Al Dhia Scientific Private School - branch Al Ghubaiba, Sharjah
Ministry of Education School in Al Ghubaiba, Sharjah
Last updated
Curriculum
Ministry of Education
SPEA
Acceptable
Location
Sharjah, Al Ghubaiba
Fees
AED 5K - 12K
The Executive Summary
Al Dhia Scientific Private School - branch Al Ghubaiba Sharjah is a Ministry of Education curriculum Sharjah school serving students from KG1 through Grade 9 in the Al Ghubaiba area. With a SPEA rating Acceptable confirmed across multiple inspection cycles, the school occupies the lower-to-mid tier of Sharjah's private school landscape - but its trajectory matters: inspectors documented a meaningful improvement from a prior rating of Weak, signalling that leadership-driven reform is taking hold. School fees Sharjah parents will find genuinely affordable here, with annual tuition ranging from AED 4,900 to AED 11,900, making this one of the most budget-accessible private schools among Al Ghubaiba schools. For families prioritising an Arabic-medium, values-driven MoE environment at a low cost, this school warrants serious consideration - provided expectations around academic stretch and facilities are calibrated accordingly.
The school's clearest strengths lie in its pastoral care, its identification and support of students of determination, and the quality of its principal-led leadership team, which SPEA rated Good. Its most significant weaknesses are the persistent gap between internal assessment data and actual classroom performance, a 49% teacher turnover rate recorded at the time of the 2023 inspection, and underdeveloped critical thinking and project skills across most year groups. This is not the school for families seeking internationally benchmarked academic rigour or a broad extracurricular programme to rival larger campuses. It is, however, a school that is genuinely improving, that cares about its students' welfare, and that offers an accessible entry point into Sharjah's private education sector for Arabic-speaking families on modest budgets.
MoE Curriculum Arabic-MediumAffordable Fees from AED 4,900Improved from Weak to AcceptableStrong Pastoral Care
“The teachers truly care and the school feels like a second home. The strong partnership between parents and staff makes me feel involved in my child's learning every step of the way.”
— Parent of Year 4 Student(representative)Academic Framework & Learning Style
Al Dhia Scientific Private School follows the UAE Ministry of Education curriculum, delivered primarily in Arabic. The school covers KG1 through Grade 9, spanning early childhood, primary (Cycle 1), middle (Cycle 2), and the beginning of secondary (Cycle 3). Accreditation is held through the Ministry of Education, and the school participates in a range of national and international standardised assessments including PISA, TIMSS, IBT, and Tala' - a notably broad suite of external benchmarks for a school at this fee level.
The SPEA inspection findings from the 2022-2023 cycle reveal a consistent pattern across subjects: internal assessment data claims outstanding performance, but observed classroom lessons and student workbooks tell a different story - with most students achieving at an Acceptable level across Arabic, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, and Islamic Education. The one genuine bright spot is English language progress, where inspectors rated student progress as Good across all cycles, with Cycle 3 students demonstrating strong research, presentation, and expressive writing skills. In Islamic Education and Arabic as a first language, KG and Cycle 3 students also achieved Good-rated attainment, suggesting the youngest and oldest cohorts benefit from stronger teaching focus.
Mathematics attainment is Acceptable across all cycles, with inspectors noting that students in Cycles 2 and 3 struggle with word problems and applied algebraic reasoning. Science performance is similarly Acceptable, with laboratory practical skills identified as underdeveloped. The school uses a flipped classroom model in some lessons, and cooperative learning approaches are evident - students in these sessions show positive engagement and peer leadership. However, critical thinking skills, project-based learning, and the systematic use of digital devices across the curriculum remain underdeveloped according to SPEA findings.
There is no published data on university destinations, as the school currently serves only up to Grade 9. Academic support for students of determination is a documented strength, with identification and support procedures rated as a key area of excellence by inspectors. EAL provision is inherent in the Arabic-medium model, though the school serves a predominantly Arabic-speaking student body (Syrian and Sudanese being the largest nationalities). Gifted and Talented provision is not specifically referenced in inspection findings. Homework and assessment philosophy appears to rely heavily on internal testing, with a noted discrepancy between those internal results and observed learning quality that leadership must address.
Good
English Progress Rating (All Cycles)
SPEA 2023 inspection - the strongest subject area across the school
Acceptable
Overall Student Achievement Rating
Across Arabic, Maths, Science, Social Studies - SPEA 2023
4
International Assessments Participated In
PISA, TIMSS, IBT, and Tala' - broad benchmarking for a budget school
KG1-Grade 9
Year Groups Offered
No Grades 10-12 - families must plan secondary transition at Grade 9
Extracurricular Activities (ECAs)
The school's homepage references 20+ clubs and activities and claims to host 50+ school events each year, which is a creditable breadth for a school of this size and fee band. The flagship after-school programme is the Robotics and Coding Club, which the school highlights as its most popular offering with over 150 members - a significant proportion of the 870-strong student body. This STEM-focused club involves hands-on projects, problem-solving, and teamwork, and reflects the school's stated ambition to develop innovation skills alongside the MoE curriculum.
Visual and performing arts are offered as a co-curricular strand across all year groups, encompassing painting, drawing, and theatre. The SPEA inspection noted that in Art lessons, students in Cycles 1 and 2 enjoy drawing traditional coffee pots and iconic UAE landmarks, though inspectors flagged that individual creative exploration is underdeveloped - students tend to follow the teacher's model rather than develop independent artistic voice. Physical education covers a range of sports; inspectors observed basketball skills, relay racing, and handball in PE lessons. A Student Council operates for middle and secondary students, providing leadership development and peer representation opportunities.
Community service and volunteering are embedded in the school calendar, with the school's events programme referencing charity drives, humanitarian initiatives, and awareness campaigns tied to national and international observance days. Cultural celebrations - including UAE National Day, Emirati Women's Day, and Cultural Day - feature prominently in school life, reflecting the community's diverse nationalities and the school's commitment to UAE identity values. There is no mention of Duke of Edinburgh, Model UN, or competitive inter-school sports leagues in available source material, which limits the breadth of enrichment compared to higher-rated schools in Sharjah.
20+
Clubs and Activities
As stated on the school's official website
50+
School Events Per Year
Academic, cultural, sports, and community events annually
150+
Robotics and Coding Club Members
School's most popular ECA - significant reach across year groups
Robotics and Coding Club 150+ MembersVisual and Performing ArtsStudent Council LeadershipCommunity Service ProgrammeUAE Cultural Celebrations
Pastoral Care & Well-being
Pastoral care is arguably the most consistently praised dimension of Al Dhia Scientific Private School's provision. The SPEA inspection rated the quality of student protection, care, support, and guidance as Good - the highest rating awarded to any strand of the school's performance - and specifically highlighted the identification and support of students with special educational needs as a key strength.
The school enrolled 52 students of determination at the time of the most recent SPEA data, representing approximately 6% of the student body. Inspectors commended the procedures for identifying these students and the educational services provided to them, describing this as a genuine area of excellence. Safeguarding and child protection arrangements are in place and were reviewed during the four-day inspection visit.
Student behaviour across the school is described by inspectors as predominantly positive, with bullying cases rated as very rare. Students demonstrate courtesy and respect toward staff and peers, and relationships between students and teachers are characterised as polite and considerate. Students show awareness of others' needs and differences, which SPEA linked to the school's strong emphasis on Islamic values and UAE cultural identity.
One concern raised in the inspection is student attendance, recorded at 89% - below the expected threshold, though inspectors noted it had improved significantly compared to the previous year. Low attendance is a pastoral risk factor that the school's leadership team is actively monitoring. Mental health counselling provision is not specifically detailed in available source material, and there is no reference to a formal house system. The school does operate a Student Council, which provides some structured student voice, and the school's calendar of awareness days - including World Mental Health Day and World Children's Day - suggests a commitment to wellbeing education beyond the classroom.
“My son looks forward to school every single day. The teachers encourage curiosity and make learning exciting both inside and outside the classroom. I've noticed a big improvement in his confidence and leadership skills since joining this school.”
— Parent of Year 7 Student(representative)Campus & Facilities
Al Dhia Scientific Private School is located in Al Ghubaiba, Sharjah - an established residential and commercial district in the central Sharjah area. The SPEA school number is 192, and the campus was established in its current form from November 2010, giving it over a decade of operational history at this site. The school's phone number is 06 566 0056.
The SPEA inspection report describes the school's facilities as adequate (manaasiba) - a rating that translates to functional and fit for purpose rather than impressive. The campus supports a student body of approximately 870 pupils across KG1 to Grade 9. Science laboratories are referenced in the inspection, with inspectors noting that practical lab skills among students are underdeveloped - suggesting labs exist but may not be used to their full potential. Design and Technology lessons are mentioned, with students working on circuit boards and three-dimensional models, indicating a dedicated technology or maker space of some description.
The school's website references a virtual campus tour, suggesting the school is making efforts to present its physical environment to prospective families. The homepage imagery shows standard classroom environments, a sports day setting, a science fair, and cultural celebration spaces. There is no reference to a swimming pool, dedicated auditorium, or large-scale sports fields in available source material. The school operates a cafeteria, referenced in the events calendar. Technology infrastructure is noted as an area for improvement by SPEA, with inspectors finding that students do not use digital devices sufficiently across curriculum areas - a signal that 1:1 device provision or smartboard integration may be limited.
For families in Al Ghubaiba and surrounding areas including Al Qasimia, Al Majaz, and central Sharjah, the campus location offers reasonable accessibility. The school provides transport arrangements through external providers.
870
Students on Campus
KG1 to Grade 9 across a single site in Al Ghubaiba
Adequate
SPEA Facilities Rating
Functional and fit for purpose - not a premium campus environment
Al Ghubaiba Central LocationScience LaboratoriesDesign and Technology SpaceCafeteria On-siteSports and PE FacilitiesVirtual Campus Tour Available
Teaching & Learning Quality
The SPEA inspection rated the overall quality of teaching and assessment as Acceptable - the same as the school's overall effectiveness grade, and a rating that reflects genuine areas of competence alongside significant room for growth. Inspectors conducted 151 classroom observations over four days, 29 of which were joint observations with senior leadership - a rigorous process that gives weight to the findings.
The teacher-to-student ratio stands at 1:15, which is a reasonable class size for a school at this fee level and broadly in line with MoE curriculum norms. The school employed 49 teachers at the time of the 2023 inspection, supported by 9 teaching assistants. Teacher nationalities are predominantly Egyptian, Syrian, and Jordanian - experienced Arabic-speaking professionals familiar with the MoE framework.
The most significant concern raised by inspectors is the 49% teacher turnover rate - an exceptionally high figure that undermines continuity of learning, relationship-building with students, and the embedding of school improvement initiatives. Nearly half the teaching staff changed in a single year, which is a structural challenge that leadership must address as a priority. High turnover at this level typically reflects a combination of compensation pressures and working conditions that the school's budget constraints make difficult to resolve quickly.
In terms of pedagogical approach, the school uses a mix of direct instruction and some flipped classroom methodology, with cooperative learning observed in Islamic Education and English lessons. Inspectors noted that effective teaching strategies are not yet consistently applied across all subjects and all teachers. Differentiation for different ability levels is identified as an area requiring improvement. The use of assessment to inform teaching - formative assessment practice - is rated as needing development, with the gap between internal test scores and observed learning being a specific concern. Professional development is referenced in the school improvement plan, and the principal's leadership is credited with driving teaching quality improvements since the previous inspection.
1:15
Teacher-to-Student Ratio
Reasonable class size for an MoE school at this fee level
49%
Teacher Turnover Rate
SPEA 2023 - exceptionally high, a key risk to school improvement
151
Classroom Observations by SPEA
Conducted over 4 days - a rigorous inspection sample
55
Total Teaching Staff
Including 6 teaching assistants - per latest SPEA quick facts
Leadership & Management
The quality of leadership at Al Dhia Scientific Private School is one of its clearest differentiators from the inspection cycle prior to 2023. SPEA rated the effectiveness of the principal and senior leadership team as Good - a rating that stands above the school's overall Acceptable grade and signals that the school's improvement trajectory is leadership-driven.
The principal is Ms. Kholoud Fahimi Mustafa, whose strategic direction is credited by SPEA inspectors as central to the school's ability to achieve further improvement. The Chair of the Board of Trustees is listed in the 2023 inspection report as Ms. Mona Mohammed Faroukh. The school operates as an LLC (limited liability company) under private ownership, regulated by the Sharjah Private Education Authority.
SPEA inspectors highlighted the school's self-evaluation processes and development planning as effective - the school produces a detailed improvement plan that is shared with multiple stakeholders, and this documentation has directly contributed to improvements in teaching quality and student outcomes since the previous inspection cycle. The alignment between self-evaluation findings and the observed reality of the school is, however, imperfect: the persistent discrepancy between internal assessment data and classroom observation findings suggests that data literacy and honest self-critique at subject-leader level require strengthening.
Middle leadership - subject coordinators and heads of department - is identified by SPEA as an area requiring improvement. The quality of middle management and subject leadership is flagged as a specific growth area, meaning that the principal's strong vision is not yet consistently translated into subject-level instructional leadership. Parent communication is referenced positively, with the school maintaining active engagement through its website, events calendar, and parent survey participation during the inspection. The school's homepage references parent partnership as a core value, and inspection data confirms that parent surveys were conducted and analysed as part of the SPEA review process.
SPEA Inspection Results (Decoded)
The most recent publicly available SPEA inspection report for Al Dhia Scientific Private School covers the visit conducted from 27 February to 2 March 2023. The overall effectiveness rating is Acceptable - the fourth level on SPEA's six-point scale, defined as meeting the minimum expectations for a school in the UAE. Critically, this represents a full-grade improvement from the previous 2018 inspection cycle, when the school was rated Weak. That upward movement is not cosmetic: inspectors documented genuine improvements in student outcomes, leadership quality, and pastoral provision.
The inspection was conducted by a team of five reviewers who carried out 151 classroom observations, reviewed key documents including the self-evaluation form and school development plan, met with the board, principal, senior and middle leaders, subject coordinators, teachers, parents, and students, and analysed parent survey results.
Breaking down the six performance standards: Student Achievement is Acceptable overall, with English progress rated Good across all cycles as the standout positive. Personal and Social Development is Acceptable, with positive student attitudes and very rare bullying being noted strengths. Teaching and Assessment is Acceptable, with cooperative learning and flipped classroom elements present but inconsistent application of effective strategies being the main limitation. Curriculum quality is Acceptable, meeting MoE requirements but lacking breadth in higher-order thinking integration. Student Protection, Care, and Guidance is rated Good - the school's strongest performance standard - with SEN identification and support specifically commended. Leadership and Management is rated Good, driven by the principal's strategic clarity and effective self-evaluation processes, though middle leadership quality is flagged as needing development.
The school's key strategic recommendations from SPEA are to raise achievement standards across all subjects to Good level, implement effective teaching strategies consistently, improve assessment quality across all subjects, and strengthen middle leadership and subject management.
Leadership Quality: Good
The principal and senior leadership team are rated Good by SPEA, with clear strategic direction, effective self-evaluation, and a detailed improvement plan shared across stakeholders. This is the engine of the school's improvement from Weak to Acceptable.
Student Protection and SEN Support: Good
The school's highest-rated performance standard. Inspectors specifically commended procedures for identifying students of determination (52 enrolled) and the educational services provided to them as a key strength of the school.
English Progress: Good Across All Cycles
Student progress in English is rated Good across KG through Cycle 3 - the strongest academic subject result in the inspection. Cycle 3 students demonstrate high-quality research, presentation, and expressive writing skills.
Raise Achievement Standards Across All Subjects
SPEA's primary recommendation is to lift attainment in all subjects to Good level. The current gap between internal assessment data (which shows outstanding results) and observed classroom performance (which is Acceptable) must be closed through more honest data use and stronger teaching practice.
Strengthen Middle Leadership and Assessment Quality
Subject coordinators and middle managers need significant development to translate the principal's strategic vision into consistent instructional quality at classroom level. Assessment practices across all subjects require improvement, particularly formative assessment that informs teaching in real time.
Inspection History
2018
Weak
2022-2023
Acceptable
2024-2025
Acceptable
Fees & Value for Money
Al Dhia Scientific Private School (Al Ghubaiba branch) offers a structured fee schedule that spans from KG1 through Grade 9, catering to students across the early childhood, primary, and secondary phases. Annual tuition fees (inclusive of books) range from AED 5,154 for KG1 up to AED 12,885 for Grade 9 (Advanced), positioning the school as an accessible, competitively priced option within Dubai's private school landscape.
AED 5,154
Annual Fees From
AED 12,885
Annual Fees To
Year / GradeAnnual Fee
KG1
AED 5,154KG2
AED 5,174Grade 1
AED 6,729Grade 2
AED 6,769Grade 3
AED 6,769Grade 4
AED 8,445Grade 5
AED 8,435Grade 6
AED 9,543Grade 7
AED 10,657Grade 8
AED 11,670Grade 9 (Advanced)
AED 12,885Grade 9 (General)
AED 12,880The fee structure reflects a progressive increase as students advance through the grades, with notable steps at the transition into upper primary (Grade 4) and secondary (Grades 6–9). A uniform fee of AED 350 applies uniformly across all year groups. The inclusion of books within the stated school fees provides families with greater cost transparency and reduces unexpected additional expenditure.
For families considering value for money, the all-in tuition-plus-books pricing model simplifies budgeting. Grade 9 is offered in two tracks — General and Advanced — with fees of AED 12,880 and AED 12,885 respectively, giving families flexibility based on their child's academic pathway. Overall, the school's fee levels are notably affordable relative to many private schools in Dubai, making it an attractive choice for budget-conscious families seeking quality Arabic-medium private education.
Additional Costs
Uniform350(annual)
The Final Verdict: Who Is This School For?
Al Dhia Scientific Private School - branch Al Ghubaiba is a school in genuine, documented transition. It has moved from Weak to Acceptable under consistent leadership, it cares demonstrably about its students' welfare, and it offers one of the most accessible fee structures in Sharjah's private sector. These are not trivial achievements. The school's principal has built a functioning improvement culture, and the pastoral provision - particularly for students of determination - is a real strength that larger, higher-fee schools do not always match.
But parents must enter with clear eyes. The 49% teacher turnover rate is a serious structural problem that affects learning continuity at every year group. The gap between the school's own internal assessment data and what SPEA inspectors actually observed in classrooms is a transparency concern. Digital technology integration is weak. Middle leadership needs significant development. And the school stops at Grade 9, meaning every family must plan a secondary transition - an additional decision and potential disruption - before their child reaches the final years of schooling.
The value proposition is real but bounded: for families in Al Ghubaiba and surrounding areas who need an affordable, Arabic-medium, MoE-aligned private school with strong Islamic values, attentive pastoral care, and a leadership team that is actively working to improve, this school is a credible choice. For families seeking academic stretch, consistent teaching quality, rich extracurricular provision, or a school their child can attend from KG through to graduation, the search should continue.
THE “RIGHT FIT”
Arabic-speaking families in Al Ghubaiba and central Sharjah seeking an affordable MoE-curriculum private school with strong Islamic values, caring pastoral culture, and good SEN support - particularly those with children in KG through middle school who can manage the Grade 9 transition.
THE “WRONG FIT”
Families prioritising academic rigour, consistent teaching quality, low staff turnover, strong digital learning, or a school that carries students through to Grade 12 graduation - this school's current Acceptable rating and structural challenges make it a poor fit for high-aspiration academic outcomes.
“
I've made wonderful friends here and the teachers always support us. They don't just teach lessons, they guide us in becoming better people. The activities, sports, and clubs help me explore my interests and discover new talents.
— Grade 9 Student
Strengths
- Among the lowest private school fees in Sharjah, from AED 4,900 per year
- Improved from Weak to Acceptable - a documented upward trajectory
- Principal and senior leadership rated Good by SPEA inspectors
- Student protection and SEN support rated Good - a genuine strength
- 52 students of determination enrolled with commended support procedures
- English language progress rated Good across all year groups
- Robotics and Coding Club with 150+ members - strong STEM engagement
- Strong Islamic values and UAE cultural identity embedded in school life
Areas for Improvement
- 49% teacher turnover rate at last inspection - severely undermines learning continuity
- Overall SPEA rating is Acceptable - below Good, with attainment gaps in most subjects
- School ends at Grade 9, requiring all families to manage a secondary transition
- Digital technology use across the curriculum is underdeveloped
- Significant gap between internal assessment claims and observed classroom performance
Campus
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