Nord Anglia International School, Dubai

Nord Anglia International School Dubai follows the UK National Curriculum (EYFS through Year 11), with students sitting IGCSE examinations in Years 10 and 11. Post-16 provision is notably broad: NAS Dubai is one of a small number of schools in Dubai to offer three simultaneous Sixth Form pathways — A Levels, the IB Diploma Programme, and BTEC Level 3 — giving families genuine choice at the most consequential academic juncture. Languages of instruction are English, with Arabic and French offered as additional languages throughout the school.

Exam results for 2025 are competitive by any measure. At A Level, 40% of grades were A*–A and the A*–C pass rate reached 91%, both described by the school as significantly above UK averages. The IB Diploma pass rate is 100%, sustained annually, with the school reporting an above-average proportion of 40+ point scores against the global benchmark — though a precise average point score has not been published. At IGCSE, A–A* and A–B outcomes are described as well above UK averages for 2025, though specific percentage figures have not been disclosed. In international literacy assessment, the school recorded a PIRLS average score of 616, placing it at the High International Benchmark and exceeding its national target by 14 points.

The 2023–2024 KHDA inspection awarded NAS Dubai an Outstanding rating — the highest available — across every single quality indicator, including English, Mathematics, Science, Teaching, Assessment, Curriculum, Wellbeing, and Inclusion. Outstanding ratings were recorded in all four phases (Foundation Stage, Primary, Secondary, and Post-16) for attainment and progress in English, Mathematics, and Science. This places the school among only 23 of Dubai's 233 private schools to hold the Outstanding designation, and among 18 Outstanding-rated British curriculum schools in the city. The KHDA inspection specifically highlighted the school's creatively designed curriculum, high-quality teaching, and the welcoming Foundation Stage environment as key strengths.

What distinguishes NAS Dubai academically is the integration of its global network into everyday learning. Formal collaborations with MIT, The Juilliard School, and UNICEF are embedded into the curriculum rather than treated as peripheral enrichment. The NAS Music Academy, Enrichment Programme, and Languages Programme extend academic development beyond the timetable, while the school's membership of Nord Anglia Education's Global Campus connects students across 80+ schools worldwide. The school also enrols 320 students of determination, with Inclusion rated Outstanding by KHDA — a meaningful indicator for families with additional learning needs.

Inspectors and reviewers have identified areas where the programme can develop further. KHDA's two formal recommendations are to broaden the range of alternative curriculum pathways to serve a wider range of student interests and abilities, and to deepen students' knowledge of Emirati culture, heritage, and traditions through core subjects rather than solely through dedicated programmes. A third development area concerns Emirati students specifically: while their reading proficiency has improved, inspectors noted a remaining performance gap relative to other student groups that the school is expected to close. Arabic attainment across phases was rated only Acceptable — a consistent contrast to the Outstanding grades in English, Mathematics, and Science that parents should weigh carefully. University destination data has not been published, which limits direct comparison with peer schools on post-18 outcomes. [MISSING: specific IB average point score; IGCSE A*–A percentage; university placement statistics including Russell Group or Ivy League acceptance rates]