Cities / Dubai / Raffles International School Dubai (RIS)
Raffles International School Dubai (RIS)
Operating since 2006 under Innoventures Education management, the Raffles brand in Dubai includes Raffles World Academy (the main IB school), Raffles International School, and eight nursery locations across the emirate.
In brief
Operating since 2006 under Innoventures Education management, the Raffles brand in Dubai includes Raffles World Academy (the main IB school), Raffles International School, and eight nursery locations across the emirate. The flagship Raffles World Academy occupies a 30,000 square meter campus in Umm Suqeim 3 with views of Burj Al Arab, serving approximately 1,800 students through the full International Baccalaureate continuum from PYP through DP and CP programs. The school also offers BTEC qualifications and American High School Diploma pathways, positioning itself for academically ambitious families seeking curriculum breadth.
Parent discussions reveal polarized experiences with the Raffles schools. While some families appreciate the IB programming and facilities, others note concerns about consistency and value compared to Dubai's established international institutions. The school group experienced significant upheaval in 2010 when Emaar withdrew from education management, leading to staff changes and campus closures that affected community confidence. Reddit discussions from alumni describe the schools as 'mid' tier despite marketing claims, with some noting issues around mandatory purchases and administrative practices. The brand continues expanding with a new Sharjah campus planned for 2026-27, though it operates with considerably less visibility than tier-one Dubai institutions like Dubai College or JESS.
Strengths
- Full IB continuum from Primary Years through Diploma and Career-related Programmes
- Impressive beachfront campus location with views of Burj Al Arab
- Broad curriculum options including BTEC and American diploma pathways
- Strong facilities and extracurricular programming across 30,000 square meters
- Diverse student body with balanced nationality representation
- Sister school network providing potential transfer options within Innoventures group
Considerations
- Mixed parent reviews regarding educational consistency and value proposition
- Historical instability following 2010 ownership changes and campus closures
- Limited visibility compared to Dubai's tier-one international schools
- Some alumni describe the school as 'mid-tier' despite marketing positioning
- Parent concerns about mandatory purchases and administrative practices
Fees
Annual fees
| Year level | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| FS 1 | 3 | AED 34,055 |
| FS 2 | 3 | AED 34,055 |
| Year 1 | 5 | AED 42,092 |
| Year 2 | 6 | AED 54,080 |
| Year 3 | 7 | AED 54,080 |
| Year 4 | 8 | AED 54,080 |
| Year 5 | 9 | AED 63,881 |
| Year 6 | 10 | AED 63,881 |
| Year 7 | 11 | AED 64,950 |
| Year 8 | 12 | AED 72,269 |
| Year 9 | 13 | AED 72,269 |
| Year 10 | 14 | AED 72,269 |
| Year 11 | 15 | AED 76,619 |
| Year 12 | 16 | AED 86,815 |
| Year 13 | 17 | AED 86,815 |
One-time fees
| Item | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Assessment Test Fee | AED 525 |
Reviews
An all-through British school on a 30,000 sqm site in Umm Suqeim 3, owned by Innoventures Education (also behind Raffles World Academy, Collegiate International and DIA). KHDA Very Good four inspections running, and a March 2025 British Schools Overseas visit returned Outstanding across the board. A Level results in 2025 were the strongest in four years, with 26% A and 76% at A-C. Matthew Barrett took the principalship in October 2024, returning to RIS after a stint as deputy here from 2011 to 2017. Non-selective by design, and the parent community reads as warm and international, with the usual Umm Suqeim trade-offs on facilities and fees.
Positives
- Inspection track record. Four consecutive Very Good ratings from KHDA, with 21 indicators scored Outstanding in the 2023-24 cycle. The March 2025 BSO inspection returned Outstanding across every category.
- Sixth form results. 2025 A Level and BTEC results were the school's strongest in four years: 26% at A*, 53% A*-B, 76% A*-C. IGCSE cohorts have outperformed England averages at grades 9-6 for three years running. Sixth form is small, around 15 in a recent A Level cohort, so headline percentages move with each year group.
- Inclusive admissions. Genuinely non-selective. Mid-year joiners and a wide ability range are normal, and the SEND team is named as a strength by parents whose children needed support.
- Wellbeing and community. Pastoral care and student happiness are the consistent positives. Around 90% of children say they enjoy school, and the international mix (80-plus nationalities across roughly 1,360 pupils) reads as the daily texture, not a marketing line.
Considerations
- Leadership transition. Matthew Barrett took over in October 2024 after Steven Giles departed. Barrett knows the school, having been deputy 2011-2017, and the immediate inspection cycle has gone well. It is still a new leadership era, so the medium-term shape is not yet set.
- Fees and value. Annual fees run AED 34,055 in FS to AED 90,228 in post-16. Only around a third of surveyed parents call the fees good value, against a UAE average closer to half. Premium pricing for a Very Good rather than Outstanding KHDA badge.
- Facilities. Site is compact for a 3 to 18 all-through, with limited outdoor space given the Umm Suqeim location. Facilities are functional rather than the showpiece newer Dubai builds offer at similar fees.
- Day-to-day grumbles. Recurring smaller complaints in parent surveys: smoothness of the primary to secondary transition, lunch options, breadth of sports fixtures, and isolated behaviour incidents from a minority of pupils. None are dominant themes.
Leadership
Matthew Barrett
Matthew Barrett is an educational leader with nearly 20 years of experience in outstanding schools in the UK and Dubai.
Accreditations
- British Schools Overseas (DfE) 01
- British Schools in the Middle East accreditation 02
Academic results
- A levels 2025 % entries graded A*- A 26%
- A levels 2025 % entries graded A*- B 53%
- A levels 2025 % entries graded A*- C 76%
- A levels 2025 % entries graded A*- E 96%
- PISA 2022 Mathematics Score 541
- PISA 2022 Science Score 544
- PISA 2022 Reading Score 529
- GCSE % of all grades 7-9 48%
- GCSE % of all grades 6 and above 66%
- GCSE % of all grades 4 and above 85%
- BTEC qualifications at Distinction level 75%