Dunes International School, Abu Dhabi

Dunes International School delivers the Indian CBSE curriculum — affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education, New Delhi, and designed by NCERT — spanning Pre-KG through Grade 12. The school is one of only two ADEK-recognised CBSE-affiliated schools in Abu Dhabi, setting it apart within a private school landscape dominated by British and American curricula. Instruction is in English throughout, with Arabic compulsory for all students and Islamic Studies compulsory for Muslim students in line with Ministry of Education requirements. At Grade 12, students choose between a Science stream (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics or Biology) and a Commerce stream (Economics, Accountancy, Business Studies), with both pathways leading to the All India Secondary Examination conducted by CBSE, New Delhi.

Academic performance data for 2024–25 is encouraging. In Grade 10, 88% of students achieved attainment levels in line with curriculum expectations, with 60% performing above expected standards. Grade 12 results are stronger still: 94% of Science stream students and 92% of Commerce stream students met curriculum expectations, with 65% and 67% respectively performing above expected standards. On the ASSET 2025–26 external benchmark, 84% of students showed expected progress in Mathematics, 86% in English, and 85% in Science. International assessments reinforce this picture: DIS achieved the Advanced International Benchmark in Science and the High International Benchmark in Mathematics at Grades 4 and 8 in TIMSS 2023, while its PISA 2022 overall mean score of 541 — with results in English (415), Mathematics (452), and Science (447) all above the international average — demonstrates genuine academic reach beyond the CBSE framework. PIRLS 2021 placed Grade 4 students at the High International Benchmark with a mean score of 605.

DIS has held an ADEK Irtiqaa rating of Good across three consecutive inspection cycles — 2018, 2022, and 2024–25 — a record of consistency that places it among the 83 Good-rated schools in Abu Dhabi. Inspectors rated Health and Safety as Outstanding across all phases, and UAE Social Studies achievement improved from Good to Very Good across all phases since the previous inspection. Curriculum design and implementation was rated Very Good, and Phase 4 teaching was also rated Very Good. The school's Student Enhancement Program (SEP), reading initiatives including Jolly Phonics, Rosen Level Up, and Achieve 3000, and the I Start Arabic program for Grades 1–5 reflect a structured, multi-layered approach to literacy development. Robotics labs, STEAM integration, and a dedicated Gifted and Talented program further distinguish the academic offer at this price point.

Inspectors and reviewers have, however, identified clear areas requiring attention. Achievement in Islamic Education and Arabic as a second language in lower phases remains at Good and needs to reach a consistently Very Good level. Writing skills across a range of genres in Phases 3 and 4 require strengthening, and students' use of technology for independent research and critical thinking remains underdeveloped. Assessment in Phase 4 regressed from Very Good to Good in the 2024–25 inspection, and the embedding of self- and peer-assessment practices is inconsistent. Critically, DIS does not currently offer in-school support services (ISSS) for students of determination — a gap that parents of children with additional learning needs should weigh carefully. Curriculum adaptation for higher achievers, including those identified as Gifted and Talented, also requires extension. Compared to peer Indian-curriculum schools in Abu Dhabi, where 10 of 34 Indian-curriculum schools hold a Very Good or Outstanding rating, DIS has yet to break through to the next performance tier despite its strong international benchmark results.