Philadelphia Private SchoolPrincipal & Leadership Team

Philadelphia Private School is led by Principal Dr. Nabil Afif Husni, who brings a formidable academic and professional pedigree to the role. Holding qualifications spanning BS in Chemical Engineering, MS in Mathematics, EDS and EDD in Education Leadership, Dr. Husni has over 30 years of experience as a teacher, leader, and educational consultant across institutions in the United States, Lebanon, the Middle East, and Turkey. He was appointed Principal on 1 March 2022 and is also the founder of the Peace Education Society, a non-profit promoting democracy, human rights, and conflict resolution. He was recognised by the Mediterranean Association of International Schools (MAIS) for outstanding contributions to International Education in November 2018. His leadership philosophy — centred on holistic education and student voice — is embedded in the school's culture and strategic direction.

The wider leadership team is experienced and stable. Vice Principal Ms. Hamah Sahawneh, who oversees Administrative Affairs and serves as Director of Academics in the High School, has been at PPS Dubai for over 15 years — a significant continuity signal in a sector where turnover is common. Vice Principal Mr. Sassine Sarkis, responsible for Academic Affairs, brings over 23 years of education experience and led the school's IB Diploma Programme authorisation process. Section directors for Pre-School, Elementary, Middle School, and High School Student Affairs complete a layered leadership structure that inspectors found to be functioning effectively.

Governance sits with a Board of Trustees appointed by Philadelphia Private School LLC, comprising between three and seven members with expertise across education, business, and public relations. The current Chairperson is Mr. Nashat Sahawneh, with Mr. Shukri Husni serving as Vice Chairperson and Executive Director. Board terms run for four years, indefinitely renewable. KHDA inspectors rated governance Good in the 2023–24 inspection, noting that governors are supportive and provide the necessary resources to advance student learning — a functional, if not exceptional, governance picture.

The 2023–24 KHDA inspection rated the effectiveness of leadership Good, with self-evaluation and improvement planning also rated Good — a meaningful step forward. Inspectors noted that the principal and school leaders have successfully guided improvement across significant aspects of provision, and that self-evaluation procedures are now more effective. The school's most striking leadership achievement is the trajectory itself: PPS Dubai held an Acceptable rating for ten consecutive inspection cycles before breaking through to Good in 2023–24 — a result that places it among the 22 Good-rated American curriculum schools in Dubai, out of 42 in total. Only one American curriculum school in Dubai holds a Very Good rating, and one holds Outstanding, so the competitive context is important: Good is a solid, mainstream result for this curriculum type.

The school employs 71 teachers serving 992 students, producing a student-teacher ratio of 1:15. This is slightly above the Dubai private school average of 1:13.6 across 204 schools with ratio data, meaning classes are marginally larger than the city norm — a factor worth considering, though not dramatically so. [MISSING: staff qualification percentage data — no breakdown of Masters-level or above qualifications provided in available sources.] Inspectors noted that teachers have good subject knowledge and that targeted professional training has improved teaching quality in Middle and High, though variability between subjects and phases remains an area for development. Parents and the community were rated Very Good — the highest sub-rating in the inspection — reflecting the school's open-door policy, active Parents Committee, and Advisory Board that includes student, alumni, and community representatives. This is a genuine strength, and one that parents considering the school should weigh positively.