Cities / Dubai / Raffles World Academy Dubai (RWA)
Raffles World Academy Dubai (RWA)
Founded in 2006 under Emaar Education and now managed by Innoventures Education since 2010, RWA occupies a striking 30,000 square meter campus with views of Burj Al Arab.
In brief
Founded in 2006 under Emaar Education and now managed by Innoventures Education since 2010, RWA occupies a striking 30,000 square meter campus with views of Burj Al Arab. The school serves approximately 1,800 students from over 100 nationalities through the complete IB continuum - PYP, MYP, DP, and the less common Career-related Programme (CP) - alongside BTEC qualifications. This breadth of programming distinguishes RWA from many Dubai IB schools that focus solely on the traditional academic pathway. Under Innoventures management, which also operates Dubai International Academy, the school has stabilized after significant upheaval when Emaar exited education management in 2010.
The school's location in Umm Suqeim 3 provides both advantages and context for prospective families. While the beachfront setting and facilities are genuinely impressive, parent discussions on forums reveal polarized experiences. Some families praise the international environment and IB programming, while others note concerns about consistency and administrative practices. The school operates with considerably less visibility in expatriate education discussions compared to established Dubai institutions like Dubai College or JESS, despite its scale and facilities. A new sister campus is planned for Sharjah in 2026-27, indicating continued expansion under the Innoventures umbrella.
Strengths
- Complete IB continuum including the Career-related Programme, offering both academic and vocational pathways
- Impressive 30,000 square meter campus with Burj Al Arab views and extensive sports facilities
- Serves over 100 nationalities creating genuinely international community
- Strong governance and accreditation across all IB programmes
- Part of Innoventures network with sister schools including Dubai International Academy
- Broad extracurricular programming and BTEC qualifications alongside IB
Considerations
- Experienced significant upheaval in 2010 when Emaar withdrew, leading to staff changes and campus closure
- Parent discussions reveal mixed experiences with some questioning value compared to established Dubai schools
- Generates limited discussion in expatriate forums compared to tier-one Dubai institutions
- Alumni describe the school as 'mid-tier' despite marketing claims
- Some parent concerns about mandatory purchases and administrative practices
- Less market visibility than established IB competitors in Dubai
Academics
Raffles World Academy (RWA) is a "Very Good" rated school by KHDA, a rating it has maintained since 2017-18 and reconfirmed in the 2023-2024 inspection (edcare. ae). The school follows the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum across all phases.
School life
RWA offers over 50 Co-Curricular Activities (CCAs) (rwadubai. com). Competitive and recreational sports include soccer, swimming, basketball, badminton, and tennis, with the school being a member of the Dubai Affiliated Primary Sports Association (DAPSA) (rwadubai.
The school occupies a 30,000 square metre campus in Umm Suqeim 3 (edcare. ae). Key facilities include a 500-seat auditorium/theatre, two swimming pools (a training pool and a larger regular pool), a full-size soccer field, a sports hall, and courts for basketball, badminton, and tennis (edcare.
Student body
The school has an enrolment of over 1,900 students representing more than 100 different nationalities (rwadubai. com, WhichSchoolAdvisor. com).
Fees
Annual fees
| Year level | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| KG 1 | 3 | AED 33,544 |
| Pre KG | 3 | AED 33,544 |
| KG 2 | 4 | AED 40,253 |
| Grade 1 | 6 | AED 53,270 |
| Grade 2 | 7 | AED 53,270 |
| Grade 3 | 8 | AED 53,671 |
| Grade 4 | 9 | AED 64,405 |
| Grade 5 | 10 | AED 64,405 |
| Grade 6 | 11 | AED 64,807 |
| Grade 7 | 12 | AED 72,188 |
| Grade 8 | 13 | AED 72,188 |
| Grade 9 | 14 | AED 72,188 |
| Grade 10 | 15 | AED 78,488 |
| Grade 11 | 16 | AED 87,990 |
| Grade 12 | 17 | AED 87,990 |
One-time fees
| Item | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Assessment Test Fee | AED 525 |
Reviews
An Umm Suqeim IB World School running the full continuum from PYP through DP and the IB Career-related Programme, part of Innoventures Education alongside Dubai International Academy and Raffles International. KHDA has rated it Very Good for five consecutive inspection cycles through 2023-24, with governance and parent engagement marked Outstanding. The 2025 Diploma cohort returned a 100 percent pass rate. Parents talk about a warm, diverse community and a strong primary phase; fee value and a turnover figure of around 23 percent come up as the main pull-backs.
Positives
- KHDA track record. Very Good rating held since 2017-18 and reconfirmed in 2023-24. Governance and parents-and-community sub-ratings sit at Outstanding.
- Primary and early years. KG and PYP draw the strongest inspection ratings, with English, maths and science attainment largely Outstanding in the primary phase.
- Arabic and Islamic studies. Almost entirely Very Good across the school, which is unusual for an international IB campus in Dubai.
- Inclusion and SEN. Provision for students of determination carries an Outstanding KHDA rating, with around 100 supported pupils on roll.
- IB Diploma results. 100 percent pass rate in 2025. The 2024 cohort of 67 students averaged 33 points, with three quarters scoring 30 or above.
- Community feel. Parents describe a warm, multinational mix across 100-plus nationalities, with an active parent association and accessible leadership under Tim Roberts, principal since 2016.
- Campus and arts. A 30,000 sq m purpose-built site with two pools, a sports hall, theatre and dance studios. Drama is singled out as a particular strength.
Considerations
- Fee value. Fees climb from around AED 33,500 in KG to AED 88,000 in post-16. Parent surveys show only a minority rating the price as good value, with the majority calling it partial.
- DP maths and consistency. Maths attainment in the Diploma phase sits a notch below the rest of the school at Good, and inspectors flag consistency in assessment and inquiry-based teaching in MYP as an area to keep pushing.
- Teacher turnover. Reported turnover of around 23 percent, on the higher side for an established Dubai school.
- Safeguarding downgrade. Health and safety policies stepped down from Outstanding to Very Good in 2023-24, tied to visitor supervision.
Leadership
Timothy Roberts
Tim took over as the Principal of Raffles World Academy in 2016. He has held leadership positions in the Middle East, Europe and most recently in Abuja, Nigeria.
Accreditations
- CIS member, no ratings published for CIS, WASC, NEASC, COBIS/BSO, or ISQM 01
- MEIBA founding member, Eco-Schools UAE Green Flag, Duke of Edinburgh licensed centre 02
- no FOBISIA, BSME, Round Square, DASSA, Apple Distinguished School, HPL published 03
Academic results
- IB Diploma 2024 average 100% pass rate