How much are the fees at Citizens School?

Annual tuition fees at Citizens School range from AED 45,000 to AED 80,000. Additional costs include registration, transport, and uniforms.

What curriculum does Citizens School follow?

Citizens School follows the British curriculum.

Where is Citizens School located?

Citizens School is located in Al Satwa, Dubai, UAE.

Who is the principal of Citizens School?

The current principal of Citizens School is David Lees.

Citizens School, Dubai

British School in Al Satwa, Dubai

Last updated 18 Apr 2026

Curriculum

British

KHDA

New School

Location

Dubai, Al Satwa

Fees

AED 45K - 80K

The Executive Summary

Citizens School Dubai is one of the most conceptually ambitious new schools to open in the UAE in recent years. Founded in 2022 and located in Al Satwa opposite City Walk, Citizens School follows an enhanced British National Curriculum integrated with the bespoke Citizens Future Framework, emphasising inquiry-based and transdisciplinary project-based learning. The program spans from Foundation Stage to Year 9, focusing on developing mindsets and skill sets relevant to entrepreneurship, digital literacy, and global citizenship. For parents searching among Al Satwa schools, Citizens occupies a distinctive niche: it is not trying to replicate a traditional British independent school, but rather to reimagine what a British curriculum school can be. The KHDA rating from its first full inspection in April 2025 is Good - a creditable result for a school only three years old, and one that reflects genuine strengths in personal development, safeguarding, facilities and leadership culture. School fees Dubai parents will note range from AED 40,500 to AED 72,000 after current discounts, positioning Citizens in the premium tier while offering meaningful fee reductions for 2025-26. The 43,000 square-metre campus - double the size of comparable schools in the catchment - signals serious long-term intent from the ownership group, Al Zarooni Investments.

KHDA Good 2024-25Citizens Future Framework43,000m2 CampusCOBIS AccreditedOpened 2022

See how Citizens School compares across all 105 British schools in our Best British Schools in Dubai 2026 guide.

“My daughter genuinely loves coming to school every day. The teachers know her as an individual, not just a student in a class. The entrepreneurship projects have given her a confidence I never expected at this age.”

— Year 4 Parent(representative)

Academic Framework & Learning Style

Citizens School does not simply deliver the British National Curriculum - it uses it as a foundation upon which to build something considerably more ambitious. The Citizens Future Framework weaves six thematic threads - Mindset, Wellbeing, Entrepreneurship, Digital Literacy, Global Citizenship, and Sustainability - through every subject and year group from Foundation Stage to Year 9. The result is a curriculum that, in design at least, more closely resembles the philosophy of the International Baccalaureate than a conventional British school. Subjects are not treated as isolated disciplines: mathematics connects to financial literacy and enterprise projects, English is practised through business pitches and digital presentations, and science is anchored in ecological inquiry and sustainability challenges. Transdisciplinary project-based learning (PBL) is the engine of this approach, with students taking ownership of extended projects that cut across subject boundaries and demand real-world application of skills. The KHDA's 2024-2025 inspection provides the most honest academic snapshot available. Attainment across all phases and subjects is rated Acceptable - a finding that requires context. The school's student body is highly international, with Russian nationals forming the largest group and a significant proportion of students for whom English is an additional language. Literacy gaps are the single most significant drag on attainment data, and KHDA inspectors explicitly identified raising literacy standards as the school's primary improvement priority. However, the progress picture is considerably more encouraging: Foundation Stage students make Good progress in English, mathematics and science; Primary students make Good progress in mathematics, science and Arabic as an Additional Language; and science achieves Good progress across all three phases - the standout academic result of the inspection. In mathematics, a carefully planned intervention programme is closing gaps in Primary, though its impact has not yet transferred to Secondary. The school currently runs to Year 9 and does not yet offer external examinations such as IGCSEs, though this is part of the stated growth trajectory. University destination data is not yet applicable. Assessment is handled through a robust digital tracking platform, though KHDA inspectors noted that teachers do not always translate this data into sufficiently differentiated lesson planning - a gap the leadership team has acknowledged and is actively addressing. For families seeking a school where their child will be stretched academically from the outset, Citizens is still maturing; for those who prioritise learning disposition, entrepreneurial mindset and whole-child development alongside a credible British curriculum backbone, the academic framework is genuinely distinctive.

Good

Science Progress - All Phases

KHDA 2024-2025 - only subject rated Good across FS, Primary and Secondary

Good

Maths Progress - Foundation Stage & Primary

KHDA 2024-2025 inspection finding

Acceptable

Overall Attainment Rating

Across all phases and subjects - impacted by EAL literacy gaps

FS1 - Year 9

Year Groups Offered 2025-26

IGCSE expansion planned for future years

Curriculum Details

Extracurricular Activities (ECAs)

Citizens School's co-curricular and extracurricular programme is deliberately integrated with its educational philosophy rather than treated as an optional add-on. Sports offerings include swimming (in a six-lane semi-enclosed pool), football (on a FIFA-standard pitch), rugby (on a World Rugby-standard pitch), and tennis. Creative arts encompass ballet, photography and music. Technology-focused activities include robotics and engineering clubs, reflecting the school's strong emphasis on digital literacy. The school's wellbeing and leadership strand produces tangible student-led initiatives: Eco Champions lead recycling and sustainability projects including greenhouse vegetable growing and waste reduction campaigns; Wellbeing Ambassadors support peer mental health; and the Learner Council gives students a genuine voice in school decision-making. The Big Brother and Big Sister mentorship programme pairs older and younger students, building community responsibility and leadership skills that KHDA inspectors specifically highlighted as a strength. The school's entrepreneurship strand is perhaps its most distinctive extracurricular differentiator. Students engage in business development cycles - from idea generation through to investor pitching - that would not be out of place in a university enterprise programme. Social responsibility projects, including fundraising and community volunteering, are tracked as part of the school's broader personal development framework, though KHDA inspectors recommended more systematic monitoring of student engagement in these initiatives. Many activities are embedded within the school day through PBL, meaning the boundary between curriculum and enrichment is intentionally blurred. The school's DisruptEd podcast series, featuring external speakers on future-of-work themes, further extends the enrichment culture beyond campus.

6-Lane

Semi-Enclosed Swimming Pool

Plus separate learning pool on campus

Very Good

Social Responsibility and Innovation Skills

KHDA 2024-2025 - rated Very Good across all three phases

FIFA-Standard Football PitchEco Champions ProgrammeRobotics and Engineering ClubBig Brother Big Sister MentoringStudent Investor PitchingDisruptEd Podcast Series

Pastoral Care & Well-being

Pastoral care and wellbeing are not peripheral concerns at Citizens School - they are structural. The Citizens Future Framework explicitly positions wellbeing as one of its six core threads, meaning it is woven into the curriculum rather than bolted on as a counselling service. KHDA inspectors rated the overall quality of wellbeing provision as Good in 2024-2025, noting that senior leaders place appropriate emphasis on wellbeing and that the vision is communicated effectively through newsletters, assemblies and displays. The school conducts regular wellbeing surveys of students, staff and parents, using the data to guide interventions and inform planning. In practice, wellbeing provision includes individual counselling (one guidance counsellor serves the current roll of 629 students - a ratio that will need to scale as enrolment grows), peer mentoring, tailored interventions for students with social, emotional and mental health needs, and the Wellbeing Day events that punctuate each term. The school's positive classroom culture is one of its most consistently praised features: KHDA inspectors described relationships between adults and students as characterised by mutual trust and respect, and student behaviour was rated exemplary. The Big Brother and Big Sister initiative actively nurtures inter-year community bonds. Safeguarding procedures are rated Very Good across all phases, with clear, well-embedded protocols and well-trained staff. KHDA inspectors recommended that the school consider appointing a dedicated governor for wellbeing and that it work to amplify the voices of students who are new to the school or who are English Additional Language learners - a sensible recommendation given the school's highly international student body.

“What struck me most when we joined was how calm and happy the children seemed. There is no anxiety in the corridors. My son, who struggled socially at his previous school, has completely come out of his shell here.”

— Year 6 Parent(representative)

Campus & Facilities

The Citizens School campus is, by any measure, one of the most thoughtfully designed school environments to open in Dubai in recent years. Located at 243 22D Street in Al Satwa, directly opposite City Walk and accessible from Sheikh Zayed Road via exit D71, the campus sits on a 43,000 square-metre plot - double the size of comparable schools in the same catchment area. When fully built out, the total built-up area will reach 24,500 square metres, housing a school with capacity for up to 2,600 students aged three to eighteen. The current campus already delivers a facility set that punches well above its current enrolment of 629 students. Key facilities include open learning studios (the school's terminology for flexible classrooms), STEM and innovation labs, digital production suites, dedicated entrepreneurship hubs, a wellbeing centre, and a 1,250 square-metre multi-purpose performing arts and activity hall. Sports infrastructure is exceptional for a school of this age: a six-lane semi-enclosed swimming pool with a separate learning pool, FIFA-standard football pitches, World Rugby-standard rugby pitches, and a 2,900 square-metre open playing and recreation area. The campus includes 155 on-site parking spaces and multiple pick-up and drop-off zones, which meaningfully reduces the congestion that plagues many Dubai school locations. Accessibility has been designed in from the outset, with braille signage, colour-coded wayfinding and layouts suitable for students with physical or learning needs. Technology infrastructure supports the school's Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policy for Year 1 and above, with iPads and Apple Pencils required. KHDA inspectors described the facilities as inspiring spaces that enhance learning and rated management, staffing and facilities as Very Good.

43,000m2

Campus Plot Size

Double the size of comparable Al Satwa area schools

2,900m2

Open Playing and Recreation Area

Plus FIFA and World Rugby standard pitches

43,000m2 Campus PlotFIFA-Standard Pitch6-Lane Swimming Pool1,250m2 Performing Arts Hall155 On-Site Parking SpacesBraille and Accessible Design

Campus Details

Teaching & Learning Quality

Citizens School has adopted what it calls the mentor model - a reframing of the teacher's role from instructor to guide and coach. Teachers hold or work towards professional coaching and mentoring qualifications, and the school's language of learning deliberately positions adults as facilitators of inquiry rather than deliverers of content. KHDA inspectors confirmed that teachers across all phases have secure subject knowledge and that most understand how students learn best. The largest nationality group among the 56-strong teaching staff is British, consistent with the school's UK curriculum roots. The school also employs 61 teaching assistants - a notably high ratio that reflects the school's commitment to personalised support and its inclusion of 67 students of determination. The student-to-teacher ratio, based on KHDA data, is approximately 11:1 (629 students, 56 teachers), which is favourable by Dubai private school standards and supports the school's individualised learning philosophy. Teaching quality was rated Good in Foundation Stage and Primary and Acceptable in Secondary - a gap that KHDA inspectors attributed to inconsistent use of assessment data, insufficient differentiation for higher-attaining learners, and limited structured peer-and-self-assessment activities. The school's digital assessment and tracking platform is sophisticated, but its full potential is not yet being realised at the classroom level in all phases. Professional development is embedded in the school's culture: the mentor model itself requires ongoing coaching qualifications, and the school's leadership team - including the Director of Learning and Quality Assurance, Fareeha Nadkar - maintains a focus on continuous improvement. Technology use is widespread and generally effective, supporting collaboration and creative production, though KHDA noted that integration of digital learning tools is less consistent in Secondary lessons. Teacher turnover data is not publicly available, but the school's collaborative culture and relatively new vintage suggest a settled staff community at this stage.

11:1

Student-to-Teacher Ratio

Based on 629 students and 56 teachers - KHDA 2024-2025

Teaching Assistants

High TA ratio supporting inclusion and personalised learning

Good

Teaching Quality - FS and Primary

KHDA 2024-2025; Acceptable in Secondary

Leadership & Management

Citizens School is owned by Al Zarooni Investments, founded by Dr. Adil Alzarooni, who serves as Founder and Chairman. The CEO is Hisham Hodroge, a graduate of the American University of Beirut. The school is part of an ambitious wider vision - the Citizens Education Hub - which ultimately intends to bring together a primary and secondary school, an Early Childhood Centre, a Wellbeing Centre, and a research and teacher training academy on the same campus. Principal David Lees was appointed in April 2024, having joined Citizens initially as Head of Secondary. Originally from Suffolk and Essex, Mr. Lees brings a background that includes Headteacher, Governor and Chief Operating Officer roles in the UK, culminating in an Executive Principal position before relocating to Dubai. His senior leadership team includes Donal O'Callaghan (Vice Principal and Head of Secondary), Nagham Naamani (Vice Principal and Head of Primary), Fareeha Nadkar (Director of Learning and Quality Assurance), and Lucy Blanchard (Assistant Director of Learning and PBL Leader). KHDA inspectors rated the effectiveness of leadership as Good and school self-evaluation and improvement planning as Good. Governance was also rated Good, while management, staffing and facilities achieved the higher rating of Very Good. The standout leadership finding was the Parents and Community rating of Very Good - a reflection of the school's genuine commitment to parent partnership, which manifests through regular surveys, parent engagement events, language and art classes for parents, and transparent communication via newsletters and digital channels. KHDA inspectors noted that planning is transparent, collaborative and data-driven. The primary governance development area is strengthening middle-leadership capacity and ensuring that a dedicated governor is appointed for wellbeing oversight.

Leadership Details

KHDA Inspection Results (Decoded)

Citizens School's first full DSIB inspection, conducted over four days in April 2025, returned an overall rating of Good. This is a meaningful result for a school in only its third year of operation, and one that requires careful interpretation. The headline attainment data - Acceptable across all phases and subjects - is the weakest element, driven substantially by the school's highly international student body, a significant proportion of whom are English Additional Language learners. Inspectors were clear that literacy is the school's primary improvement target and that this challenge is partly structural rather than purely pedagogical. However, the Good overall rating is justified by the strength of performance across every other dimension. Personal development and social responsibility are rated Very Good across all three phases - an exceptional result that reflects the genuine depth of the school's character education and enterprise culture. Health, safety and safeguarding are rated Very Good across all phases. Management, staffing and facilities are rated Very Good. Parents and community engagement is rated Very Good. The curriculum is rated Good across all phases. Teaching is Good in Foundation Stage and Primary. These are not the ratings of a school that is merely adequate - they are the ratings of a school with a strong ethos and clear direction, working through the natural challenges of early-stage growth and a linguistically diverse student population. The rating history is short by necessity: this was the school's first inspection. The trajectory, however, is clearly upward.

Exceptional Personal Development

Students' personal development, social responsibility and innovation skills are rated Very Good across all three phases - Foundation Stage, Primary and Secondary. KHDA inspectors highlighted the Learner Council, Eco Champions, Big Brother and Big Sister programme, and enterprise projects as standout contributors.

Outstanding Safeguarding and Facilities

Health, safety and safeguarding are rated Very Good across all phases. Management, staffing and facilities are also rated Very Good, with inspectors describing the campus as 'inspiring spaces that enhance learning' and confirming that safeguarding systems are robust and well-embedded.

Strong Parent Partnership

The school's engagement with parents and the community is rated Very Good - one of the highest individual ratings in the report. Inspectors noted transparent communication, collaborative planning and high levels of parent involvement in school life.

Literacy Standards Across All Phases

KHDA inspectors identified raising literacy standards as the school's primary improvement priority. English attainment is Acceptable across all phases, impacted by the high proportion of EAL students. The school has begun additional English language sessions and reading interventions, but progress in English benchmark tests remains weak for the whole school cohort.

Assessment Data Use and Middle-Leadership Capacity

While the school has a sophisticated digital assessment and tracking system, inspectors found that teachers do not consistently use this data to adapt lesson planning or provide sufficient challenge for higher-attaining students. Strengthening middle-leadership capacity to drive improvement at department level was also identified as a key recommendation.

Full Inspection Report

Inspection History

2024-2025

Good

Fees & Value for Money

Citizens School offers a British curriculum education from FS1 through Year 9, with KHDA-approved annual tuition fees ranging from AED 45,000 for FS1 up to AED 80,000 for Year 9. For the 2025–2026 academic year, the school is offering meaningful discounts off these approved rates: 10% off for FS1 and FS2, 5% off for Years 1–6, and 10% off for Years 7–9, bringing effective fees as low as AED 40,500 for FS1 and as low as AED 61,750 for primary years. These discounts make Citizens School a competitively priced option within Dubai's British curriculum school landscape.

AED 45,000

Annual Fees From

AED 80,000

Annual Fees To

Year / GradeAnnual Fee

FS1

AED 45,000

FS2

AED 55,000

Year 1

AED 65,000

Year 2

AED 65,000

Year 3

AED 65,000

Year 4

AED 65,000

Year 5

AED 65,000

Year 6

AED 65,000

Year 7

AED 75,000

Year 8

AED 75,000

Year 9

AED 80,000

Fees are payable in three termly instalments (September, January, and April), with an optional monthly payment plan of ten equal instalments available at the school's discretion. The school accepts cash, cheque, credit card, and bank transfer. A registration fee of AED 2,500 is required for both new and returning students to secure a place, and this amount is credited toward the first term's fees. The application fee has been waived entirely for 2025–26.

Additional savings are available through a range of special offers including an early full-payment discount of 2.5%, sibling discounts, corporate partner discounts, ESAAD cardholder discounts, and a referral programme. The school follows KHDA's refund policy for registration fees, and VAT is applicable as per UAE law. Parents of students in Year 1 and above are required to provide their own iPad and Apple Pencil as part of the school's BYOD policy.

Additional Costs

Registration Fee (New Students)2500(one-time)

Re-Registration Deposit (Returning Students)2500(annual)

iPad & Apple Pencil (BYOD)(one-time)

Discounts & Concessions

FS1 & FS2 Tuition Discount10%%

Year 1–6 Tuition Discount5%%

Year 7–9 Tuition Discount10%%

Early Payment Discount2.5%%

ESAAD Card Discount5%%

Corporate Partner Discount5%%

Fazza Platinum Card Discount15%%

Fazza Discount Card Discount10%%

Sibling Discount – Second Child5%%

Sibling Discount – Third & Fourth Child10%%

Referral Discount – Referred Family2.5%%

Referral Credit – Referring Family

Full Fee Structure

The Final Verdict: Who Is This School For?

Citizens School is a school for parents who are genuinely excited by a different vision of education - one where entrepreneurship, inquiry and whole-child development are not slogans but structural commitments. Its KHDA Good rating from a first inspection is a solid platform, and the Very Good ratings for personal development, safeguarding and parent partnership confirm that the school's culture is real and functioning. The campus is exceptional, the pastoral environment is warm and the leadership team has a clear direction. For families relocating to Dubai who want a British curriculum school without the institutional conservatism of longer-established competitors, Citizens is a compelling option. However, parents should enter with eyes open. Attainment is currently Acceptable across all subjects, and the school does not yet offer external examinations. Literacy is an acknowledged whole-school challenge. Secondary teaching quality is rated Acceptable rather than Good. These are not fatal flaws for a three-year-old school with an ambitious vision, but they are real considerations for families with children approaching examination years or for whom academic league-table performance is the primary criterion. Citizens School is best evaluated not against where it is today, but against where its trajectory suggests it will be in three to five years - and that trajectory, on the evidence of the KHDA inspection, is genuinely promising.

THE “RIGHT FIT”

Families who value inquiry-based, project-led learning, entrepreneurial mindset development and a warm, inclusive community culture; parents comfortable with a school that is still growing into its academic potential and who want to be part of building something distinctive in Dubai education.

THE “WRONG FIT”

Families whose primary criterion is proven examination results or who need a school with an established IGCSE and A-Level track record; children who thrive in highly structured, traditional classroom environments where direct instruction is the dominant pedagogy.

“

Citizens is not for every family and I think the school knows that. But for us, watching our children pitch business ideas to a panel of guests, grow vegetables in the school greenhouse and genuinely enjoy reading - that is the education we wanted.

— Year 3 and Year 5 Parent

Strengths

Genuinely innovative curriculum via the Citizens Future Framework - not just marketing language
Exceptional 43,000m2 campus with FIFA-standard pitches and six-lane pool
Very Good KHDA ratings for personal development, safeguarding and parent partnership
Warm, inclusive community culture praised consistently by inspectors and families
Favourable 11:1 student-to-teacher ratio with 61 teaching assistants
Meaningful 2025-26 fee discounts of 5-10% plus multi-tier discount structure
Strong entrepreneurship and project-based learning programme from Foundation Stage

Areas for Improvement

Attainment rated Acceptable across all subjects and phases - literacy is an acknowledged gap
No external examinations yet offered - school runs only to Year 9 in 2025-26
Secondary teaching and assessment rated Acceptable rather than Good by KHDA inspectors
Single guidance counsellor for 629 students - wellbeing staffing will need to scale
School is still in early growth phase - full capacity of 2,600 students not yet reached