Cities / Dubai / Uptown International School Dubai (UIS)
Uptown International School Dubai (UIS)
Taaleem IB World School on a 14-acre Mirdif campus, founded 2005 as Uptown Primary and now running all four IB programmes from Pre-KG to Grade 12, with nearly 30% Emirati enrolment.
In brief
Founded as Uptown Primary School and evolving into a full IB World School since 2009, UIS operates from a 14-acre purpose-built campus in Mirdif under Principal Colin Gerrie's leadership since 2023. The school offers all four IB programmes - PYP, MYP, DP, and Career-related Programme - serving students from pre-KG through Grade 12 within the Taaleem education group. Recent DSIB inspections recognize the school's Outstanding provision for Students of Determination and measurable academic progress, particularly in IB Diploma outcomes under current leadership.
The school's demographic profile sets it apart from many Dubai international institutions, with UAE nationals comprising nearly 30% of enrollment alongside a diverse international community. While UIS maintains solid academic standing and IB accreditation, it generates relatively modest discussion in parent forums compared to established Dubai education leaders. The 2021 IB examination cancellation discussions place UIS among schools that initially sought to maintain examinations, suggesting a commitment to academic rigor that aligns with recent improvements in teaching expectations and student outcomes under the current administration.
Strengths
- Full IB Continuum school offering all four programmes including the Career-related Programme
- Strong Emirati student representation (30%) creating authentic local-international balance
- Outstanding DSIB rating for Students of Determination provision and support
- Recent leadership improvements showing measurable progress in IB Diploma results
- Purpose-built 14-acre campus with specialized facilities for IB programme delivery
- Established IB World School status since 2009 with first DP graduates in 2017
- Part of Taaleem group providing systematic educational support and standards
Considerations
- Limited visibility in parent discussions compared to Dubai's premier international schools
- Academic track record still developing under recent leadership changes
- Mirdif location may be less convenient for families in central Dubai areas
- Fee structure and detailed academic outcomes not readily available in public discussions
- Relatively modest online presence and parent community engagement compared to established competitors
Fees
Annual fees
| Year level | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Rising 3s | 2 | AED 35,045 |
| Nursery | 3 | AED 31,145 |
| Pre-KG | 3 | AED 40,530 |
| KG1 | 3 | AED 47,040 |
| KG2 | 4 | AED 52,455 |
| Grade 1 | 6 | AED 57,860 |
| Grade 2 | 7 | AED 57,860 |
| Grade 3 | 8 | AED 59,485 |
| Grade 4 | 9 | AED 59,485 |
| Grade 5 | 10 | AED 59,485 |
| Grade 6 | 11 | AED 67,600 |
| Grade 7 | 12 | AED 67,600 |
| Grade 8 | 13 | AED 73,005 |
| Grade 9 | 14 | AED 73,005 |
| Grade 10 | 15 | AED 73,005 |
| Grade 11 | 16 | AED 78,420 |
| Grade 12 | 17 | AED 78,420 |
One-time fees
| Item | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Application Fee | AED 525 | |
| Registration Fee | AED 4,000 |
Reviews
A full IB continuum school on the Mirdif side of town, run by Taaleem and now into a third year under principal Colin Gerrie. Parent talk is warm and steady: a settled community, strong pastoral feel, arts and sport that punch above their weight, and a primary phase that families stay in from KG1 to Grade 12 in unusually high numbers. The Diploma sits a few points above the global average and the school has held a KHDA Very Good rating across six consecutive cycles, most recently in January 2024. Fees land in the ultra-premium band, which is where the conversation gets more divided, and Arabic in MYP remains the line item the inspectorate keeps flagging.
Positives
- Settled community and pastoral feel. Families describe a warm, friendly culture with teachers who know the children well. Retention is unusually high, with around 70% of Grade 12 students having joined back in KG1, and parents lean heavily on words like happy, supportive and inclusive.
- Arts and sport. Performing and creative arts carry an Outstanding KHDA judgement across drama, dance, music and visual arts. Sport is broad rather than elite, with over 60 representative teams and squads and more than 430 students in fixtures.
- Inclusion provision. Students of Determination provision is rated Outstanding, with roughly one in ten enrolled as SEND and a sizeable gifted and talented cohort alongside. Parents of children with additional needs are among the more vocal advocates for the school.
- IB Diploma outcomes. The 2024 cohort of 63 students averaged 33 points; 2025 held at 33 across a smaller 39-student Diploma cohort with a 100% pass rate. Both sit above the global average of around 30, though the school also runs a substantial Career-related Programme alongside the Diploma.
Considerations
- Fees and value. Annual fees run from around AED 63,000 in early years up to AED 96,000 in the senior years, placing UIS in Dubai's ultra-premium band. Parent surveys show only around 45% see the fees as good value, with the rest split between partial agreement and outright disagreement.
- Arabic in MYP. Arabic as an additional language is the standing weakness. KHDA has repeatedly called for a more rigorous approach in MYP, and parent commentary on Arabic lessons being light on direct instruction echoes the inspection finding.
- Staff continuity. Reported teacher turnover sits around 38%, on the higher side for a Dubai IB school of this tenure. The settled long-tenure families counterbalance it, but turnover is the most consistent operational gripe.
Leadership
Colin Gerrie
Colin Gerrie joined Uptown International School as Principal in August 2023, following two years as Vice Principal and Head of Secondary at Taaleem's Greenfield International School in Dubai, where he contributed to improving the school's KHDA evaluation and achieving some of Taaleem's best IB Diploma Programme results.
Accreditations
- Council of International Schools 01
Academic results
- Result IB DP avg 33 points 2025
- Result 100% pass rate
- Result IB CP 100% pass rate 2025