Al Maaref American School

Al Maaref American School (AMAS) was established in 1987 and is one of Dubai’s long-standing private schools. Located in Al Qusais near the Dubai–Sharjah border, the school offers a K–12 American curriculum and serves a diverse student population of around 1,400 students, mainly from Arab countries. It is a co-educational school, with boys and girls taught in separate sections from middle school onwards.

Following a change in management in 2017, the school has shown clear improvements in academic standards and overall development. AMAS follows the US curriculum aligned with the New York Common Core Learning Standards (CCLS), while science is delivered according to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). In addition to academics, the school promotes Islamic values and UAE culture, supporting students’ moral and cultural development.

The school is staffed by 106 teachers and 23 teaching assistants, mFany of whom are experienced Egyptian educators. AMAS offers a satisfactory range of academic and non-academic facilities. The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) has rated the school “Acceptable”. Tuition fees range from AED 14,144 for KG1 to AED 39,007 for Grade 12, and the campus is located near several top schools near Deira Dubai.

• Location: Al Qusais
• Fees: AED 14,144 - AED 39,007
• Curriculum: American Curriculum
• Co-Education or Segregated: co-educational (kindergarten 1 - grade 5) separated from grade 6
• KHDA rating: acceptable
• School stages: KG1 - Grade 12

Since AMPS is close to the Dubai-Sharjah border, it is accessible to those living in Dubai and Sharjah. The nearby residential communities include:

• Al Nahda (Dubai)
• Al Twar 1
• Al Wuheida
• Hor Al Anz

Al Nahda Dubai is the nearest residential area to the school. It is one of the ideal residential communities for those looking for an affordable residences in Dubai. Most properties are apartment buildings housing studios to 2-bed apartments. Those living far from Al Maaref American School can seek an apartment for rent in Al Nahda Dubai. Those interested in villa-based options can consider Al Twar 1 and Al Wuheida.

• Apartments for rent near Al Maaref American School School
• Villas for rent near Al Maaref American School School

The campus of Al Maaref American School sprawls over a spacious plot covering a range of facilities. It has a multiple-story building with ample space for academic and non-academic activities. The school building reflects the architectural brilliance of modern and traditional designs. Outside the campus lies the parking space for faculty.

Al Maaref School is located near the edge of Al Qusais at the Junction of Baghdad Street and Amman Street. It is in a prime location and surrounded by famous schools, such as The Millennium School, The Westminster School and Woodlem Private School. It is also in proximity to the Dubai-Sharjah border and the Dubai International Airport. People can access the school through Al Ittihad Street that connects Baghdad Street with the rest of Dubai and Sharjah.

Several reasons why Al Maaref American School attracts a generous amount of admission each year. These reasons include:

Al Maaref American School is an experienced education provider in Dubai. With an experience of over 20 years, the school is actively providing standard education to a diverse student force. It offers education in an international context, yet students are well aware of the local context and situations. Since its inception in 1987, the school has offered education from Kindergarten to Grade 12. It also has the facilities to support the academic and non-academic needs of students. The school also pays attention to the education regulatory bodies, such as KHDA, to improve the performance of the school.

Another strong point of AMPS that inclines parents is its deeply rooted culture with traditional values. Despite the international curriculum, it instils a deep understanding of Islamic values. The school does this by adopting the guidelines of the Ministry of Education (MOE) curriculum. Such a school is ideal for parents looking to provide international education to their kids without compromising on Islamic and Emirati values.

Under the leadership of John DeFelice, AMPS is striving to improve the education and overall experience for students. This involves taking initiatives that support the well-round development of children. The curriculum adopted by the school supports AMPS in its mission. It follows the US curriculum by adopting NGSS for Science and NY CCLS for the remaining subjects. These are internationally recognised standards practised in numerous US schools around the world. To support individual learning needs, it uses Measure of Academic Performance (MAP) tests.

Al Maaref American School is accredited by the AdvancED – a not-for-profit and non-governmental body that accredits US schools throughout the world. This means that students completing their Grade 12 education would receive an AdvancEd accredited high school diploma. This open opportunity for them to enrol themselves in top colleges and institutions in the world.

AMPS provides education to children from Kindergarten to Grade 12. The educational system at the school is split into the following phase:

Al Maaref American School curriculum is based on the American education system. AMPS adopts the guidelines for the NY Common Core Learning Standard and Next Generation Science Standards. The specifics for each phase of education is as follows:

Kindergarten Phase (Early Years Education) Curriculum

The Early Year’s American Curriculum at AMPS is based on the play and learn approach. Teachers constructed the activities in a way that ensures students learn while playing. It helps in developing a deeper understanding of fundamental concepts. The school emphasises on the literacy component, which helps in developing skills necessary to pursue further education. The New York Pre-Kindergarten Foundation Common Core standard organises the teaching in five components:

• Approaches to learning
• Physical Development and Health
• Social and Emotional Development
• Communication, Language and Literacy
• Cognition and Knowledge of the World

The curriculum is also suitable for students with disabilities, English Language Learners (ELL) and students with Limited English Proficiency (LEP). The core subjects taught to children in KG1 and KG2 are:

Besides learning, the school arranges several extra-curricular activities for the young learners including workshops, celebrations for national and international days and sports competitions.

Elementary Curriculum

In the elementary phase, Al Maaref American Private School uses the foundations building in the early year’s education. Here, students are smoothly transitioned from play-based learning to structured learning. The school follows the NGSS for science and NYCCLS for English, maths and other subjects. The elementary stage curriculum promotes collaborative learning, innovation and inquiry among students.

Al Maaref American School Al Qusais also focuses on cultivating strong leadership skills. For this purpose, several growth-oriented activities are designed to cultivate resilience and independence. It also promotes leadership skills by implementing the plans based on the UAE National Agenda.

The core subjects taught in the elementary stage are:

Students in the elementary stage also participate in a range of extra-curricular activities. These activities are designed to support outside the classroom development.

Middle and High School Curriculum

Al Maaref School continues the US curriculum based on NYCCLS and NGSS. Core subjects offered in middle and high school are:

Other options available to students are:

The measure of Academic Performance (MAP) tests are used to assess the performance of senior students.

KHDA regulates schools in Dubai. Established in 2006, it aims to improve the quality of education offered by institutes, including schools. To achieve its aim, KHDA annually inspects the performance of schools. The performance is judged based on a specifically designed six-point scale. The scale varies from outstanding (best) rating to very weak (worst) rating. The specifics of each rating of the scale is explained below:

KHDA rated its performance for the year 2023-2024 as acceptable. The school maintained this rating for the third consecutive year. Before that, the school was rated as a weak school for two years. Here is a summary of the KHDA rating for the past 10 years for AMPS:

The academic year at Al Maaref American School Dubai Starts in late August and ends in late June. The school have two terms in an academic year.

For more information, check out the academic calendar on the official website.

Al Maaref American School Dubai follows an ongoing admission policy and enrols students throughout the year. Its admission policy is highly inclusive as it accepts students from different backgrounds.

To apply, visit the registration office or reach out to the school at +971 4 2988881. The registrar will set out the time for an assessment. You may have to fill out the form. Contact the school for more information. If your child is already a part of this school and is interested in continuing his education at this school, you should fill out the re-registration form available on the school website.

The school also accept admission request submitted physically to the admission department. Read the new admission process and policy to learn more. The application form must be supported by the following documents:

• Passport-size photograph of the candidate (four photos)
• Birth certificate of the candidate (one copy)
• Passport of the candidate (one copy)
• Emirates ID of the candidate and both parents (one copy for each)
• Passport of both parents with valid UAE residence visa (one copy for each)
• Original vaccination record of the candidate (for admission in Grade 1 and above)
• Last report card (for admission in Grade 1 and above)
• Student reference form (enveloped and sealed by the previous school)
• Original transfer certificate

After accepting the offer, parents need to pay the required deposit to secure admission. The age-grade guideline followed by the school is given below:

This is based on the age of the students on 31st August (for schools beginning in September). Source: KHDA

* This is to cater to students transferring from systems that admit students of a younger age)

For more information, check out the admission process of Al Maaref Private School.

The Al Maaref American School fees are as follows:

The annual tuition fee is payable in three instalments:

• First instalment – 40%
• Second instalment – 30%
• Third instalment – 30%

The fee can be paid through a wire transfer.

Kindly bear in mind that the annual tuition fee is exclusive of books, uniform, assessment, LMS, and clinic charges.

There is a school canteen that offers many healthy food items to children. These items are prepared in a hygienic environment and are available at affordable pricing.

Al Maaref American School offers optional school transport operated by Emirates Transport, with annual fees ranging from AED 6,500 to AED 8,500, depending on the route.

It is a day-only school and does not provide boarding facilities to students.

The school has a limited range of sports facilities. These facilities are used to provide Physical Education classes and arrange annual sports competitions. There is a grassy outdoor field that is used for soccer. There also exists an indoor multipurpose sports hall where students can practise their skills in indoor sports.

Extra-curricular activity is an important part of Al Maaref Private School’s curriculum. The school believes that such activities play a crucial role in the all-round development of students. These activities target the development of skills necessary to combat modern-day challenges. The extra-curricular activities at AMPS Dubai include but are not limited to the following activities:

Innovation day is the most anticipated extra-curricular event at AMPS. In this event, students showcase their love for science by exhibiting creative and innovative science-related projects to peers and parents. This activity happens each year.

The school understands that the learning of students cannot be confined to the walls of classrooms. Therefore, it allows every opportunity for its students to learn and engage in a practical situation through extra-curricular activities. One such activity is the field trip. Students are taken to places in Dubai where they can learn and enjoy. The major field trips at AMPS are:

• Dig It
• Oli Oli
• Sharjah Art Museum
• Dubai Aquarium

The school has a well-equipped medical clinic for curative and rehabilitative services. For this purpose, they have hired an experienced medical staff that follows the guidelines established by the Dubai Health Authority (DHA). Besides medical emergencies, the school clinic also plays a preventive role by initiating health awareness programmes for students.

There are several modes of communication available for teachers and parents to communicate.

The parent portal is the most common source of communication at Al Maaref American School Al Qusais. They can access the academic performance of their child, feedback, attendance record, news and circulars through the parent portal.

Another way of communication between teachers and parents is the parent-teacher meeting. It serves as an opportunity for them to discuss the progress made by the child. Parents can also seek valuable information about the school through its official website, social media accounts and WhatsApp groups. In WhatsApp groups, the teacher adds parents of students studying in the same grade.

• Address: Baghdad Street, near Dubai-Sharjah Border, Al Qusais, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
• Telephone: +971-4-298-8881
• Email: info@almaaref.ae

General Information

• Al Maaref American School Website
• Al Maaref American School Facebook

Note that the cover image belongs to Al Maaref American School

What are the school timing at Al Maaref American School?

The school is open every Monday to Friday as per the academic calendar and the timings are as follows:

• Monday to Thursday: 07;30 am to 02;05 pm
• Friday:  07;30 am to 11:00 am

How many grades are taught at this school?

Al Maaref American School School teaches from Pre-KG to Grade 12.

Does the school follow co-education model?

Yes, Al Maaref American School follows co-education model but only until Grade 5. Afterwards, boys and girls studies in separate classrooms.

How many students are studying in this school?

Al Maaref Private School currently has 1,400 students from different Arab nations.

Does the school has any special education programs or education plans for students of determination?

Yes, students of determination can opt for English Language Learners (ELLs) who are weak in English.

What's the academic calendar followed at Al Maaref American School?

The academic calendar at Al Maaref Private School starts in last week of August and ends in last week of June.

What's the tuition fee charged by the school?

Al Maaref American School annual tuition fee ranges from AED 14,144 - AED 39,007.

How Al Maaref American School communicates with parents?

The school considers communication with parents an important part of their relationship and has an electronic portal for such communications. Furthermore, Al Maaref American School also keeps parents and community updated on social media platforms and WhatsApp groups.

Does the school has a cafeteria or canteen?

Al Maaref School has a canteen that provides a variety of food and beverage options.

Does Al Maaref School arranges field trips for students?

Yes, Al Maaref School arranges field trips for students.