Dubai International Private School - Al QouzPrincipal & Leadership Team

Superintendent Dr. Akram Zayour has led Dubai International Private School - Al Qouz since 2 October 2000, making him one of the longest-serving school heads in Dubai's private sector. That depth of institutional knowledge is reflected in the school's trajectory: after slipping to Acceptable in 2022–2023, DIPS Al Quoz recovered to a KHDA rating of Good in 2023–2024, a rating shared by 22 of the 42 American curriculum schools inspected across Dubai. The KHDA inspection credited the positive impact of leadership on many aspects of the school's performance and noted that self-evaluation and improvement planning procedures have been significantly enhanced — a direct signal that Dr. Zayour's long tenure is translating into meaningful institutional momentum rather than complacency.

The leadership structure beneath Dr. Zayour is clearly defined. Mrs. Deborah Anne Mustafa serves as Head of Curriculum, supported by four phase-level heads: Mrs. Suhad Al Kassar (KG), Mrs. Rasha Al Nabulsi (Elementary, Grades 1–5), Mrs. Rinkle Jadeja (Middle School, Grades 6–8), and Mr. Rami Sonboul (High School, Grades 9–12). Governance has also been strengthened: the Board of Directors, chaired by Dr. Juma Belhoul and including Mr. Salem Bou Adeil, Mr. Sami Obeid, Mr. Shehadi Maalouf, and Mr. Khalil Zakhem, now includes educators — a development the KHDA inspection noted as a meaningful improvement. Governance was rated Good in the 2023–2024 inspection. Dr. Zayour was also named recipient of the Principal of the Year Award 2025 at the World School Summit, an external recognition of his leadership standing.

The school's student-to-teacher ratio stands at 1:16, which is notably higher than the Dubai citywide average of 1:13.6 across 204 schools with available data. With 126 teachers serving 1,830 students, and 17 teaching assistants providing additional classroom support, the ratio warrants attention — particularly given the KHDA's explicit recommendation to recruit and retain high-quality teachers with in-depth curriculum knowledge. The largest nationality group among teachers is Syrian, reflecting the school's predominantly Arab-heritage community. Management, staffing, facilities and resources were rated Acceptable — the only sub-domain to fall below Good — underlining that staffing quality and consistency remain the most pressing operational challenge for leadership to address.

Teaching quality is improving but uneven. The KHDA found teaching Good in KG, Elementary, and High School, but only Acceptable in Middle School — a gap that the inspection specifically flagged for improvement. Mathematics and science teachers were praised for creating active learning opportunities, and English lessons were described as creatively designed. These strengths are less consistently evident in Arabic and Islamic Education. The inspection also noted that staff satisfaction is high, with wellbeing initiatives fostering a strong sense of belonging among staff — a positive signal for retention, even as the school works to address recruitment gaps.

Parent engagement is a genuine strength. The school operates an elected Parent Council with volunteer committees, a dedicated Parent Portal, and a published Parent Handbook. The KHDA rated parents and community Good, noting that partnerships with parents are strong. The council's membership — led by Nada Al Marzooqi and including ten elected parent representatives — reflects an active and organised parent community, consistent with the school's vision of parents as genuine partners in children's education.