrived in late 2022 with a brief to rebuild. Inspectors note real strengths in Arabic, Islamic values and the kindergarten, and the building itself is rated safe. Public parent commentary is sparse and polarised between warm community testimonials and accounts of facility and behaviour problems.
Positives
- Community and kindergarten. Families describe a warm, close-knit community with a nurturing kindergarten. Personal and social development in the early years is one of the few areas inspectors consistently flag as a strength.
- Arabic and Emirati identity. Arabic attainment has improved in recent cycles and pupils show strong respect for Islamic values and Emirati culture. For a predominantly Emirati intake this is a meaningful piece of the offer.
- Affordability. Fees run from around AED 14,260 in KG to AED 31,790 in Grade 12, with sibling discounts of 5 and 10 percent. That sits at the lower end of the Dubai American-curriculum band.
Considerations
- KHDA inspection trajectory. Rated Weak in 2023-24, one of only two Dubai schools at that level. Governance sits at Very Weak. English, maths and science are Weak across elementary, middle and high school, with literacy flagged repeatedly across cycles.
- Leadership and staff churn. Multiple principal changes through 2018-2022, with the current head in post since November 2022. Teacher turnover was reported at around 50 percent in 2022-23, well above the Dubai average.
- Enrolment decline. Roll has fallen from roughly 1,100 in 2018-19 to around 600 by 2023-24. KHDA guidance steers families away from schools below Good, and the trajectory shows it.
- Facilities and boys' phase. The building is rated safe and accessible by inspectors, but independent reviewers describe parts of the estate as tired. Wellbeing is rated Weak, with the middle and high boys' sections singled out as stressful learning environments.
- Parent voice and governance. Inspectors record that the governing board has limited knowledge of school performance and that parents report no formal input into decisions. Independent parent commentary is thin and sharply split between positive and negative accounts.
Leadership
Dr. Cornelia Edda Weiner
Dr. Cornelia Edda Weiner is the Principal of Dubai Arabian American Private School, appointed on 29 November 2022. She holds a Ph. D in Instructional Design, a Master's in Teaching, and Bachelor's and Associate's degrees in Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Accreditations
- New England Association of Schools and Colleges 01
- KHDA 02
- ADEK 03
Academic results
- Result US High School Diploma requires 26 credits with a minimum of 60% passing grades. Students take MAP, CAT4, TIMSS, PISA, and PIRLS. SAT Math (min 450) and IELTS (min 5.0) scores are recommended for univ