Cities / Dubai / Regent International School Dubai (RIS)
Regent International School Dubai (RIS)
Fortes Education British-curriculum school in Al Khail, founded 1993, with around 1,500 pupils from Foundation Stage to Year 13 and particular strength in early years.
In brief
Operating as part of the Fortes Education group alongside Sunmarke School, RIS follows the British National Curriculum from Foundation Stage through secondary levels. Under Principal Ben Rothwell's leadership, the school emphasizes play-based learning in early years with STEAM integration and maintains what parents describe as an intimate, family-like atmosphere. The school's KHDA ratings highlight particular strength in early years provision, with Outstanding features noted in Foundation Stage teaching and learning outcomes.
Parent discussions from expatriate forums reveal mixed but generally positive experiences with the school community. Families appreciate the smaller scale and personal attention compared to Dubai's larger British institutions, with some describing the warmth and intimacy that comes from a more manageable student body. However, the school generates considerably less discussion than established British curriculum schools like Dubai College or JESS, suggesting it serves a more localized community rather than competing for the broader international expatriate market that typically drives education conversations in Dubai.
Strengths
- KHDA Very Good rating with Outstanding features in early years provision
- Intimate school atmosphere with personal attention and family-like community feel
- Strong Foundation Stage program with experienced EYFS leadership
- Part of established Fortes Education group providing institutional support
- British curriculum pathway with STEAM integration from early years
- Located in Al Barsha with accessibility for families in central Dubai areas
Considerations
- Limited visibility and discussion compared to tier-one British schools in Dubai
- Restricted availability in Foundation Stage classes indicates capacity constraints
- Moderate market presence suggests smaller scale operation
- Less extensive parent feedback available compared to established competitors
- Limited information available about secondary outcomes and university placements
Academics
Regent International School is rated "Very Good" by the KHDA (2023-24) and "Outstanding" by British Schools Overseas (BSO). 2025 A-Level results include a 100% student pass rate, with 29% A -A, 49% A -B, and 89% A -C grades (WhichSchoolAdvisor, Regent Academic Results). 2025 GCSE results include 53% at Grades 9-7 (A -A), 71% at Grades 9-6 (A -B), and 88% at Grades 9-4 (A -C) (Regent Academic Results).
School life
The school offers over 60 extracurricular activities (Regent Free ECAs). Sports : Fortes Pro Sports Academy providing professional coaching, swimming, football, and basketball. Arts : Performing arts (drama, dance, music) with dedicated studios and fine arts spaces.
The campus features 77+ purpose-built activity rooms and a state-of-the-art Assembly Hall. Pools : A semi-Olympic swimming pool and a dedicated learner’s pool. Sports : Two multi-purpose sports decks, a rooftop sports deck with 4 multi-courts, and outdoor astro-turf and paved playing fields.
Student body
Regent has an enrolment of approximately 1,750 students (with 1,533 recorded in the 2023-24 KHDA report). The student body represents over 86 nationalities, with prominent groups from the UK, India, and South Korea. Class Size : Capped between 22 and 26 students depending on the year group (FS1: 22; Primary/FS2: 24; Secondary: 26), though the school retains the right to increase this to 30 (FAQs, WhichSchoolAdvisor).
Fees
Annual fees
| Year level | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation Stage 1 | 3 | AED 49,076 |
| Foundation Stage 2 | 4 | AED 49,076 |
| Year 1 | 5 | AED 57,254 |
| Year 2 | 6 | AED 57,254 |
| Year 3 | 7 | AED 57,254 |
| Year 4 | 8 | AED 57,254 |
| Year 5 | 9 | AED 57,254 |
| Year 6 | 10 | AED 57,254 |
| Year 7 | 11 | AED 65,074 |
| Year 8 | 12 | AED 65,084 |
| Year 9 | 13 | AED 65,789 |
| Year 10 | 14 | AED 66,769 |
| Year 11 | 15 | AED 67,747 |
| Year 12 | 16 | AED 69,710 |
| Year 13 | 17 | AED 69,730 |
One-time fees
| Item | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Application Fee | AED 500 |
Reviews
An all-through British school in The Greens, run by Fortes Education and rated Very Good by KHDA for three consecutive cycles since 2018, with a separate Outstanding judgement from British Schools Overseas in 2023. Secondary was rebuilt in-house after years as a primary-only campus, with Year 13 added in September 2024 and a first A Level cohort sitting in summer 2025. Fees sit a clear step below the Tier 1 British set in Dubai, and parent confidence on value is one of the school's most consistent positives. Foundation Stage is the standout phase across every KHDA measure.
Positives
- Foundation Stage. Early Years is rated Outstanding across every KHDA strand, including teaching, curriculum, assessment and progress. The phase is what parents recommend most often and what the school's reputation rests on.
- Value for money. Secondary fees run roughly AED 55,900 to 64,900 across Year 7 to Year 13, which sits noticeably below sister school Sunmarke and well below the Tier 1 British campuses. Around nine in ten parents rate fees as excellent or good value, the highest-scoring item in the school's parent survey.
- Community and pastoral. A Positive Education framework runs through the timetable, and parents talk about the school in family-scale terms rather than corporate ones. Bullying scores sit below the city average and parent communication scores sit above it. A family with an autistic child described teachers as unfazed by his challenges.
- Leadership. David Williams was confirmed as Principal in May 2025 after eleven years in the school as teacher and Vice Principal. The promotion from inside means the direction of travel under the previous head carries through rather than resetting.
Considerations
- Arabic and Islamic Education. Inspectors have flagged Arabic and Islamic Education as the weakest strand on roll, rated Acceptable while the rest of the school sits at Very Good or Outstanding. The school has been asked to raise attainment in both for several cycles now.
- Secondary and post-16. Secondary and Sixth Form are still bedding in after years as a primary-only school. First A Level results in 2025 came in at 29 percent A*-A with a 100 percent pass rate from a small cohort. Families wanting an IB or BTEC route at post-16 are routed across to sister school Sunmarke, with a fee step up that comes with that move.
- Facilities and outdoor space. The site is large and feature-rich, with 75 classrooms, labs, performance halls and a semi-Olympic pool, but reviewers describe parts of the building as tired in places. A Sixth Form Centre with 150 places is under construction and the admin block has been refurbished. Outdoor space is on the tight side for the roll.
- Sibling logistics. Younger children finish at 12:45 and older children at 14:45, with no sibling club to bridge the gap. Parents juggling two age bands talk about pulling out of extracurriculars to make the pickup work.
Leadership
David Williams
Mr. David Williams has more than two decades of experience in British curriculum schools and has been part of the Regent community for over 11 years, previously serving as Vice Principal before his appointment as Principal.
Accreditations
- BSO Outstanding 2023 01
Academic results
- IB Diploma 2024 average 38 points
- A* / A at A Level 2024 52%
Location
The Greens, Emirates Living Community, First Al Khail St, Dubai, United Arab Emirates