Our Own High School - Al WarqaIndian School in Al Warqa 1، Dubai
Curriculum
Indian
KHDA
Good
Location
Dubai, Al Warqa 1
Fees
AED 8K - 13K
Our Own High School - Al Warqa
The Executive Summary
Our Own High School - Al Warqa Dubai is one of the most established Indian Curriculum schools in the emirate, operating under the GEMS Education umbrella since 2005 and serving a substantial community of 4,659 students from KG1 through Grade 12. The school follows the Indian Curriculum Dubai framework, with full CBSE accreditation, offering a structured academic pathway that balances rigorous board examination preparation with a genuine commitment to character development. The KHDA rating has been Good - consistently, for over a decade - a fact the school proudly highlights on its own homepage. That consistency is both a strength and a question mark: it signals stability and reliable delivery, but also raises a legitimate query about whether the school has the ambition or the mechanism to break into the Very Good tier. School fees Dubai parents will find this among the most affordable options in the city, with annual tuition ranging from AED 7,828 to AED 16,299 - a compelling proposition for families seeking quality CBSE education without premium price tags. Among Al Warqa 1 schools, OOW is the dominant Indian curriculum player by enrolment, and its community feel is genuinely distinctive.
Good KHDA Rating - 10+ YearsCBSE AccreditedGEMS Education ManagedAED 7,828 Entry FeeOutstanding Personal Development
“The school has a real family atmosphere. Teachers know the children by name and the values instilled here go beyond academics. My son has grown in confidence every year.”
— Grade 8 Parent(representative)Academic Framework & Learning Style
Our Own High School - Al Warqa operates on the Indian CBSE curriculum, which is one of the most widely recognised and rigorous board examination systems in the world. The school structures its academic journey across four clear phases: Primary (KG1 to Grade 5), Middle (Grades 6 to 8), Secondary (Grades 9 and 10), and Senior Secondary (Grades 11 and 12). At Senior Secondary, students choose between the Science stream and the Commerce stream, a bifurcation that shapes their university trajectory. The school's stated mission is to prepare students for tertiary education in their chosen fields while developing them as ethical and socially engaged leaders - language that reflects the CBSE philosophy of holistic attainment alongside academic rigour.
The DSIB inspection findings from 2023-2024 provide the most reliable picture of academic performance. In English, the school achieves standout results: attainment is rated Outstanding in both Middle and Secondary phases, with Very Good attainment in Primary. Progress across all phases is Very Good or Good. Mathematics attainment is Very Good in Primary and Middle, Good in Secondary and KG, with progress rated Very Good in Primary, Middle and Secondary. Science mirrors mathematics closely, with Very Good attainment across Primary, Middle and Secondary. Islamic Education attainment reaches Very Good in Middle and Secondary. The one consistent underperformer is Arabic as an Additional Language, where Secondary attainment drops to Acceptable - a recurring KHDA recommendation area. KG performance across mathematics and science is rated only Acceptable for progress, signalling that the youngest learners receive less differentiated support than their older peers. The school conducts external CBSE board examinations for Grades 10 and 12, and participates in international benchmark assessments. In the most recent National Agenda Parameter evaluation, students achieved an average reading literacy score of 565, falling 20 points short of the set target, though they sustained Outstanding performance in English benchmark tests over two consecutive years and improved from Very Good to Outstanding in mathematics and science benchmarks. University destinations include some of the world's most prestigious institutions, per the school's own website, though granular destination data is not publicly published. The curriculum integrates STEAM principles - combining Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics - and the school has a notable track record in Robotics, having represented the UAE at the World Robotic Olympiad across multiple years and winning the National Robot Olympiad in 2014. Academic support for Students of Determination (318 identified at the time of the latest inspection) is present but rated as a growth area by KHDA, with inspectors noting that curriculum adaptation for this cohort is less consistent than for gifted and talented students. The teaching approach is described by the school as fostering independent enquiry and critical thinking, though inspectors noted this is less consistently applied in mathematics lessons and in KG.
Outstanding
English Attainment - Middle and Secondary
KHDA DSIB Inspection 2023-2024
Very Good
Mathematics Attainment - Primary and Middle
KHDA DSIB Inspection 2023-2024
565
Average Reading Literacy Score
National Agenda Parameter - 20 pts below target
318
Students of Determination
Identified at time of 2023-2024 inspection
Extracurricular Activities (ECAs)
The school's extracurricular programme sits within the broader GEMS Education philosophy of preparing the whole child for the whole world, a framing that shapes the range and ambition of co-curricular offerings at OOW. The school explicitly lists music, dance, public speaking, sports, art, and drama as core enrichment areas, and these are not token offerings - they are woven into the school's identity and referenced directly in the principal's articulation of the school's ethos.
Sports is a particular strength. The school trains students in cricket, football, basketball, volleyball, badminton, table tennis, chess, athletics and swimming. A dedicated Sports Day is held separately for Primary, Middle and Senior School cohorts, reflecting the scale of the school's sporting programme. Special coaching is provided outside regular school hours with transport arranged - a meaningful commitment for a school at this fee level. The school's Robotics programme is arguably the most distinctive extracurricular achievement: OOW has represented the UAE at the World Robotic Olympiad in China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia, and won the National Robot Olympiad in 2014. Students have also won First Place in the Children's Film Festival in Dubai, with the winning film subsequently represented internationally, and achieved First Place in the Under 19 CBSE World Athletics Games held in India. The KHDA inspection noted that students participate in a wide range of voluntary projects with a focus on environmental awareness and sustainability, and that as students progress through the school they initiate and lead these projects rather than simply participating. The school's curriculum page references The Mahara Project - a cross-curricular initiative that creates meaningful connections across learning areas - as a vehicle for independent research and innovation particularly in Middle and Secondary phases. The inspection also highlighted that links with businesses are in early stages of development, suggesting the enterprise and work-readiness dimension of the ECA programme has room to grow. Community service and social responsibility are rated Outstanding by KHDA inspectors across all phases, reflecting a genuine culture of civic engagement rather than a box-ticking exercise.
9+
Competitive Sports Offered
Cricket, football, basketball, volleyball, badminton, table tennis, chess, athletics, swimming
World Robotic Olympiad ParticipantsNational Robot Olympiad Winners 2014CBSE World Athletics ChampionsChildren's Film Festival WinnersOutstanding Social Responsibility
Pastoral Care & Well-being
Pastoral care is one of the most genuinely impressive dimensions of Our Own High School - Al Warqa, and the KHDA inspection findings here are unambiguous. Personal development is rated Outstanding across all four phases - KG, Primary, Middle and Secondary - making it one of the few areas where the school reaches the highest possible rating. The same Outstanding rating applies to students' understanding of Islamic values and awareness of Emirati and world cultures, and to social responsibility and innovation skills. This is not a school that pays lip service to character education; the inspectors found that students' exemplary behaviour reflects a strong ethos and positive culture, that students show empathy for individual needs, and that they demonstrate a mature perspective on the diverse nature of contemporary UAE society.
The wellbeing provision is rated Very Good overall by KHDA. An experienced senior leader heads a dedicated wellbeing team, overseen by a wellbeing governor, ensuring accountability at governance level. The school community explicitly describes itself as one large family, and the inspection validated this self-perception: the spotlessly clean and well-maintained premises, the mutual respect between staff and students, and the welcoming environment are all noted as contributing to genuine wellbeing outcomes. The school has 5 guidance counsellors supporting a student population of 4,659 - a ratio that, while functional, is at the lower end of what is ideal for a school of this size. Parents are deeply engaged: some 1,430 parents completed the KHDA pre-inspection survey, with 96% reporting full satisfaction with the quality of education. The school's health and safety provision, including child protection and safeguarding, is rated Outstanding across all phases - the highest possible rating and a genuine differentiator. The anti-bullying and student welfare frameworks are described as rigorous, with staff working vigilantly to maintain a safe and hygienic environment. One area for development flagged by KHDA is the need for more systematic data collection through periodic surveys of students, teachers and parents to verify wellbeing outcomes, rather than relying primarily on informal feedback mechanisms.
“The school genuinely feels like a community. My son has never felt lost in the crowd despite there being so many students. The counsellors are approachable and the teachers care about more than just grades.”
— Grade 10 Parent(representative)Campus & Facilities
Our Own High School - Al Warqa is located in Al Warqa 1, a well-established residential community in east Dubai that offers convenient access for families living across Mirdif, Al Warqa, Nad Al Hamar and surrounding areas. The campus is purpose-built and has been in operation since 2005, with facilities described by the school as functional and adequate for the size of the student population.
The building features spacious classrooms and wide passages, with centrally air-conditioned administrative offices and lobby. A large multi-purpose hall serves as an assembly and events space, complemented by a large canopy covering the courtyard for outdoor morning assembly. The school's library is stocked with periodicals, newspapers and books catering to all age groups, and includes maps, charts, audio-visual resources and internet-connected computers in the Senior Library section. The science provision is notably strong: three large, well-equipped Science laboratories cover Physics, Chemistry and Biology at various levels, and a Composite Laboratory equipped with materials for both Maths and Science supports concept-based learning. Technology infrastructure includes five fully-equipped computer laboratories, all with Pentium processor machines, the latest software and interactive whiteboards, with an independent workstation available to each student. A dedicated Robotics lab supports the school's internationally recognised robotics programme. Art and craft facilities are available, as is an indoor play area and a canteen. External sports facilities include two basketball courts, a volleyball court, cricket nets and an Astro-turf playground suitable for football, volleyball, basketball, cricket, badminton, table tennis and athletics. The KHDA inspection noted that weaknesses in resources in some lessons inhibit teaching and learning activities - a candid finding that suggests the facilities, while broad, are not uniformly well-maintained or consistently available. The campus does not appear to include a swimming pool on site, though swimming is listed as a sport for which coaching is provided outside regular school hours. The school's location in Al Warqa 1 is well-served by road networks, and the school operates a bus service for students requiring transport.
5
Fully Equipped Computer Laboratories
Each with individual student workstations
3
Science Laboratories
Physics, Chemistry and Biology
3 Science Laboratories5 Computer LabsRobotics LabAstro-turf PlaygroundMulti-purpose HallInteractive Whiteboards
Teaching & Learning Quality
The DSIB inspection findings on teaching quality present a nuanced picture that parents should read carefully. Across Primary, Middle and Secondary phases, Teaching for Effective Learning is rated Very Good - a strong endorsement of the core instructional quality in the main school. However, in KG, teaching quality drops to Acceptable, a meaningful gap that the inspection team specifically flagged as a key recommendation area. This means that the youngest children in the school - those in the critical early years - are receiving a qualitatively different standard of instruction than their older peers.
The inspection found that most teachers demonstrate strong subject knowledge, and that teaching is well-planned and sequenced across the primary, middle and secondary phases, with learning activities generally arranged to support and challenge students at different levels. Questioning is used effectively to deepen learning in most lessons, and teachers promote students' independence and critical thinking well - though this is noted as less consistent in mathematics. The teacher-to-student ratio stands at approximately 1:22 (216 teachers for 4,659 students), which is at the upper end of what is comfortable for effective differentiation. The school employs 15 teaching assistants, a number that KHDA inspectors have previously flagged as insufficient to maximise support for Students of Determination. Assessment processes are rated Very Good across Primary, Middle and Secondary, with coherent and consistent internal assessment linked well to curriculum standards. In KG, assessment processes are rated Good - better than teaching, but still below the rest of the school. The school participates in external benchmark assessments to monitor student performance against international standards, and analysis of this data is used to track individual and group progress. Teacher turnover is approximately 16% - above the average for Indian curriculum schools in Dubai, and a figure that bears watching for continuity of relationships and institutional knowledge. The school's professional development culture is supported by the GEMS Education group infrastructure, which provides access to training and pedagogical resources across its network of schools.
1:22
Teacher to Student Ratio
216 teachers for 4,659 students
16%
Teacher Turnover Rate
Above average for Indian curriculum schools
Very Good
Teaching Quality - Primary, Middle, Secondary
KHDA DSIB Inspection 2023-2024
Leadership & Management
Our Own High School - Al Warqa is led by Principal Anjuli Murthy, who was appointed on 1 April 2021 according to the KHDA school information record. The school operates under the ownership and management of GEMS Education, one of the world's largest private education operators, which provides the strategic framework, governance oversight, brand standards and group-wide resources that underpin the school's operations. The KHDA inspection rates the effectiveness of leadership as Very Good overall, with school self-evaluation and improvement planning also rated Very Good, and parental engagement with the community rated Very Good. Governance is rated Good, and management including staffing, facilities and resources is also rated Good.
The inspection noted that senior leadership has been strengthened by recent appointments, a positive signal of deliberate capacity-building. However, it also identified that leadership capacity in KG and in inclusion is less strong - a finding that directly connects to the underperformance of KG students and the inconsistent support for Students of Determination. The school implements comprehensive self-evaluation procedures, but improvement plans often lack measurable targets, which limits the school's ability to demonstrate progress against specific goals. Parental engagement is described as a key strength: the school has an active Parent Support Group and a Parents Advisory Committee who partner with leadership to raise standards. Communication with parents is described as very effective, with parents well-informed about student achievement. The school uses GEMS Education's digital platforms and the OASIS online portal for fee payments and parent communication. The contact email for the principal is publicly listed, and the school maintains active social media presence across Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. The governance structure, via GEMS Education's board and the school's own advisory council, ensures accountability for school performance with a direct impact on student outcomes according to the KHDA report.
KHDA Inspection Results (Decoded)
The 2023-2024 DSIB inspection - conducted in September 2023 - awarded Our Own High School - Al Warqa an overall Good rating, consistent with every inspection since 2010-2011 (the school was rated Acceptable in 2009-2010 before achieving Good in 2010-2011 and maintaining it without interruption). This is a school that has demonstrated remarkable consistency, but the honest question for parents is whether Good is good enough, and whether the school has a credible pathway to Very Good.
The headline findings are genuinely mixed. On the positive side, personal and social development is Outstanding across all phases - an exceptional achievement that reflects a deeply embedded school culture. Health and safety including safeguarding is Outstanding across all phases. English attainment reaches Outstanding in Middle and Secondary. Wellbeing is rated Very Good. Senior leadership quality, self-evaluation and parental engagement are all Very Good. On the cautionary side, KG performance is the school's most significant weakness: teaching quality is Acceptable, learning skills are Acceptable, and progress in mathematics and science is Acceptable. Arabic as an Additional Language attainment in Secondary is Acceptable. The curriculum adaptation for Students of Determination is rated Good rather than Very Good, and improvement plans lack measurable targets. The Dubai Focus Area rating for the National Agenda Parameter is Good, with specific sub-ratings of Very Good for international benchmark achievement but Acceptable for leadership of international assessment and for teaching and learning to improve reading literacy. The Inclusion rating is Good - functional but not a strength. For parents of children with additional learning needs, this is an important data point. The school's trajectory is stable rather than ascending, which is both reassuring and slightly concerning for families who want to see upward momentum.
Outstanding Personal and Social Development
Students across all phases - KG through Secondary - are rated Outstanding for personal development, understanding of Islamic values and cultural awareness, and social responsibility. This is the school's most consistent and impressive achievement, reflecting a deeply embedded ethos.
Outstanding Health, Safety and Safeguarding
Health and safety provision including child protection and safeguarding is rated Outstanding across all phases. The school maintains a spotlessly clean, safe and hygienic environment with rigorous procedures for student protection.
Outstanding English Attainment in Middle and Secondary
English attainment reaches the highest possible rating in Middle and Secondary phases, with students demonstrating strong analytical, speaking and writing skills. Progress in English is Very Good across all phases.
KG Quality Requires Urgent Attention
Teaching quality in KG is rated only Acceptable, with learning skills and progress in mathematics and science also Acceptable. KHDA recommends ensuring consistently high-quality teaching and making effective use of assessment data to meet all children's needs in the early years.
Arabic Achievement and Inclusion Support
Arabic as an Additional Language attainment in Secondary is Acceptable, and curriculum adaptation for Students of Determination is inconsistent. Middle leaders need to provide stronger support for underachieving students including those with additional learning needs.
Inspection History
2023-2024
Good
2022-2023
Good
2019-2020
Good
2018-2019
Good
2017-2018
Good
2016-2017
Good
2015-2016
Good
2014-2015
Good
2013-2014
Good
2012-2013
Good
2011-2012
Good
2010-2011
Good
2009-2010
Acceptable
Fees & Value for Money
Our Own High School - Al Warqa follows the Indian (CBSE) curriculum and offers tuition fees for the 2025–2026 academic year ranging from AED 7,828 for KG1 and KG2 through to AED 16,299 for Grade 11 and Grade 12 (Science stream). Fees are structured across clearly defined grade bands, with separate fee points for Commerce and Science streams at Grades 11 and 12, reflecting the additional resources required for science-based learning. These fees are approved by the KHDA and are subject to change in accordance with applicable UAE private education regulations.
AED 7,828
Annual Fees From
AED 16,299
Annual Fees To
Year / GradeAnnual Fee
KG 1
AED 7,828KG 2
AED 7,828Grade 1
AED 9,447Grade 2
AED 9,447Grade 3
AED 9,447Grade 4
AED 9,558Grade 5
AED 9,558Grade 6
AED 10,724Grade 7
AED 10,724Grade 8
AED 10,724Grade 9
AED 13,276Grade 10
AED 13,276Grade 11 (Commerce)
AED 15,758Grade 11 (Science)
AED 16,299Grade 12 (Commerce)
AED 15,758Grade 12 (Science)
AED 16,299In addition to tuition fees, families should budget for a number of additional costs including a non-refundable application fee of AED 525 for new admissions (not applicable for existing GEMS students), a registration deposit of 10% of the annual fee (adjustable against tuition), and a combined charge of AED 31.50 (including VAT) for the Bus ID card, Diary, and Report Card. Board examination fees apply for Grade 10 (AED 825) and Grade 12 (AED 900), and CBSE registration fees of AED 100 apply for Grades 9 and 11.
Fees can be paid online via the GEMS parent portal, at the school fee counter by cash, credit card, or cheque, or through direct bank transfer. The school also partners with FAB (First Abu Dhabi Bank) through the GEMS World Credit Card, which offers up to 3% savings on annual tuition paid upfront and 10% back on school-related expenses. Post-dated cheques are not accepted. Students with outstanding fees will not be permitted to sit school examinations and reports will be withheld until fees are settled.
Additional Costs
Application Fee (New Admissions)525(one-time)
Registration Deposit10% of annual fee(one-time)
Bus ID Card, Diary and Report Card31.50(annual)
Board Exam Fee - Grade 10825(per-exam)
Board Exam Fee - Grade 12900(per-exam)
CBSE Registration Fee100(one-time)
The Final Verdict: Who Is This School For?
Our Own High School - Al Warqa is a school that delivers genuine value within a specific and well-defined context. It is not a school for families seeking premium facilities, a pathway to British or IB universities, or an environment where the KHDA rating is climbing toward Outstanding. It is, however, a school with a real soul - one where the community culture, the pastoral care and the personal development outcomes are authentically strong, where the CBSE academic framework is delivered with competence and in some areas with real distinction, and where the fee level makes quality education accessible to a broad section of Dubai's Indian expatriate community. The school's decade-plus consistency at Good reflects an institution that knows what it is and delivers it reliably. The Outstanding ratings in personal development and safeguarding are not marketing language - they are independently verified by KHDA inspectors. The English programme at Middle and Secondary level is genuinely impressive. The Robotics heritage is a point of real distinction.
The weaknesses are also real and should not be minimised. Parents enrolling children in KG should be aware that the early years provision is the school's weakest link, with teaching quality rated only Acceptable. Families with Students of Determination need to ask direct questions about the support available and should not assume that the Good inclusion rating translates to comprehensive provision. The teacher turnover rate of 16% is worth monitoring. And the school's sustained Good rating - while stable - does not yet show the upward trajectory that would signal imminent improvement. For the right family, this is an excellent school. For the wrong family, the gaps will matter.
THE “RIGHT FIT”
Families from the Indian expatriate community seeking a culturally familiar, CBSE-accredited education with strong values, genuine pastoral care and outstanding personal development outcomes at one of Dubai's most affordable fee points. Particularly well-suited to boys in Primary through Senior Secondary who thrive in a structured, community-oriented environment.
THE “WRONG FIT”
Families seeking premium facilities, a British or IB curriculum pathway, or a school with an upward KHDA trajectory toward Very Good or Outstanding. Parents of children with significant additional learning needs should investigate inclusion provision carefully before enrolling.
“
We chose OOW for the fees and stayed for the community. Seven years later, my son is heading to university with strong values, good grades and friendships that will last a lifetime. That is what this school delivers.
— Grade 12 Parent
Strengths
- Outstanding personal and social development ratings across all phases
- Outstanding health, safety and safeguarding across all phases
- Outstanding English attainment in Middle and Secondary
- Among the lowest fees in Dubai for a GEMS-managed CBSE school
- Consistent Good KHDA rating for over a decade - reliable delivery
- Internationally recognised Robotics programme with World Olympiad history
- 96% parent satisfaction rate in KHDA pre-inspection survey
- Strong CBSE Science and Commerce stream options at Senior Secondary
Areas for Improvement
- KG teaching quality rated only Acceptable - weakest phase in the school
- Arabic as an Additional Language attainment in Secondary is Acceptable
- Teacher turnover at 16% is above average for Indian curriculum schools
- Inclusion provision for Students of Determination is inconsistent
- Improvement plans lack measurable targets per KHDA inspection