Cities / Dubai / Dubai International Private School (DIPS)
Dubai International Private School (DIPS)
American-curriculum school in Al Quoz, established 1985, with a sister campus in Garhoud. Predominantly Emirati intake and notably affordable fees by Dubai standards.
In brief
American-curriculum school in Al Quoz, established 1985, with a sister campus in Garhoud. Predominantly Emirati intake and notably affordable fees by Dubai standards.
Around 1,800 students from KG1 to Grade 12 with roughly 52% Emirati, an unusual demographic for an English-medium private school in Dubai. Dr Akram Zayour has led since 2000. KHDA rating moved up to Good at the 2023-24 inspection after years bouncing between Acceptable and Good. NEASC and Cognia accredited, so the High School Diploma is recognised by US universities.
Common Core for English and Maths, NGSS for Science and AERO standards elsewhere, with SAT and TOEFL preparation built in. Fees of roughly AED 16,000 to 25,000 are well below the premium American schools. Parent voice is mixed and modest in volume, with the consistent themes being uneven teaching across departments and questions about how discipline is handled. Inspectors echoed the teaching consistency point and flagged staff recruitment and retention as the key area to strengthen.
Fees
Annual fees
| Year level | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| KG 1 | 3 | AED 15,974 |
| KG 2 | 4 | AED 15,974 |
| Grade 1 | 6 | AED 15,974 |
| Grade 2 | 7 | AED 16,164 |
| Grade 3 | 8 | AED 16,346 |
| Grade 4 | 9 | AED 16,346 |
| Grade 5 | 10 | AED 16,890 |
| Grade 6 | 11 | AED 16,890 |
| Grade 7 | 12 | AED 19,134 |
| Grade 8 | 13 | AED 19,134 |
| Grade 9 | 14 | AED 20,809 |
| Grade 10 | 15 | AED 20,992 |
| Grade 11 | 16 | AED 23,034 |
| Grade 12 | 17 | AED 25,080 |
One-time fees
| Item | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Application Fee | AED 525 |
Reviews
A long-established American school in Al Garhoud, sitting at the affordable end of the US-curriculum bracket in Dubai and known for a warm, values-led community where Arabic and Islamic studies carry real weight. Recent inspection placed the school at Acceptable overall, with personal development and wellbeing rated higher than core academic subjects. Leadership has been in transition, and the broader picture is one of a school in renewal rather than at the top of the academic table.
Positives
- Community and pastoral feel. Families describe a settled, family-oriented atmosphere with teachers who know students personally. Behaviour and wellbeing are recognised strengths, and the school carries genuine multicultural depth across more than fifty nationalities.
- Arabic and Islamic studies. Arabic, Islamic education and the wider cultural programme sit well above the school's overall rating. A dedicated UAE Museum on site and a strong values strand make this a natural fit for Emirati and Arabic-speaking families.
- Fees relative to American peers. Annual tuition runs roughly AED 15,000 to 24,000 across the grades, well below most NEASC/Cognia-accredited American schools in Dubai. For an established 40-year school with a swimming pool and full K to 12 pathway, the price band is unusual.
Considerations
- Core academic performance. English, mathematics and science have sat at Acceptable for an extended run of inspections, and external benchmark results in those subjects trail the school's own ambitions. Parents looking for an academically driven American school tend to weigh this against the warmer community signals.
- Teaching consistency. Lesson quality varies across phases, with middle school flagged as more teacher-directed and worksheet-led. Critical thinking and hands-on work were noted as thinner than expected for an American programme.
- Inclusion and SEND provision. Provision for students of determination was downgraded to Acceptable in the most recent inspection. The absence of a permanent Head of Inclusion was flagged, and identification and diagnostic processes were singled out as needing work despite a sizeable SEND cohort on roll.
- Leadership in transition. The school has moved through an acting principal phase and a new Board of Trustees in recent years, with a fresh senior team now in place. Parents describe morale as positive and governance more visible, though the curriculum expertise of the leadership group is still building.
- AP and advanced pathways. The Advanced Placement offer is narrow compared with larger American schools in Dubai. Families with university-stretch students at the top end of the school sometimes top up through external programmes.
Leadership
Dr. Akram Zayour
Accreditations
- New England Association of Schools and Colleges 01
- Cognia 02
- KHDA 03
Academic results
- Result Top 10 schools in Dubai for Emirati student achievement in TIMSS 2023 mathematics and science
- Result PIRLS 2021 scores significantly exceeded targets
- Result MAP results show very good year-on-year progress in English, mathematics, and science (2023-2024).