Cities / Dubai / The Apple International School Dubai
The Apple International School Dubai
Operating in Al Karama since its establishment, Apple International School follows the UK National Curriculum from Foundation Stage through IGCSEs, emphasizing proven British teaching methods within a deliberately smaller community environment.
In brief
Operating in Al Karama since its establishment, Apple International School follows the UK National Curriculum from Foundation Stage through IGCSEs, emphasizing proven British teaching methods within a deliberately smaller community environment. The school positions itself as accessible from Business Bay, Bur Dubai, and surrounding areas while maintaining what it describes as reasonable fees compared to other UK curriculum schools in Dubai. Leadership promotes genuine inclusion for students of determination, character development through House systems, and extracurricular programming including sports, music, drama, and art.
Parent and teacher discussions about the school remain extremely limited compared to established Dubai British institutions, suggesting it serves a more localized demographic without significant expatriate community engagement. The school's minimal online presence raises questions about its market positioning and community visibility, though this may reflect its deliberate focus on maintaining a smaller, community-oriented environment rather than competing broadly in Dubai's premium international education sector.
Strengths
- Central Al Karama location provides accessibility from multiple Dubai areas
- British curriculum through IGCSEs with established UK teaching methods
- Deliberately smaller size maintains community atmosphere
- Reasonable fee structure for UK curriculum education
- Inclusion support for students of determination
- House system and leadership development opportunities
Considerations
- Extremely limited visibility and discussion in parent forums compared to established British schools
- Minimal online presence makes it difficult to assess academic outcomes or university placements
- Limited information available about facilities, leadership team, or specific achievements
- Serves primarily local demographic rather than broader expatriate community
- No clear pathway to A-levels mentioned, ending at IGCSE level
Fees
Annual fees
| Year level | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| FS 1 | 3 | AED 6,993 |
| FS 2 | 3 | AED 7,244 |
| Year 1 | 5 | AED 8,198 |
| Year 2 | 6 | AED 8,198 |
| Year 3 | 7 | AED 8,198 |
| Year 4 | 8 | AED 8,198 |
| Year 5 | 9 | AED 9,408 |
| Year 6 | 10 | AED 10,409 |
| Year 7 | 11 | AED 11,242 |
| Year 8 | 12 | AED 13,304 |
| Year 9 | 13 | AED 14,001 |
| Year 10 | 14 | AED 15,731 |
| Year 11 | 15 | AED 17,652 |
| Year 12 | 16 | AED 18,847 |
| Year 13 | 17 | AED 20,131 |
One-time fees
| Item | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Admission Fee | AED 500 | |
| Application Fee | AED 525 |
Reviews
A large, low-fee British-curriculum school in Al Qusais running FS1 to Year 13 across two campuses, with close to 5,000 children on roll and a teaching body drawn predominantly from India. KHDA Good for the sixth inspection running in January 2024, with wellbeing provision singled out at the very good level. Dr Jinto Sebastian moved up to principal in August 2024 after more than a decade on the academic-leadership side of the secondary. The pitch is value: annual fees from around AED 7,000 in early years to AED 20,000 in Post-16 keep the school well below most Dubai British schools on price. The trade-offs are the ones KHDA itself has flagged: uneven teaching quality across phases, weaker Arabic, and Post-16 attainment that has not yet caught up with the rest of the school.
Positives
- Fees and value. Tuition runs from roughly AED 7,000 in FS1 to about AED 20,000 in Post-16, with average phase fees of AED 7,100 in KG, AED 8,800 in primary, AED 14,400 in secondary and AED 19,500 in Post-16. That sits well below Al Qusais and wider Dubai British-curriculum benchmarks, and is the single most cited reason families choose the school.
- Wellbeing and pastoral. KHDA's 2024 wellbeing review rated provision at the very good level. Care, guidance and support for students were called out, and student-teacher relationships were described as positive. Inclusion is a real strength: more than 160 students of determination are supported on roll.
- UAE culture and community. Students' respect for and knowledge of the culture and traditions of the UAE was highlighted in the most recent inspection. The school sits across roughly 70 nationalities, with the dominant communities Indian and other South Asian, and the day-to-day feel reflects that.
Considerations
- Teaching consistency. KHDA flagged uneven teaching strategies and learning activities, with too little stretch for higher-ability children in mixed-ability classes. The recommendation to make teaching consistent across the school appears across more than one inspection cycle.
- Arabic and Post-16 attainment. Arabic attainment lags across the school, and Post-16 outcomes have not kept pace with primary and secondary. Both were named in 2024 as priority improvement areas. For a school that sells British A-Levels at a low price, the Post-16 gap is the one to weigh against the fee.
- Staffing. Teacher turnover ran high through 2022 at around 29 percent, partly tied to expansion. Parent commentary continues to mention staffing churn and patchy professional development, and the teaching body is heavily India-recruited rather than UK-trained.
- Scale and admin. With close to 5,000 children across two Al Qusais campuses, the school operates at a scale most Dubai British schools do not. Reports of slow admin and inconsistent reception-side service surface alongside the warmer comments about class teachers. A new principal from August 2024 means it is too early to read his stamp on systems.
Leadership
Dr. Jinto Sebastian
Dr. Jinto Sebastian holds a PhD in Mathematics from DYP University, along with a Master's and Bachelor's (both A* Distinction) in Mathematics and Education from Mahatma Gandhi University.
Accreditations
- KHDA 01
Academic results
- IGCSE Results 2023 Details not specified.
- AS / A Level Results 2023 Details not specified.