International School of Creative ScienceBritish School in Nadd Al Shiba 3، DubaiLast Updated: April 7, 2026
Curriculum
British
KHDA
Good
Location
Dubai, Nadd Al Shiba 3
Fees
AED 34K - 66K
International School of Creative Science
The Executive Summary
The International School of Creative Science Dubai (ISCS Nad Al Sheba) occupies a genuinely distinctive niche in the Nadd Al Shiba 3 schools landscape: it is the only British curriculum school in Dubai that places Quranic memorisation and Islamic virtues at the structural core of its academic programme, not as an add-on but as the philosophical spine of everything it does. Operating the National Curriculum for England from FS1 through to Year 13 - delivering internationally recognised qualifications including IGCSE and A-level - the school has grown from a standing start in 2016 to 1,657 students across 55+ nationalities in under a decade. Its KHDA rating has been a consistent Good across every inspection since opening, with the 2023-2024 DSIB report confirming that rating while awarding Outstanding for health and safety and Very Good for wellbeing - a meaningful achievement for a school still maturing its post-16 provision. For families comparing school fees Dubai-wide, ISCS sits at the accessible end of the British curriculum premium band, with annual tuition ranging from AED 34,287 to AED 65,504, making it substantially more affordable than neighbouring Repton or GEMS Modern Academy while offering a comparable regulatory standing.
BSO & BSME AccreditedQuran Memorisation ProgrammeKHDA Good - ConsistentIGCSE & A-Level Centre
See how International School of Creative Science compares across all 105 British schools in our Best British Schools in Dubai 2026 guide.
“What drew us here was the combination of a rigorous British curriculum with genuine Islamic values embedded throughout - not just in one lesson a week. My children have grown academically and as people with a strong moral compass.”
— Year 7 Parent(representative)Academic Framework & Learning Style
ISCS Nad Al Sheba delivers the National Curriculum for England from Foundation Stage through to Year 13, integrated with the UAE Ministry of Education curriculum for Arabic Language, Islamic Studies, Social Studies and Moral Education. This dual-curriculum architecture is not a compromise - it is the school's deliberate identity. In the Foundation Stage (FS1 and FS2), the school follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework, structured around seven areas of learning including Communication and Language, Physical Development, and Expressive Arts. The approach emphasises the three Characteristics of Effective Learning: playing and exploring, active learning, and creating and thinking critically. Kitchen facilities for FS children - teaching hygiene and food independence - are an unusual and thoughtful touch.
In Primary (Years 1 to 6), a thematic cross-curricular approach links English, Maths, Science, Social Studies, Art and ICT, with phonics and mathematics delivered daily in Key Stage 1. Key Stage 3 (Years 7 to 9) follows the Pearson iLower Secondary curriculum, aligned to UK National Curriculum standards, covering English, Maths, Science, IT, Humanities, Global Citizenship, Design and Technology, Art and PE alongside MOE subjects. At Key Stage 4 (Years 10 to 11), students sit Pearson IGCSEs across a broad range of subjects - core English, Maths, Science, IT and PE plus option subjects including Psychology, Business, Geography, English Literature, Food and Nutrition, and Art. BTEC qualifications in Sports and Business are also available. The school's first IGCSE cohort in 2021-22 recorded 95% of entries achieving Grade 4 and above in English, 95% in Maths, and 84% in Science, with Grade 5 and above rates of 67%, 75%, and 74% respectively. These are creditable pass rates, though the school does not yet publish higher-grade breakdowns (grades 7-9), which limits meaningful comparison with higher-fee competitors.
At Key Stage 5 (Years 12 and 13), students choose from Pearson and Cambridge A-levels and BTECs, completing a core programme that includes Study Skills and the Duke of Edinburgh Award (DOE). The school's Virtues Curriculum permeates all subjects, embedding Islamic principles into academic content. The school also partners with the Maharat Learning Centre for specialist SEND support, and has established structured EAL provision for its 80% English as an Additional Language student body. The BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) policy operates across Primary and Secondary, with Digital Citizenship taught as a discrete skill. The BEAM University Scholarship Program offers a pathway to university support for high-achieving students. University placement data is not publicly disclosed, which is a gap parents should probe at open day.
95%
IGCSE English Grade 4+ (2021-22)
First cohort results; Grade 5+ was 67%
95%
IGCSE Maths Grade 4+ (2021-22)
Grade 5 and above: 75%
84%
IGCSE Science Grade 4+ (2021-22)
Grade 5 and above: 74%
80%
EAL Students in School Body
Structured EAL provision in place
Extracurricular Activities (ECAs)
The school's website highlights 25+ diverse activities available to students, and the homepage references over 25 activities across sports, arts, and enrichment. While the school has not published a comprehensive ECA directory, the available evidence points to a meaningful and growing programme. Sports provision includes an all-weather astro soccer field, a covered heated swimming pool, indoor and outdoor playgrounds, a gymnasium, and a multi-purpose hall. Competitive sports are available, and the school participates in inter-school fixtures drawing from the wider Dubai schools community.
In the arts, students have access to drama, music and visual arts programmes integrated into the curriculum. The school's campus design supports creative activities with dedicated art studios and performance spaces. At Post-16, students participate in the Duke of Edinburgh (DOE) Award as a core component of their Sixth Form programme - a significant enrichment credential recognised by universities globally. The school's Innovation Week - highlighted in the DSIB 2024 report as a curriculum feature - gives students structured opportunities for enterprise and creative problem-solving, though inspectors noted that these activities are not yet consistently student-initiated.
The Quran Academy is a standout differentiator: students can pursue structured Quran memorisation (Hifz) with dedicated sessions, and the school awards fee discounts of up to 25% for full Quran memorisation - a policy that underscores how central this programme is to the school's identity. Community service and social responsibility projects are embedded through the school council and student leadership roles, with students actively volunteering for community-benefit initiatives. The school's social media presence documents regular participation in cultural events, dental health days, and Ramadan programmes, indicating an active school life calendar beyond the academic timetable.
25+
Diverse Activities Available
Sports, arts, enrichment and cultural programmes
Duke of Edinburgh AwardQuran AcademyInnovation WeekHeated Swimming PoolAstro Soccer Field
Pastoral Care & Well-being
Pastoral care is one of ISCS Nad Al Sheba's most credible strengths, and the DSIB 2024 inspection data supports this clearly. Health and safety received an Outstanding rating across all phases - Foundation Stage, Primary, Secondary and Post-16 - the highest possible KHDA grade. The quality of care and support was rated Very Good across all phases. The school's overall wellbeing provision was assessed at Very Good, underpinned by extensive documentation, regular surveys of students, staff and parents, and a wellbeing calendar that runs through the academic year.
The school operates a structured child protection and safeguarding policy, with dedicated pages on its website and clear referral procedures. A single guidance counsellor supports 1,657 students - a ratio that warrants attention for families with children who may need frequent pastoral intervention. Inspectors noted that counsellors, social workers, medical staff and pastoral teams monitor individual needs, and that the school has medical care facilities on site. The Virtues Curriculum actively incorporates wellbeing themes into pastoral and moral education lessons, and assemblies reinforce the school's values-based ethos. Students report that they enjoy coming to school and feel able to express themselves without fear - a finding consistent across phases in the DSIB report. The school council provides a formal student voice mechanism, with students volunteering eagerly for leadership roles. One area flagged by inspectors for development: ensuring that all groups of students - including those with more complex needs - have equitable opportunities to express their own wellbeing within the school community.
“The school has a genuinely warm and safe atmosphere. My daughter has never felt anxious about coming to school - the teachers know the children individually and the values really do run through everything.”
— Year 4 Parent(representative)Campus & Facilities
ISCS Nad Al Sheba opened in 2016 and the campus reflects the purposeful design of a school built from scratch for a specific educational vision. Located in Nadd Al Shiba 3, adjacent to Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, the campus benefits from strong road connectivity, making it accessible from a wide arc of Dubai communities including Meydan, International City, Silicon Oasis, Academic City, Dubailand, and even parts of Sharjah - a practical advantage for a school drawing students from across the emirate.
Academic facilities include purpose-built classrooms fitted with interactive whiteboards and computers, designed to support varied learning styles. The Foundation Stage classrooms feature multiple activity stations with direct outdoor access to an engineered garden area - a deliberate design choice aligned with EYFS play-based learning philosophy. A library with an extensive range of ability-differentiated books supports independent reading, and a fully equipped Learning Resource Centre with multimedia facilities provides additional study space. Kitchen facilities for Foundation Stage students - an unusual feature - support the school's healthy eating and independence curriculum. Science laboratories, art studios, and IT facilities serve the secondary phases.
Sports and outdoor provision is notably strong for a school at this fee level. The campus includes an all-weather astro soccer field, a large covered heated swimming pool (enabling year-round swimming lessons), indoor and outdoor playgrounds with specialist safe flooring, a gymnasium, and a multi-purpose hall serving secondary students for sports, events and examinations. The co-located American School of Creative Science (ASCS) shares adjacent plots and some sports facilities, which effectively expands the available outdoor footprint.
Technology integration follows a BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) policy across Primary and Secondary, with Digital Citizenship taught as a curriculum subject. The school uses the ActiveLearn platform and a parent portal for communication and learning access. Transport is available across a wide range of Dubai communities, with fees ranging from AED 5,200 to AED 8,300 per annum depending on distance.
2016
Campus Opening Year
Purpose-built from the ground up for ISCS
AED 5,200-8,300
Annual Transport Fees
Varies by distance from campus
Heated Covered Swimming PoolAll-Weather Astro PitchEYFS Engineered GardenInteractive WhiteboardsBYOD Technology PolicyLearning Resource Centre
Teaching & Learning Quality
The DSIB 2024 inspection rated teaching for effective learning as Good across all four phases - Foundation Stage, Primary, Secondary and Post-16. This is a consistent finding across all four inspection cycles since the school opened, indicating a stable but not yet accelerating teaching culture. Inspectors acknowledged that teachers have relevant subject knowledge and give clear explanations, but identified a recurring limitation: critical thinking skills are not promoted as consistently as they could be, particularly in Islamic Education and Arabic. Self-and-peer assessment and structured feedback to students are less well developed than other elements of teaching quality.
The school's 153 teachers are predominantly UK-trained and UK-qualified - the largest nationality group of teachers is British - which gives the British curriculum delivery an authentic grounding. The school also employs 51 teaching assistants, giving a combined staff-to-student ratio that supports differentiated learning. The teacher-to-student ratio is approximately 1:12 (based on 153 teachers and 1,657 students, excluding TAs), which is healthy for a school at this price point. Teacher turnover is reported at approximately 10% - a broadly stable figure for a Dubai private school, though not exceptionally low.
Assessment in the Foundation Stage improved to Very Good in the 2024 inspection, a notable step forward. Across other phases, assessment is rated Good. The school uses formative assessment, levelled reading programmes, GL Progress Tests (GLPTs) and external IGCSE and A-level examinations as its primary assessment framework. The BYOD policy and ActiveLearn platform support technology-enhanced learning, though inspectors noted that technology use sometimes defaults to information retrieval rather than independent investigation. Professional development is embedded through the school's self-evaluation procedures, with the principal and senior leaders collaborating with governors on improvement planning.
1:12
Teacher-to-Student Ratio
153 teachers, 1,657 students
10%
Teacher Turnover Rate
Broadly stable for Dubai private schools
51
Teaching Assistants
Supporting differentiation and SEND provision
Leadership & Management
Principal Ataullah Parkar has led ISCS Nad Al Sheba since January 2020, providing continuity through the school's critical growth phase from mid-size school to its current enrolment of over 1,650 students. His message to parents emphasises academic excellence rooted in faith, and the school's tagline - Excellence Rooted in Values - is a direct expression of this leadership philosophy. The DSIB 2024 inspection rated the effectiveness of leadership as Good, with self-evaluation and improvement planning also rated Good. Critically, Parents and the Community received an Outstanding rating - the highest possible - reflecting the school's exceptional engagement with its parent community, which includes a parent association that actively participates in school events and governance.
Governance was rated Very Good, with inspectors noting that governors support the school and hold it to account very well. Management of staffing, facilities and resources was also rated Very Good. The school operates under the BEAM Education Group, founded by Sharjah entrepreneur Salah Bukhatir, whose founder's message to parents commits to nurturing ambitious young people who preserve their cultural identities while becoming confident global citizens. General Manager Shadi Hassan leads BEAM's strategic direction across its network of schools in Dubai, Sharjah and Bahrain.
Parent communication is facilitated through a dedicated Parent Portal, the ActiveLearn platform, and a live chat system on the school website. The school operates a three-term academic year (September to June/July), with formal parent engagement built into the governance and self-evaluation cycle. The school's co-location with the American School of Creative Science (ASCS) on the Nad Al Sheba site - with separate leadership and management now established for each school - adds operational complexity that the leadership team has navigated effectively.
KHDA Inspection Results (Decoded)
The DSIB inspection of January 2024 confirmed ISCS Nad Al Sheba's overall Good rating - its fourth consecutive Good across inspections in 2018-19, 2019-20, 2022-23 and 2023-24. Consistency at Good is a double-edged signal: it demonstrates a stable, reliable school, but it also raises the question of when - or whether - the school will make the step to Very Good. The 2024 report shows genuine improvement in several areas, suggesting the trajectory is positive.
On student achievement, the picture is broadly Good across all core subjects and all phases, with two standout Very Good ratings: Primary Science attainment and progress, and English progress at Secondary. These are meaningful data points - Primary Science at Very Good is a genuine strength. Mathematics is Good across all phases. Islamic Education, Arabic (First Language and Additional Language) are all Good. Learning skills are Good across all phases.
The school's personal and social development scores are its most impressive: Very Good across all phases for both personal development and understanding of Islamic values and Emirati culture. This is the school's clearest competitive differentiator - the integration of values into daily school life is not cosmetic.
Curriculum design and implementation is Very Good in FS, Primary and Secondary, dropping to Good at Post-16 - an honest reflection of the fact that the Sixth Form is still maturing. The school's PIRLS 2021 score of 561 exceeded its target by 14 points, though Emirati students underperformed in benchmark assessments, and Emirati boys' reading proficiency remains a specific area requiring targeted intervention.
The Inclusion rating was Good overall. Inspectors noted that the identification of students of determination is accurate and uses a wide range of assessments, but flagged that a small number of students with more complex needs do not yet have their needs fully met - a candid finding that parents of children with significant additional needs should weigh carefully.
Outstanding Health, Safety & Wellbeing
Health and safety received Outstanding across all four phases - the highest KHDA grade. Wellbeing provision was rated Very Good, underpinned by extensive documentation, regular surveys and a committed pastoral team. The school's arrangements for child protection are applied rigorously.
Exceptional Parent & Community Engagement
Parents and the Community received an Outstanding rating - rare at any Dubai school. The parent association is actively involved in governance and school events, and the self-evaluation process involves genuine teamwork between principal, senior leaders, parents and governors.
Strong Personal & Social Development
Students' personal development and understanding of Islamic values and Emirati culture are rated Very Good across all phases. The DSIB report highlights students' highly developed personal and social skills and their application of Islamic principles in daily life as a key school strength.
Post-16 Curriculum Needs Strengthening
Curriculum design and adaptation at Post-16 dropped to Good (compared to Very Good in lower phases), reflecting the relative immaturity of the Sixth Form. Inspectors specifically recommended strengthening the design, implementation and adaptation of the curriculum in the growing post-16 phase.
Complex SEND Needs Not Fully Met
While identification of students of determination is accurate, a small number of students with more complex learning needs do not yet have their needs fully met. Inspectors recommended providing high-quality provision for students with more complex needs and better equipping teachers and assistants to meet the widening range.
Inspection History
2023-2024
Good
2022-2023
Good
2019-2020
Good
2018-2019
Good
Fees & Value for Money
The International School of Creative Science (ISCS) Nad Al Sheba offers a UK National Curriculum education across Foundation Stage through to Year 13, with annual tuition fees ranging from AED 34,287 for FS1 and FS2 to AED 65,504 for Years 12 and 13. The fee structure reflects the school's phased approach, with Primary years (1–3) at AED 38,381, upper Primary (Years 4–6) at AED 45,034, Secondary (Years 7–9) at AED 53,734, and GCSE years (10–11) at AED 59,875, providing a clear and transparent progression of fees as students advance through the school.
AED 34,287
Annual Fees From
AED 65,504
Annual Fees To
Year / GradeAnnual Fee
FS 1
AED 34,287FS 2
AED 34,287Year 1
AED 38,381Year 2
AED 38,381Year 3
AED 38,381Year 4
AED 45,034Year 5
AED 45,034Year 6
AED 45,034Year 7
AED 53,734Year 8
AED 53,734Year 9
AED 53,734Year 10
AED 59,875Year 11
AED 59,875Year 12
AED 65,504Year 13
AED 65,504ISCS Nad Al Sheba has been rated Good by KHDA in its most recent 2023–2024 inspection, with Outstanding ratings for health and safety and parent/community engagement. The school's unique combination of the UK curriculum with a strong Islamic values framework, Quran memorisation programme, and MOE subjects in Arabic, Islamic Education, and Social Studies represents strong value for families seeking faith-rooted academic excellence. The average annual fee across all year groups is approximately AED 48,159, positioning the school competitively within Dubai's mid-to-upper private school market.
Prospective families are encouraged to contact the school directly for information on any additional costs such as transport, uniforms, books, and registration fees, as these are not explicitly detailed in the publicly available fee schedule. The KHDA Fees Fact Sheet is listed as available through the school's official KHDA profile for further detail.
The Final Verdict: Who Is This School For?
ISCS Nad Al Sheba is a school with a clear and coherent identity - and that clarity is both its greatest strength and its natural filter. It has built a genuinely distinctive model: a rigorous British curriculum delivered by predominantly UK-trained teachers, integrated with a values-based Islamic education framework that is not peripheral but central. The Quran Memorisation programme, the Virtues Curriculum, the Outstanding KHDA rating for parent engagement, and the consistent Good across four inspection cycles all tell a coherent story. For families who want their children to achieve academically in a British curriculum framework while also developing a strong Islamic identity and moral compass, this school is a compelling choice at a fee level that is meaningfully lower than its most prestigious neighbours.
The school is not without its limitations. The post-16 curriculum is still maturing and inspectors have specifically flagged it. SEND provision for students with complex needs requires strengthening. Critical thinking development - a perennial challenge in the DSIB reports - has not yet been fully embedded. And the school does not publish comprehensive exam results, which makes it difficult for parents to benchmark student outcomes rigorously. These are honest gaps in an otherwise solid picture. Families making a Dubai education decision based on this school should visit the campus, ask specifically about post-16 subject breadth, and probe the school's IGCSE and A-level results in detail before committing.
THE “RIGHT FIT”
Muslim families - particularly Emirati and Arab expatriate families - seeking a British curriculum school where Islamic values, Quran studies and academic rigour are genuinely integrated, at a fee point that is accessible relative to premium British curriculum competitors in Dubai.
THE “WRONG FIT”
Families primarily seeking a secular British curriculum experience, those with children who have complex SEND needs requiring highly specialist provision, or families for whom transparency of published exam results and university destinations is a non-negotiable admissions criterion.
“
We looked at several British schools in Dubai, but ISCS was the only one where the Islamic values felt genuinely woven into the school day - not an afterthought. The fees are fair, the teachers are British-trained, and our son has thrived here.
— Year 10 Parent
Strengths
- Unique integration of British curriculum with Islamic values and Quran memorisation
- Outstanding KHDA rating for health, safety and parent engagement
- Consistent Good KHDA rating across all four inspections since 2018
- Predominantly UK-trained teaching staff with stable 10% turnover
- Accessible fee range (AED 34K-65K) versus premium British curriculum peers
- Generous discounts including 25% for full Quran memorisation
- Very Good wellbeing provision and strong personal development outcomes
- Full FS1 to Year 13 pathway including Duke of Edinburgh and A-levels
Areas for Improvement
- Post-16 curriculum rated only Good and flagged for development by DSIB inspectors
- SEND provision for students with complex needs requires strengthening
- School does not publish comprehensive IGCSE or A-level results publicly
- Critical thinking development not yet consistently embedded across all subjects
- Single guidance counsellor for 1,657 students is a limited pastoral resource