The Indian High School, Dubai
Indian School in Oud Metha, Dubai
Last updated
Curriculum
Indian
KHDA
Very Good
Location
Dubai, Oud Metha
Fees
AED 6K - 10K
The Executive Summary
The Indian High School Dubai, located on Oud Metha Road near the Oud Metha Metro Station, is one of the most consequential schools in Dubai's Indian community - a KHDA rating Very Good institution that has served the city since 1972 and currently educates over 5,300 students from Grade 5 to Grade 12. The school follows the CBSE curriculum Dubai parents know and trust, offering a structured, academically rigorous pathway that culminates in nationally recognised board examinations. Among Oud Metha schools, it stands apart for sheer scale, community loyalty, and an extraordinary value proposition: school fees Dubai families will find almost impossible to match at this quality level, ranging from AED 5,525 in Grade 5 to AED 10,465 in Grade 12. The DSIB inspection team has rated the school Very Good for six consecutive inspection cycles, with Outstanding sub-ratings in science attainment, curriculum design, personal development, and safeguarding - a performance profile that signals genuine institutional strength rather than a school simply coasting on its reputation.
KHDA Very Good 2023-24CBSE Board Curriculum5,300+ StudentsAED 5,525 Entry FeeOutstanding Science
“The teachers genuinely care about every child here - no issue is too small to bring to them, and the value for money is unlike anything else in Dubai. My child is challenged, happy, and in safe hands.”
— Grade 9 Parent, Oud Metha Campus(representative)Academic Framework & Learning Style
The Indian High School operates on the CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) framework, supplemented by UAE Ministry of Education requirements including Arabic, Islamic Education, UAE Social Studies, and Moral Education. The school covers Grades 5 through 12 at the Oud Metha campus, with the middle school (Grades 5 to 8) building foundational academic and life skills through a customised curriculum, before students transition into the formal CBSE secondary track from Grade 9. At the senior secondary level (Grades 11 and 12), students choose from 21 elective subject combinations across Science, Commerce, and Humanities streams, supported by dedicated career guidance and counselling sessions. The DSIB 2023-24 inspection confirmed that curriculum design is rated Outstanding in both middle and secondary phases - the highest possible sub-rating - reflecting the school's commitment to relevance, innovation, and cross-curricular depth. Optional subjects including French, Computer Applications, and Artificial Intelligence are available from Grade 8 onwards, giving students meaningful breadth beyond the core CBSE syllabus.
In terms of academic outcomes, the DSIB inspection data tells a compelling story. Science attainment is Outstanding in both middle and secondary phases - a rare double Outstanding that places IHS among the strongest science schools in Dubai's Indian curriculum sector. English attainment in secondary is also rated Outstanding, with very good performance in the middle phase. Mathematics attainment and progress are rated Very Good across both phases. The school publishes its top performers on its website: Grade 10 school toppers achieved scores of 99.8% and 99.2%, while Grade 12 Science stream toppers reached 98.2% and 97.8% - figures that reflect genuine academic rigour at the upper end. The school uses a suite of external benchmarking tools including ISA, NGRT, ABT, CAT4, and CBSE board examinations to track progress against both national and international standards. A skills tracking test is conducted for all students across all subjects. The DSIB noted that international assessment data shows improvements in mathematics scores between cycles, with sustained outstanding and very good attainment in English and science. Assessment systems are rated Very Good, described by inspectors as rigorous, varied, and comprehensive - with self- and peer-assessment, written feedback, and item analysis of examination results all embedded in standard practice. One area of honest concern: the school does not publish aggregate exam results or pass-rate data, making it difficult for prospective parents to assess performance across the full student cohort rather than just the top tier. For students with additional learning needs, 220 students of determination are supported through personalised plans, with inclusion rated Very Good overall.
Outstanding
Science Attainment (Middle & Secondary)
DSIB Inspection 2023-24 - highest possible rating
Outstanding
Secondary English Attainment
DSIB Inspection 2023-24
99.8%
Top Grade 10 Score (School Topper)
Mohammed Fadil, published on school website
21
Elective Subject Combinations at Senior Secondary
Science, Commerce and Humanities streams
220
Students of Determination
Supported through personalised learning plans
Extracurricular Activities (ECAs)
The Indian High School's extracurricular programme is one of its most visible strengths, and the DSIB inspection team specifically cited it as a highlight: "A wide range of social, cultural, scientific and sporting activities allows students to extend their learning." The school's approach to co-curricular life is deliberately integrated with its academic mission - activities are not bolt-ons but are treated as essential to developing the whole student.
In sports, the school has demonstrated competitive excellence at CBSE cluster level. Recent achievements include three medals at the CBSE UAE Cluster Chess Championship 2024, silver at the CBSE Cluster Football Championship 2024 (Girls U-19), and three awards at the CBSE Cluster Badminton Championship 2024. The indoor sports complex is two storeys and air-conditioned, supporting table tennis, badminton, volleyball, and yoga alongside the outdoor football field, cricket practice pitch, and basketball courts. Physical Education and Games periods are timetabled weekly.
In the performing arts and media space, the school operates a student-run Recess Radio - a genuinely distinctive initiative described as an in-house entertainment channel that broadcasts news, interviews, and reviews during break time, building public speaking and creative skills. The school's auditorium - a large, fully air-conditioned venue with professional sound and lighting systems - hosts plays, assemblies, and competitions. Music provision includes a well-equipped music room with guitars, keyboards, and drum sets. The school also runs student publications written and edited by students themselves.
In innovation and technology, the Future Forward Leeway Lab stands out as a genuinely impressive facility: equipped with 3D printers, Raspberry Pi and Arduino microcontrollers, a CNC router, F1 racetrack, wind tunnel, and 4x4 in Schools Technology Challenge kits. This is not cosmetic tech - it is curriculum-integrated, with the middle school Computer Science programme redesigned around digital citizenship and computational thinking. The school's group won three awards at the Middle East Enterprise AI and Analytics Summit 2024, signalling that its technology ambitions are being taken seriously at a regional level. Community service and sustainability projects are embedded throughout: students have participated in the "Charity for Honesty" fundraising initiative and sustainability assemblies focused on the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Career guidance, entrepreneurship activities, and leadership development are explicitly noted by DSIB as strengths at the secondary level.
3 Awards
Middle East Enterprise AI & Analytics Summit 2024
Won by The Indian High Group of Schools
Student-Run Recess RadioCBSE Cluster ChampionsFuture Forward Leeway LabAI Summit Award WinnersF1 in Schools Facility
Pastoral Care & Well-being
Pastoral care at The Indian High School is one of the institution's most consistently praised dimensions - rated Outstanding by DSIB in both health and safety and care and support across middle and secondary phases. The 2023-24 inspection found that "very strong relationships between students and members of staff permeate all aspects of school life" and that the school's "highly positive and caring ethos" underpins effective arrangements for attendance and behaviour. Student behaviour is described by inspectors as exceptional - students are respectful, empathetic, and self-disciplined to a degree that inspectors highlighted as a key strength.
The school operates a structured wellbeing framework rated Very Good by DSIB, with a dedicated wellbeing leader overseeing a team that includes 11 guidance counsellors, student wellbeing champions, and wellbeing managers. Thrive lessons are embedded in the timetable to help students understand and articulate their emotions. Students can access support through QR code reporting systems or direct conversations with wellbeing managers - a practical, low-barrier approach that reflects genuine institutional commitment rather than box-ticking. The school's Medical and Wellness Centre is staffed by qualified doctors and nurses in line with DHA guidelines, and students are actively encouraged to use it.
On safeguarding, the school holds an Outstanding rating. A zero-tolerance anti-bullying policy with clearly defined procedures is in place, and cyber security measures protect students from social media abuse. Regular fire drills, frequent safety checks, and accurate incident records are all confirmed by DSIB. The school gathers data from internal surveys to identify individual and whole-school wellbeing priorities - though DSIB noted that incorporating external wellbeing surveys would strengthen this evidence base further. Communication with parents on wellbeing matters is described as very effective, with rapid feedback channels established. The result is a school where students report feeling safe, valued, and respected - and where staff morale and retention are notably high.
“The school has a real family feeling - staff know the children individually and the wellbeing team is genuinely responsive. My child has never felt unsafe or unsupported here.”
— Grade 7 Parent, Oud Metha Campus(representative)Campus & Facilities
The Indian High School's Oud Metha campus is a well-established urban site on Oud Metha Road, within walking distance of the Oud Metha Metro Station - a genuinely practical location for families across central Dubai, with easy access from Bur Dubai, Karama, Umm Hurair, and Healthcare City. The campus has been continuously developed since its founding in 1972, and a significant expansion added a new three-storey block with 44 new classrooms, laboratories, special activity rooms, and a happiness tent, representing approximately 60,000 square feet of additional space. This expansion has allowed the school to reduce its historically long waiting list and accommodate more of the demand that consistently outstrips supply.
Key facilities include multiple science laboratories staffed by well-qualified lab assistants who maintain equipment to health and safety standards. The library holds approximately 30,000 books across 500 to 550 titles, with access to e-books, newspapers, and magazines - though DSIB has recommended that library resources be more actively deployed for varied learning opportunities. The Future Forward Leeway Lab - the school's technology and innovation facility - is equipped with 3D printers, CNC router, F1 racetrack, wind tunnel, Raspberry Pi and Arduino boards, making it one of the more genuinely functional maker spaces among Dubai's Indian curriculum schools. The auditorium is a large, fully air-conditioned venue with a professional stage, large screen projector, state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems, and a soundproof control room - a facility that would not look out of place in a school charging three times the fee. A dedicated music room is equipped with guitars, keyboards, and drum sets. The two-storey indoor sports complex is air-conditioned and supports table tennis, badminton, volleyball, and yoga, complemented by an outdoor football field, cricket practice pitch, basketball courts, and multiple shaded open spaces. A Medical and Wellness Centre staffed by DHA-compliant doctors and nurses serves the entire campus. The school operates a fleet of buses for student transport across the city. One honest note: the campus is an older building and some parents have noted that the physical environment, while functional, lacks the visual polish of newer Dubai school campuses.
60,000 sq ft
New Campus Expansion
Three-storey block with 44 classrooms and labs
30,000
Books in School Library
Plus e-books, newspapers and magazines
Metro Station Access30,000-Book LibraryF1 in Schools LabAir-Conditioned Sports ComplexProfessional AuditoriumDHA-Compliant Medical Centre
Teaching & Learning Quality
Teaching quality at The Indian High School is rated Very Good by DSIB in both middle and secondary phases - a solid and consistent finding across multiple inspection cycles. The inspection report notes that most teachers demonstrate thorough knowledge of their subjects and how students learn, with particularly strong teaching observed in Islamic Education, English, mathematics, and science. Teachers are described as preparing lessons carefully, with lesson plans containing differentiation strategies and appropriate use of assessment data. Classroom climates are positive: students feel respected and valued, and collaborative, inquiry-based activities are standard rather than exceptional.
The school's teacher-to-student ratio is approximately 1:17 (317 teachers to 5,309 students), which is on the higher end for a CBSE school in Dubai but broadly in line with the economics of the fee point. The school employs only 3 teaching assistants for its entire student body - a figure that is notably low, particularly given the 220 students of determination who require additional in-class support. This is a structural constraint worth noting for parents of children with learning needs. Teacher nationality is predominantly Indian, reflecting the CBSE curriculum context and the school's community base.
On teacher retention, the school demonstrates strong staff morale: DSIB noted that "there are high levels of morale and staff retention" and that "teachers believe that their contributions are valued." The school provides 18 hours of CPD and INSET training annually within the school, with professional development described as ongoing. Assessment practices are rigorous and varied - self-assessment, peer assessment, written feedback with next-step guidance, and robust item analysis of external examination results are all embedded in standard practice. The DSIB's key recommendation on teaching is pointed: the school should focus on ensuring that outstanding practices are implemented in all grades and subjects, not just the strongest departments - indicating that quality remains somewhat uneven across the full staff body. A small number of teachers are noted as insufficiently challenging high-attaining students, particularly in the middle phase.
1:17
Teacher-to-Student Ratio
317 teachers to 5,309 students
3
Teaching Assistants
Notably low for a school with 220 students of determination
18 hrs
Annual CPD Training per Teacher
In-school INSET and professional development
Leadership & Management
Leadership at The Indian High School is rated Very Good by DSIB, with the inspection team noting that "leaders at all levels, inspired by the principal, set a very clear direction." Principal Mala Mehra, appointed on 7 July 2022, leads the Oud Metha campus. Under her leadership, the school has maintained its Very Good rating and continued to develop its strategic improvement planning. The DSIB found that school self-evaluation and improvement planning are Very Good, with coherent and realistic plans and an ambitious vision - cited explicitly as a highlight of the school's performance.
The school is part of The Indian High Group of Schools, which operates the Oud Metha senior campus (Grades 5-12), the Garhoud junior campus (KG to Grade 4), and the newer Indian International School in Silicon Oasis. This group structure provides economies of scale that directly enable the school's exceptional fee affordability. Governance is rated Very Good by DSIB, with governors described as keen for all students to achieve the best possible outcomes and as fulfilling all statutory requirements. The inclusion governor role exists but DSIB noted it has yet to monitor provision directly - a gap worth watching.
Parent engagement is rated Outstanding by DSIB - the highest possible sub-rating in the leadership domain. Parents are described as empowered partners in promoting their children's wellbeing, with very effective communication channels established. The school operates a Parent's Association that contributes to day-to-day school life, and regular parenting talks are run by the school. Individual class teachers are described as readily accessible to parents. The school's admissions process is structured: applicants submit an online form and documents, sit an eligibility test, and receive an offer letter before paying fees and completing KHDA registration. For 2026-27, the school is processing registrations for Grade 7, Grade 9, and Grade 11 only, with waiting lists operating for other grades - a telling indicator of how consistently oversubscribed this school remains.
KHDA Inspection Results (Decoded)
The DSIB 2023-24 inspection awarded The Indian High School an overall rating of Very Good - a rating it has now held for six consecutive inspection cycles (2017-18 through 2023-24). Before that, the school held an Outstanding rating for five consecutive years from 2011-12 to 2015-16. The trajectory is therefore one of a school that stepped down from its peak but has stabilised at a strong and consistent level. The 2023-24 report is notably positive in tone, with multiple Outstanding sub-ratings and clear evidence of improvement across the school.
The inspection framework evaluates students' outcomes, provision for learners, and leadership and management. In outcomes, the standout finding is Outstanding science attainment in both phases - a genuine differentiator for a CBSE school. Secondary English attainment is also Outstanding. Mathematics is Very Good across the board. Personal and social development, understanding of Islamic values and world cultures, and social responsibility and innovation skills are all rated Outstanding in both middle and secondary phases - a remarkable clean sweep of the personal development domain. Curriculum design and implementation is Outstanding in both phases. Health, safety, and care and support are Outstanding in both phases. Parent engagement is Outstanding. These are not marginal Very Good ratings - this is a school with a substantial Outstanding footprint within its overall Very Good classification.
The DSIB's key recommendations focus on two areas: first, ensuring that outstanding teaching practices are implemented across all grades and subjects - not just the strongest departments - indicating that teaching quality remains somewhat uneven. Second, ensuring that library and laboratory resources are more actively deployed for varied learning opportunities. The wellbeing focus area was rated Very Good overall, with the recommendation to incorporate external wellbeing surveys alongside internal ones. The National Agenda Parameters assessment was also rated Very Good, with recommendations to increase reading literacy opportunities in mathematics and provide more open-ended enquiry in English lessons.
Outstanding Science Across Both Phases
Science attainment is rated Outstanding in both middle and secondary phases - the highest possible rating - with progress rated Very Good in middle and Outstanding in secondary. Students demonstrate strong investigative skills and practical laboratory work.
Exceptional Personal & Social Development
All three personal development sub-domains - personal responsibility, understanding of Islamic values and cultural awareness, and social responsibility and innovation - are rated Outstanding in both middle and secondary phases. Student behaviour is described as exceptional.
Outstanding Curriculum Design & Parent Engagement
Curriculum design and implementation is rated Outstanding in both phases. Parent and community engagement is rated Outstanding - the highest sub-rating in the leadership domain - reflecting very effective communication and genuine partnership with families.
Uneven Teaching Quality Across Grades
DSIB recommends focusing on ensuring outstanding teaching practices are implemented consistently across all grades and subjects, not just the strongest departments. A small number of teachers are noted as insufficiently challenging high-attaining students.
Library and Laboratory Resource Utilisation
DSIB recommends ensuring that well-chosen resources, including library and laboratory facilities, are provided to students for many and varied learning opportunities - suggesting these assets are not yet being fully leveraged for learning.
Inspection History
2023-2024
Very Good
2022-2023
Very Good
2019-2020
Very Good
2018-2019
Very Good
2017-2018
Very Good
2016-2017
Outstanding
2015-2016
Outstanding
2014-2015
Outstanding
2013-2014
Outstanding
2012-2013
Outstanding
2011-2012
Outstanding
2010-2011
Good
2009-2010
Good
Fees & Value for Money
The Indian High School (Oud Metha campus) offers tuition fees for the 2025–2026 academic year ranging from AED 5,525 for Grade 5 up to AED 10,465 for Grades 11 and 12, covering a 10-month academic year. These fees are structured in line with the KHDA school fees framework, which governs permissible annual increases. Given the school's consistent Very Good DSIB rating and its long-standing reputation since 1972, the fees represent strong value for a well-established Indian curriculum school in Dubai.
AED 5,525
Annual Fees From
AED 10,465
Annual Fees To
Year / GradeAnnual Fee
Grade 5
AED 5,525Grade 6
AED 6,696Grade 7
AED 6,696Grade 8
AED 6,696Grade 9
AED 8,373Grade 10
AED 8,373Grade 11
AED 10,465Grade 12
AED 10,465In addition to tuition, families should budget for mandatory annual fees covering exam materials, laboratory use, e-learning and online subscriptions, ID cards, school diary and calendar, and technology charges. These range from AED 1,000 (Grade 5) to AED 1,250 (Grades 11–12). New students enrolling at the Oud Metha campus for the first time are also subject to a non-refundable facility fee of AED 2,100. Board examination fees are charged at cost by the examination board with no additional school markup.
Enrollment fees differ for existing and new students. Existing students pay a re-enrollment fee of up to 5% of tuition (minimum AED 500, non-refundable and deductible from first-term fees). New students pay a one-time application fee of AED 500 (inclusive of assessment) and a one-time enrollment fee of up to 10% of tuition, also non-refundable and deductible from first-term fees. A discount of up to 100% on tuition is available for school employees.
Additional Costs
Exam Materials, Laboratory, E-learning & Online Subscriptions, ID Card, School Diary & Calendar, Technology Charges1000(annual)
Grade 5 — part of first month fee
Exam Materials, Laboratory, E-learning & Online Subscriptions, ID Card, School Diary & Calendar, Technology Charges1050(annual)
Grade 6 — part of first month fee
Exam Materials, Laboratory, E-learning & Online Subscriptions, ID Card, School Diary & Calendar, Technology Charges1100(annual)
Grade 7 — part of first month fee
Exam Materials, Laboratory, E-learning & Online Subscriptions, ID Card, School Diary & Calendar, Technology Charges1150(annual)
Grade 8 — part of first month fee
Exam Materials, Laboratory, E-learning & Online Subscriptions, ID Card, School Diary & Calendar, Technology Charges1200(annual)
Grade 9 — part of first month fee
Exam Materials, Laboratory, E-learning & Online Subscriptions, ID Card, School Diary & Calendar, Technology Charges1200(annual)
Grade 10 — part of first month fee
Exam Materials, Laboratory, E-learning & Online Subscriptions, ID Card, School Diary & Calendar, Technology Charges1250(annual)
Grade 11 — part of first month fee
Exam Materials, Laboratory, E-learning & Online Subscriptions, ID Card, School Diary & Calendar, Technology Charges1250(annual)
Grade 12 — part of first month fee
Facility Fee (New Admissions Only)2100(one-time)
Non-refundable; applicable only to students enrolling at Oud Metha campus for the first time. Applies to all grades.
Board Examination Fee0(per-exam)
Charged at cost by the examination board; no additional school charges applied
Application Fee (New Students)500(one-time)
Assessment fees included; non-refundable
Enrollment Fee (New Students)0(one-time)
Up to 10% of tuition fees; non-refundable and deductible from first-term fees. Exact amount varies by grade.
Re-enrollment Fee (Existing Students)500(annual)
Up to 5% of tuition fees or AED 500, whichever is higher; non-refundable and deductible from first-term fees
Discounts & Concessions
School Employee DiscountUp to 100%%
The Final Verdict: Who Is This School For?
The Indian High School Oud Metha is, without qualification, one of the best-value educational propositions in Dubai. A CBSE school with a Very Good KHDA rating, Outstanding sub-ratings in science, personal development, curriculum design, and safeguarding, and fees that sit at a fraction of what comparable-quality schools charge - this is a school that delivers genuine academic outcomes at an accessible price point. The trade-off is real: class sizes are large, the teacher-to-student ratio is stretched, teaching assistants are minimal, and the campus - while functional and continuously improved - does not have the gleam of a newly built facility. Parents who prioritise the physical environment or small-group attention should look elsewhere. But for families who value academic rigour, a strong community ethos, exceptional pastoral care, and extraordinary value for money, The Indian High School is a clear and confident recommendation.
The school is particularly well-suited to motivated, academically ambitious students who thrive in a structured, high-expectation environment. The CBSE pathway is well-regarded for university entry into Indian institutions, and the school's record of sending graduates to universities in the USA, UK, Canada, and the UAE is strong. The school's deep roots in Dubai's Indian community - over five decades of serving this population - create a sense of belonging and shared purpose that is genuinely distinctive. For families already embedded in this community, or those seeking that environment for their children, IHS is a natural home.
THE “RIGHT FIT”
Academically motivated students from the Indian community seeking a rigorous CBSE education at exceptional value, within a close-knit community that prioritises both academic achievement and strong personal development.
THE “WRONG FIT”
Families who prioritise small class sizes, high teacher-to-student ratios, extensive learning support staffing, or a premium physical campus environment - or those seeking an international curriculum pathway such as IB or A-Levels.
“
IHS gave my child the discipline, the ambition, and the community to succeed. The fees are unbeatable for what you get - this school punches well above its price point.
— Grade 12 Parent, Oud Metha Campus
Strengths
- Exceptional value: AED 5,525 to AED 10,465 fees for a Very Good KHDA school
- Outstanding DSIB ratings in science attainment across both phases
- Outstanding curriculum design in both middle and secondary phases
- Outstanding personal development and student behaviour ratings
- Outstanding safeguarding and pastoral care provision
- Strong community ethos with over five decades of history in Dubai
- Innovative Future Forward Leeway Lab with 3D printing, F1 and Arduino
- Metro-accessible campus location in central Dubai
Areas for Improvement
- High teacher-to-student ratio of approximately 1:17 means less individual attention
- Only 3 teaching assistants for 5,300+ students - limited in-class support
- School does not publish aggregate exam results, limiting academic transparency
- Older campus building lacks the polish of newer Dubai school facilities