Cities / Dubai / Lycée Français Jean Mermoz de Dubai (LFJM)
Lycée Français Jean Mermoz de Dubai (LFJM)
Operating under the French Ministry of National Education and partnered with the Agency for French Education Abroad (AEFE), BFIS ICE combines French national curriculum with IB World School and Cambridge International School accreditation.
In brief
Operating under the French Ministry of National Education and partnered with the Agency for French Education Abroad (AEFE), BFIS ICE combines French national curriculum with IB World School and Cambridge International School accreditation. The school's governance includes distinguished figures such as board president Yves Aubin de La Messuzière, a former French Ambassador and Officer of the Legion of Honour, alongside General Secretary Francis Cauet who brings 30 years of principal experience. Under Principal Abir Alaywan's leadership, the school integrates bilingual French-English instruction while meeting UAE requirements for Arabic language, history, and culture education.
The school positions itself as fostering inquiry, leadership, and multicultural understanding through its unique blend of French educational philosophy with Anglo-Saxon best practices around kindness, autonomy, collaboration, and creativity. Unlike Dubai's predominantly British curriculum schools, BFIS ICE offers families seeking French education an alternative pathway that maintains international recognition through IB and Cambridge frameworks. However, the school generates minimal discussion in typical expatriate education forums compared to established institutions like JESS, Dubai College, or GEMS schools, suggesting it serves a more specialized community primarily interested in French-language education.
Strengths
- Distinguished governance including former French Ambassador and experienced education professionals
- Unique bilingual French-English curriculum combining French national standards with IB and Cambridge accreditation
- Early bilingualism focus with cultural immersion approach
- French Ministry of National Education accreditation and AEFE partnership providing authentic French education
- Multicultural education approach integrating local Arabic requirements
Considerations
- Limited visibility in Dubai's competitive international school market compared to tier-one institutions
- Specialized appeal primarily for families seeking French-language education
- Minimal parent discussion or reviews available in typical expatriate forums
- Campus facilities and student demographics not detailed in available sources
Fees
Annual fees
| Year level | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| PS (Pre-KG) | 3 | AED 46,350 |
| MS (KG-1) | 4 | AED 56,650 |
| GS (KG-2) | 5 | AED 59,740 |
| CP (Grade 1) | 6 | AED 62,830 |
| CE1 (Grade 2) | 7 | AED 65,920 |
| CE2 (Grade 3) | 8 | AED 69,010 |
| CM1 (Grade 4) | 9 | AED 72,100 |
| CM2 (Grade 5) | 10 | AED 75,190 |
| 6eme (Grade 6) | 11 | AED 79,310 |
| 5eme (Grade 7) | 12 | AED 79,310 |
| 4eme (Grade 8) | 13 | AED 84,460 |
| 3eme (Grade 9) | 14 | AED 84,460 |
| 2nde (Grade 10) | 15 | AED 65,827 |
| 1ere BFI++ (Grade 11) | 16 | AED 68,643 |
| 1ere IBDP (Grade 11) | 16 | AED 72,363 |
| Terminale IBDP (Grade 12) | 17 | AED 72,363 |
One-time fees
| Item | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| File Processing Fee | AED 500 |
Reviews
A small French-IB bilingual school in Nad Al Sheba, next to Meydan, rebranded from ICE to Bilingual French International School in late 2024. KHDA rating climbed from Good to Very Good in 2023-24, with safeguarding singled out as Outstanding. The 50/50 French-English model, with native-speaker teachers in each language and roughly twenty per class, is the headline draw. Secondary years are still being built out: Première opened in August, the first Terminale group only started in 2025, so the lycée track has very little track record behind it. Location in Nad Al Sheba 1 reads as central if you live around Meydan or Downtown, and as a long commute from Marina, JBR or the Hills.
Positives
- Bilingual model. Genuine 50/50 split between French and English from Maternelle, each language delivered by native-speaker teachers, with booster classes for children who arrive stronger in one than the other. Class size capped around twenty in roughly 90 sqm rooms.
- Curriculum breadth. AEFE-accredited French national programme paired with IB Primary Years and IB Diploma, plus IGCSE and AP options. Families can route a child toward either the French Baccalauréat or the IB DP without switching schools.
- Leadership and safeguarding. KHDA moved the school from Good to Very Good in 2023-24, with child protection rated Outstanding. Parents tend to mention the head's accessibility and the school's communication.
Considerations
- Secondary track record. The lycée years are brand new. Première only opened in 2024 and the first Terminale class began in 2025, so the Bac and IB DP results pipeline has yet to produce its first full cohort. Earlier reviews still describe the school as ending in primary, which no longer holds but reflects how recent the secondary build-out is.
- Inspection follow-ups. KHDA's recurring asks are sharper use of assessment data in lessons, stronger Islamic Education subject leadership, and more consistent middle-leader development. None of these are red flags at a Very Good school, but they are the items the next inspection will look at.
- Location and scale. Nad Al Sheba 1, beside the Meydan Hotel and tennis academy, with on-site pool and access to Meydan's outdoor facilities. Convenient for families around Meydan, Downtown and Business Bay, less so from the Marina or Arabian Ranches side. Roughly 570 pupils across all years, so the community is small by Dubai standards.
- Fees. AED 46k to 84k for 2025-26, with 10% sibling discount from the third child. Mid-range for a French-IB bilingual offer in Dubai, above the standard AEFE-network schools and below the international heavyweights.
Leadership
Abir Alaywan
Abir Alaywan is the Principal of Lycée Français Bilingue International in Dubai since August 2021, with prior experience as Vice Principal and Primary School Director at Lycée Français International Elite - AFLEC in Lebanon, along with roles in pedagogical quality assurance, Head of English Department, and Cambridge ESOL examiner.
Accreditations
- Agence pour l'enseignement français à l'étranger 01
- KHDA 02
Location
Meydan Street, Nad al Sheba 1,, next to the Meydan Hotel,, Meydan, Dubai – UAE