Nord Anglia International School, Dubai
British School in Al Barsha 1, Dubai
Last updated
Curriculum
British / International Baccalaureate
KHDA
Outstanding
Location
Dubai, Al Barsha 1
Fees
AED 70K - 105K
The Executive Summary
Nord Anglia International School Dubai is one of the most ambitious all-through British international schools in the UAE, and among a small handful of Al Barsha schools to hold a consecutive Outstanding KHDA rating - most recently confirmed in the 2023-2024 DSIB inspection. The school follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) for younger students, progresses into the National Curriculum for England, and offers the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma alongside A Levels and BTEC for older students, ensuring a well-rounded global education. With 2,882 students drawn from over 90 nationalities, the school operates at genuine scale, and its collaborations with MIT, The Juilliard School, and UNICEF give it a genuinely distinctive curriculum edge that few Dubai private schools can match. School fees run from AED 69,625 to AED 105,288 annually, placing NAS Dubai firmly in the ultra-premium tier - a positioning that is largely justified by the breadth of provision and the consistency of its inspection record. For families seeking a rigorous, globally connected British education from FS1 through to Sixth Form, NAS Dubai is a compelling choice and a strong contender among the best international schools in Dubai education.
Outstanding KHDA 2023-2024MIT, Juilliard & UNICEF PartnershipsEYFS to Year 1390+ Nationalities
See how Nord Anglia International School compares across all 105 British schools in our Best British Schools in Dubai 2026 guide.
“We toured many schools before making our decision and no school came close in the tangible sense of community. Teachers are happy and students just as much. The academic results year upon year are consistently high.”
— Year 3 Parent(representative)Academic Framework & Learning Style
NAS Dubai delivers a coherent academic pathway from the play-based Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) in FS1 and FS2 through the National Curriculum for England in Primary and Secondary, culminating in IGCSE examinations at Year 11. The school then offers a genuine choice at Sixth Form: the IB Diploma Programme (IBDP), A Levels, or BTEC Level 3 qualifications, a breadth of post-16 pathways that is unusual even among Dubai's premium schools. The DSIB 2023-2024 inspection confirmed Outstanding attainment and progress in English, Mathematics and Science across all phases - from Foundation Stage through to Post-16 - a clean sweep that very few schools in Dubai can claim. In the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS), the school achieved an average score of 616, exceeding its target by 14 points at the High International Benchmark level, confirming that academic rigour is embedded from the earliest years.
The curriculum is enriched by a distinctive DICE programme (Design, Innovation, Computing, Enterprise) for Years 4 to 8, which takes a cross-curricular approach to creativity and entrepreneurship, and is supported by the school's MIT partnership for STEAM education. Languages are a particular strength: students choose from French, German, Mandarin and Spanish from Nursery through to Year 13, with Arabic compulsory for non-Arab passport holders to Year 10 and Arab passport holders to Year 12. A separate NAS Language Academy offers Hindi, Italian, Korean and Turkish to native speakers. The school introduced A Levels in 2021 following student demand, and the A Level pathway has proved more popular than the IBDP in recent examination cohorts. BTEC subjects including Business, Sport, Travel and Tourism and Information Technology were added from 2025-26, broadening provision further. Academic support for students of determination (320 students, approximately 11% of roll) is rated Outstanding by DSIB, with the school's inclusion provision praised as exemplary. Homework is optional up to Year 5, with structured minimums from Year 6 (3 hours per week) scaling up to Year 11 (7 hours per week), reflecting a gradual increase in academic expectation as students mature. University guidance is provided by a dedicated University Guidance and Counselling (UGC) team, with graduates regularly accepted into top-100 universities globally.
Outstanding
English, Maths & Science - All Phases
DSIB Inspection 2023-2024
616
PIRLS Average Score
High International Benchmark, 14 points above target
320
Students of Determination
11% of roll, DSIB-rated Outstanding for inclusion
130+
IB-Trained Teachers
Able to teach across all school phases
Extracurricular Activities (ECAs)
NAS Dubai's enrichment offer is one of its most compelling selling points. The school's Enrichment Activities Programme runs over 100 activities across all phases each term, spanning academic clubs, creative arts, languages, sports and community service. The programme is deliberately refreshed each term to reflect student interests, and includes both school-run and externally provided activities, giving families considerable choice. In sport, the school competes across DASSA (Dubai Affiliated Schools Sports Association) leagues in football, rugby, netball, cricket, rounders, Aquathon, athletics, basketball and swimming, with the PE department proud to log over 500 competitive fixtures per year from Year 3 to Year 13. NAS Dubai has been recognised with the UAE Sports Teen Award for Best Sport and Fittest School, a meaningful external validation of the programme's depth.
Performing arts is a genuine strength, underpinned by the school's formal collaboration with The Juilliard School of New York. Students from age three through to Sixth Form experience dance, drama and music as curriculum subjects, with recent productions including Oliver, Grease, Hairspray, The Jungle Book and Aladdin. The NAS Dubai Music Academy offers one-to-one tuition in over 15 instruments plus voice, led by a Royal College of Music-trained director who also serves as Artistic Director of Music in the Studio at Dubai Opera. Secondary students can pursue the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award, chess, drama, choir and fitness clubs. Global expeditions are a hallmark of the NAS experience: trips to Cambodia, Japan, the US, Oman, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Thailand and Nepal are offered, alongside the flagship NAE Tanzania expedition. The school incorporates the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals into learning across all phases, with students participating in the UNICEF Global Challenge and leading local community service projects supporting Dubai Cares and The Little Wings Foundation.
100+
Enrichment Activities Per Term
Across all phases, refreshed each term
500+
Competitive Sports Fixtures Per Year
Year 3 to Year 13, DASSA leagues
100+ ECAs Per TermJuilliard Performing Arts CollaborationNAS Music AcademyDuke of Edinburgh AwardUAE Best Sport School AwardUNICEF Global Challenge
Pastoral Care & Well-being
Pastoral care at NAS Dubai is rated Outstanding by DSIB, and the school's wellbeing architecture is one of the most developed in Dubai's private school sector. The DSIB 2023-2024 inspection confirmed that the overall quality of wellbeing provision and outcomes is at an outstanding level, with inspectors specifically noting the governing board's and senior staff's inspirational leadership and high levels of commitment to wellbeing. The school operates a structured tutor system in Secondary, with students spending 40 minutes each day with their tutor group - one of the longest daily tutor times in Dubai - designed to build holistic profiles of each student and deepen staff-student relationships. The aspiration is that every child has at least three adults or older student mentors they feel comfortable approaching for support.
Sixth Form students are trained as Peer Listeners under the guidance of a qualified psychologist, connecting them with Year 7 and 8 students in a structured mentoring relationship. Student wellbeing champions and Post-16 wellbeing ambassadors serve as role models across the school. The school operates a house system (Falcons, Scorpions, Vipers and Leopards), fostering community and healthy competition through sporting and academic events. Safeguarding procedures are described by DSIB as thorough, supported by clear policies and appropriate staff training. The school has a no-phone policy for all students, reflecting a proactive approach to digital wellbeing. The parent-run Chatterbox Cafe and a class representative system led by parent volunteers strengthen the sense of community. DSIB's single development recommendation in this area was to extend opportunities for student wellbeing committee members to take an even greater role in student-led initiatives - a sign of ambition rather than weakness.
“What I love about this school is that this is a place where every child has the right to be absolutely who he or she is. That individuality is truly respected here.”
— Secondary Parent(representative)Campus & Facilities
NAS Dubai's campus in Al Barsha 3, opened in 2014, is a modern, purpose-built facility that has expanded significantly with a new five-storey Secondary extension completed ahead of the 2024-25 academic year. The full campus now stretches approximately 1 kilometre from end to end, making it one of the largest school footprints in the Al Barsha area. The architecture is a clean, modern L-shaped block with large rectangular windows, skylights over the reception atrium, and primary-coloured design accents. The campus is centrally located in Al Barsha, 5 minutes from Sheikh Zayed Road and directly off Hessa Street, accessible from Mohammed Bin Zayed Road (E311), making it convenient for families in Al Barsha, Jumeirah Village Circle, Motor City, Arabian Ranches and the wider Al Barsha corridor.
Facilities include a dedicated EYFS Centre with an internal playground accessible directly from all early years classrooms, two learner swimming pools, and dedicated outdoor play areas for Year 1 and Years 2-6 respectively. The campus features a dance studio, multi-purpose sports hall, specialist DT, Art, Music and Food Technology rooms, a Sixth Form Centre with social and quiet study spaces, and an Innovation Hub equipped with 3D printers, robotics, digital design tools, power tools, a recording studio and a hydroponic farming space. All classrooms are fitted with interactive whiteboards and wireless broadcasting facilities. The school also has a Performing Arts space in the extended building that can be divided into a Black Box performance space. Parking remains an acknowledged limitation - there is no formal car park, with parents using the sand area adjacent to the school, a point noted by both the school and parents. The campus location is also surrounded by ongoing residential development in Al Barsha, which can contribute to traffic congestion at drop-off and pick-up times.
1km
Campus End-to-End Footprint
Following 5-storey Secondary extension, 2024
2014
Year Campus Opened
Al Barsha 3, Dubai
Innovation Hub with 3D PrintersDedicated EYFS Centre2 Learner Swimming PoolsBlack Box Performing Arts SpaceInteractive Whiteboards All ClassroomsHydroponic Farming Space
Teaching & Learning Quality
Teaching quality at NAS Dubai is rated Outstanding across all phases by DSIB in 2023-2024 - a clean sweep from Foundation Stage through to Post-16 that is rare in Dubai's competitive school landscape. The inspection report specifically highlights that teaching in FS is exceptionally responsive to the needs of children, and that this quality is sustained consistently across the school. Assessment is also rated Outstanding in every phase, with inspectors noting the effective use of accurate assessment data to plan lessons carefully matched to students' learning needs.
All teachers hold a minimum university degree and a UK teaching qualification (PGCE), and the school requires a minimum of three years' teaching experience. The school employs 250 teachers and 131 teaching assistants, giving a headline teacher-to-student ratio of approximately 1:11 with class sizes of around 22. In Early Years, each class of 20 is supported by one teacher and two teaching assistants. The school's teacher retention rate is approximately 12% annual turnover (or roughly 88% retention year-on-year), which is notably stable for Dubai, where teacher churn at many schools can exceed 20-25%. The majority of teachers are British, with additional staff from Australia, Canada, the USA, South Africa and other countries, bringing genuine international perspective to the classroom. Over 130 teachers are IB-trained, enabling seamless delivery across the full EYFS-to-IB pathway. Nord Anglia Education operates its own Nord Anglia University, offering a Master's Degree in International Education, and teachers are actively encouraged to pursue this qualification - a meaningful investment in professional development that directly benefits students. Pedagogical approach is inquiry-based and student-centred, with DSIB noting that high-quality interactions and discussions between students and teachers are a feature of Secondary and Post-16 learning. Technology is integrated throughout, with AI used in classes to enrich learning and foster critical thinking, alongside a responsible use framework and a school-wide no-phone policy.
1:11
Teacher-to-Student Ratio
250 teachers, 2,882 students
~12%
Annual Teacher Turnover
Among the lowest in Dubai's private school sector
130+
IB-Trained Teachers
Covering all school phases FS1 to Year 13
Leadership & Management
NAS Dubai's leadership is rated Outstanding across all sub-categories in the DSIB 2023-2024 inspection, including the effectiveness of leadership, self-evaluation and improvement planning, parent and community engagement, governance, and management of staffing, facilities and resources. The school is owned and operated by Nord Anglia Education, a for-profit group of over 80 premium international schools headquartered in London, with its UAE schools including the British International School Abu Dhabi and Nord Anglia International School Abu Dhabi.
The school's current principal, Matthew Benjamin Farthing, has led NAS Dubai since September 2016, having previously served as Founding Headmaster of Harrow International School Beijing and Principal of BIS Bratislava. His tenure has overseen the school's growth from a new opening to a 2,882-student institution with an Outstanding DSIB rating. The school's website confirms that Kenny Duncan has been appointed as incoming Principal for the 2025-26 academic year, transitioning from the role of Principal at Nord Anglia's Hong Kong school. Mr Duncan holds a Master's degree in Education from the University of Bath and the UK's NPQH (National Professional Qualification for Headship). Communication with parents is structured around an open-door policy, regular contact with teaching staff, town hall meetings with the Senior Leadership Team, and parent workshops. The volunteer-run Chatterbox Cafe and a class representative system supported by parent volunteers provide additional community touchpoints. The school's governance structure includes a corporate board and an advisory council, both of which are rated Outstanding by DSIB for their contribution to the school's direction and performance. DSIB noted that senior leaders have successfully managed significant growth while ensuring continuity in the high quality of provision - a genuine leadership achievement given the school's rapid expansion.
KHDA Inspection Results (Decoded)
The DSIB 2023-2024 inspection awarded NAS Dubai an overall Outstanding rating - the highest grade available - continuing a trajectory of improvement from Good (2016-2017) through Very Good (2017-2020) to Outstanding (2022-2023 and 2023-2024). In plain terms, this is a school that has not only reached the top rating but has sustained it across consecutive inspection cycles, which is a meaningful distinction. The inspection covered 08-12 January 2024 and assessed all phases from Foundation Stage to Post-16.
In the core curriculum subjects, the results are exceptional: Outstanding attainment and progress in English, Mathematics and Science across every single phase - FS, Primary, Secondary and Post-16. This is the strongest possible outcome and places NAS Dubai among the highest-performing schools in Dubai education. Learning skills are also Outstanding in every phase. The school's wellbeing provision was rated Outstanding, with inspectors noting the inspirational leadership commitment to student and staff wellbeing. Inclusion provision for students of determination is rated Outstanding, with 320 students (approximately 11% of the school roll) receiving high-quality support.
The two DSIB recommendations are constructive rather than critical. First, the school is asked to explore opportunities to extend students' knowledge of Emirati culture, heritage and traditions through core subjects - a common recommendation for international schools in Dubai. Second, inspectors recommend broadening alternative curriculum pathways to cater for a wider range of students' interests and abilities - a recommendation the school is actively addressing through its expansion of BTEC offerings and the introduction of Level 2 and 3 qualifications from 2025-26. Arabic results represent the school's one area of relative underperformance: attainment in Arabic as a first language is Acceptable across all phases, though progress is Good in Primary and Post-16. This is a transparent and honest reflection of the challenges faced by an overwhelmingly non-Arabic-speaking student body.
Outstanding Core Subject Achievement
English, Mathematics and Science all rated Outstanding for both attainment and progress across every phase from Foundation Stage to Post-16 - a clean sweep that is rare in Dubai's private school sector.
Exemplary Wellbeing & Inclusion Provision
Wellbeing provision and outcomes rated Outstanding, with 320 students of determination receiving high-quality support. Inspectors praised the inspirational leadership commitment to wellbeing across the whole school community.
Outstanding Leadership & Governance
All six leadership sub-categories rated Outstanding, including self-evaluation, parent engagement and governance. DSIB specifically commended leaders for successfully managing significant growth while maintaining quality.
Emirati Culture Integration in Core Subjects
DSIB recommends exploring further opportunities to extend students' knowledge and understanding of Emirati culture, heritage and traditions through core curriculum subjects, rather than limiting this to dedicated SMCS lessons.
Broadening Alternative Curriculum Pathways
Inspectors noted that the current range of curriculum pathways is not yet entirely suitable for students of all abilities and interests, recommending a broader range of options - a gap the school is addressing with expanded BTEC provision.
Inspection History
2023-2024
Outstanding
2022-2023
Outstanding
2019-2020
Very Good
2018-2019
Very Good
2017-2018
Very Good
2016-2017
Good
Fees & Value for Money
Nord Anglia International School (NAS) Dubai offers a British curriculum education from Foundation Stage 1 through to Year 13, with tuition fees for the 2025–26 academic year ranging from AED 69,625 for Foundation Stage to AED 105,288 for Sixth Form (Years 12–13). These fees reflect the school's position as an Outstanding-rated institution (KHDA 2023–24) and are in line with premium British international schools in Dubai. The fee structure is tiered across four phases — Foundation, Primary, Secondary, and Post-16 — with incremental increases as students progress through the school.
AED 69,625
Annual Fees From
AED 105,288
Annual Fees To
Year / GradeAnnual Fee
FS1
AED 69,625FS2
AED 69,625Year 1
AED 81,228Year 2
AED 81,228Year 3
AED 87,030Year 4
AED 87,030Year 5
AED 87,030Year 6
AED 87,030Year 7
AED 92,832Year 8
AED 92,832Year 9
AED 92,832Year 10
AED 99,794Year 11
AED 99,794Year 12
AED 105,288Year 13
AED 105,288The tuition fees at NAS Dubai cover access to state-of-the-art facilities, a stimulating learning environment, and many extra-curricular activities. Fees also include participation in Nord Anglia Education's exclusive global collaborations with world-renowned institutions such as MIT, The Juilliard School, and UNICEF, which enrich the academic and personal development of every student. An application fee of AED 525 per child and a one-off registration fee of AED 5,000 are required to secure a place.
Tuition fees are payable in three instalments per academic year, with Term 1 carrying a higher proportion (approximately 40%) and Terms 2 and 3 split equally. Parents should note that the fees listed are for tuition only; additional costs such as transport, uniforms, and examination fees may apply separately. NAS Dubai accepts applications throughout the school year, and prospective families are encouraged to contact the Admissions team for further guidance.
Additional Costs
Application Fee525(one-time)
Registration Fee5000(one-time)
The Final Verdict: Who Is This School For?
NAS Dubai is one of Dubai's most complete all-through international schools. The combination of two consecutive Outstanding DSIB ratings, genuinely exceptional academic results across every phase and subject, a rich curriculum enriched by world-class institutional partnerships, and a teacher retention rate that speaks to a well-run organisation makes a powerful case. At AED 69,625 to AED 105,288 per year, this is unambiguously a premium investment - but one that is backed by evidence rather than marketing. The school's scale (nearly 3,000 students) is a double-edged sword: the breadth of provision it enables is extraordinary, but some parents have noted that rapid growth has created pressures on the sense of personalisation that was the school's founding promise. Families considering NAS Dubai should visit in person, ask specific questions about class sizes in their child's year group, and satisfy themselves that the school's high-commitment culture - longer school days, structured homework expectations from Year 6, and a demanding enrichment programme - is the right fit for their family's lifestyle and their child's temperament.
The incoming principal Kenny Duncan, joining from Nord Anglia Hong Kong for 2025-26, represents both continuity and fresh energy. His track record in an equally demanding international context is reassuring, and his appointment from within the Nord Anglia family signals strategic stability. For families who are relocating to Dubai and want a school that will feel genuinely familiar to those coming from the UK independent sector - rigorous, warm, internationally minded and deeply committed to each child's development - NAS Dubai is a very strong recommendation.
THE “RIGHT FIT”
Academically ambitious families from the UK and international backgrounds who want a proven British curriculum pathway from age 3 to 18, with genuine Sixth Form choice (IB, A Levels or BTEC), world-class enrichment partnerships, and a school community that demands and rewards active engagement from both students and parents.
THE “WRONG FIT”
Families seeking a lower-pressure environment, those for whom the ultra-premium fee level is a stretch without strong value certainty, students with significant Arabic language learning needs (where attainment results are Acceptable rather than Outstanding), or families who prefer a smaller, more intimate school community.
“
Outstanding school. Outstanding educators! Strength: transparency, inclusion, commitment, child's general well-being, educational level, communication, educators of the highest caliber, happy community.
— Year 7 Parent
Strengths
- Consecutive Outstanding DSIB ratings in 2022-23 and 2023-24
- Outstanding English, Maths and Science results across every single phase
- Unique curriculum partnerships with MIT, The Juilliard School and UNICEF
- Genuine Sixth Form choice: IB Diploma, A Levels and BTEC
- Among the lowest teacher turnover rates in Dubai at approximately 12%
- 100+ ECAs per term plus 500+ competitive sports fixtures annually
- Outstanding inclusion provision for 320 students of determination
- Strong university guidance with graduates accepted to top-100 universities globally
Areas for Improvement
- Ultra-premium fees (AED 69,625-105,288) without a published scholarship or bursary programme
- Arabic attainment rated only Acceptable across all phases - a gap for Arabic-language learners
- No formal car park; traffic congestion at drop-off and pick-up is an acknowledged issue
- Rapid growth to nearly 3,000 students has raised parent concerns about personalisation at scale
- Alternative curriculum pathways not yet fully developed for all student abilities (DSIB recommendation)