Deira International School (DIS)

• Deira International School location
• Years offered
• Deira International School curriculum
• KHDA rating
• How to apply?
• Fee structure
• Deira International School scholarships
• Deira International School transportation
• PTA and contact information

Established in 2005, Deira International School (DIS) is a fully inclusive British curriculum school that aims to provide a high standard of education and hone students into proactive learners who can quickly adapt to the changing needs of a global society. This school caters to students from 3 to 18 years and fosters a mutually respectful and dynamic learning environment. Although the school is named Deira International School, DIS is located in Dubai Festival City.

This top British school in Dubai offers the IB curriculum in higher grades, takes a holistic approach to education, and gives equal importance to sports, performing arts, new technology and academics.

Senior students at DIS Dubai take the Cambridge Board IGCSE examinations in Year 11 and then move into an authorised International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) in Years 12 and 13.

• Location: Dubai Festival City
• School fees: AED 42,487 - AED 85,599
• Curriculum: British
• Co-ed or segregate: Co-ed
• KHDA rating: Outstanding
• **Years offered: ** FS 1 - Year 13

Deira International School in Dubai Festival City is easily accessible from many well-known residential communities, including:

• Ras Al Khor
• Deira
• Al Rashidiya
• Mirdif
• Al Warqaa

Parents wanting to stay close to the Deira International School can consider properties for rent and sale in Dubai Festival City.

• Apartments for rent near Deira International School
• Apartments for sale near Deira International School
• Villas for sale near Deira International School

Currently, DIS has only one campus. Some of the leading facilities at the DIS campus include:

• A multi-purpose event hall
• Play zone for the primary section
• Indoor discovery section
• Temperature-controlled swimming pools
• Basketball and netball courts and pitches for rugby and football
• Fully equipped music centres
• Indoor and outdoor learning areas
• Separate primary and secondary cafeterias and libraries
• Studio for performing arts and an auditorium
• Science, DT and computing facilities

DIS is located near Orient Insurance Building, Dubai Festival City – Al Badia Boulevard, Dubai. This school is an excellent choice for families living in Dubai Festival City or neighbouring areas such as Deira, Al Nahda and Al Qusais.

DIS believes that holistic development is achieved by focusing on every student’s latest learning styles and individual needs.

DIS is an Al Futtaim school and has links with several industry leaders. With the help of these industry leaders, DIS provides students with unique extracurricular activities and work placements where students can learn life skills and receive ongoing work experience.

Deira International School provides a global education to more than 1,600 students representing nearly 80 nationalities. DIS has a multicultural and friendly atmosphere that supports the social and personal development of every child.

The main vision behind Deira International School operations is creating a multicultural learning community that empowers students to fulfil their potential and become life-long learners and responsible global citizens. DIS aims to foster partnerships where parents, students, staff and the community can support and make the DIS vision a reality.

Deira International School offers the following years:

DIS follows the UK National Curriculum until Year 11. The students then transition to the International Baccalaureate (IB) program for Years 12 and 13.

Early Years Foundation (FS1 & FS2)

DIS is a UK Curriculum school and follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).  The early foundation course at Deira International School ensures that younger students cover seven areas with fun and engaging activities.

While the academic team ensures that these activities are updated periodically to appeal to current sensibilities, some activities that the school has encouraged include using arts and crafts to teach students fundamental skills. Observation, reading and listening skills are the main focus of teachers during these formative years.

Key Stage 1:

Right from Key Stage 1, there is an emphasis on setting the proper foundation, so children find it easier to grasp related concepts in higher grades. Teachers utilise a combination of techniques and methods, based on the requirements of the students, to teach them different tasks and instil long term learning habits.

Key Stage 2:

During this stage, students learn to work with their peers while engaging in creative activities provided by the school. Students are prepared for secondary school education by a specially developed Year 6 transition model. This method has been well-received and even contributed to Deira International School being recognised with the British International School Award.

Key Stage 3:

Continuing from the foundation years, this stage includes assessments and projects designed to create student accountability. Students are tested to assess their skills and knowledge of the subjects they have been studying. After such tests, subject specialists are brought in, who (along with the teachers) work with the students to improve their skill levels. These tests help students to determine which subjects they would like to pursue.

Key Stage 4:

Key Stage 4 prepares the students for external examinations, including IGCSE and GCSE. During this stage, students study Science, English and Mathematics as their “core” subjects and choose from a range of options for their electives, including History, Geography, Philosophy, Theatre and more. Most students at Deira International School usually study eight or nine IGCSE/GCSE subjects.

IB Programs

IB programs at DIS focus on the personal development of the students. The students are taught to emphasise acquiring knowledge and becoming successful individuals. Over the years, the IB curriculum of Deira International School has become popular with parents looking to secure admissions in the noted universities in the world. This is a fairly research-intensive curriculum, so students are encouraged to apply their knowledge to think of creative solutions.

The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) is a government organisation responsible for the growth and quality of private education in the UAE.

Here’s a history of the KHDA ratings for Deira International School so far:

DIS has been rated “Outstanding” by KHDA due to the following reasons:

• Students progress and attainment are either outstanding or very good.
• The social development of students has now become a strength for the school.
• Students’ attitudes towards learning and their behaviour in and out of lessons have been outstanding.
• The curriculum at DIS has been designed to support students’ progression as they move through school from Foundation Stage (FS) to Year 13.
• Health, child protection and security is given priority and has also been understood by every student in the school.

Deira International School academic calendar runs for 10 months and is divided into three terms.

• The first term starts in the last week of August, concludes in the second week of December, and is followed by a 3-week winter break.
• Spring term starts in the first week of January and concludes in the last week of March, followed by a spring break of two weeks.
• The final summer term starts in the second week of April and concludes in the first week of July.

Applicants need to complete an online application form available on the official website. Even though there are cut-off dates during the year, DIS can make allowances to admit applicants at any time. The following documents must be uploaded with the online application and emailed to the school’s registrar at the admissions office.

Required Documents:

• A copy of the applicant's passport with a valid residence visa
• A copy of the applicant's birth certificate
• A copy of the applicant's Emirates ID card from both sides (if any)
• Two passport size photographs
• A copy of the father's passport with a valid residence visa
• A copy of the father's identity card from both sides (if any)
• A copy of the school certificate for the applicant’s last academic year and a mid-year certificate if he joined the current semester
• A copy of the applicant's vaccination record
• School transfer certificate
• The enrollment fee is 500 AED

When the online application is completed, a member of the admissions team may get in touch with you to proceed with the student’s enrollment.

Before initiating the admission process, parents must ensure that their child meets the following age criteria.

This is based on the age of the students on 31st March (for schools beginning in April) and 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)

Deira International School fees for the current academic year:

Here are some optional services that you can avail:

You can pay Deira International School fees via cash, credit card, cheque or bank transfer.

DIS awards scholarships in recognition of outstanding achievement in the following categories:

• IB Diploma: Academic excellence and contribution to the school
• Outstanding Talent in Creative and Performing Arts: music, drama or languages
• Sporting Excellence: for those who demonstrate the capability to compete at the local or international level
• Academic Excellence for Emirati Students

Both the primary and secondary sections have cafeterias. Students can purchase a range of drinks, snacks and hot food from the school cafeteria at a reasonable price. The cafeteria menu at DIS includes healthy offerings such as green salads, chicken fajitas, lentil soup and sweet-and-sour fish. These menu items are listed with calorie content. Students also have the option to bring packed lunches.

Parents should get in touch with Maverick Transport LLC to find out the service charges. Parents of students in Deira International School can contact them on +971-4-338-8043 to discuss costs. DIS has been working with the company for over ten years.

Currently, the school does not offer any holiday camps. Occasionally there are tie-ups with third-party companies providing holiday camps. Parents are made aware that such programs are being initiated via email and other communication channels.

Deira International School offers a wide variety of sports activities, including football, badminton, rugby, swimming, netball, basketball, cricket, athletics, rounders and fitness. PE specialists teach all primary swimming and PE lessons. Students receive thirty-minute weekly PE lessons in Years 1 and 2 with a PE specialist. Students enrolled in Years 3 to 6 receive two weekly PE lessons.

Apart from various sports activities, students at DIS also participate in competitions, enterprise challenges, debating societies, drama and music.

Students are also encouraged to participate in the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Programmes. Participants design their activities based on the following ideas: personal skills, physical recreation and community services. Winners of this prestigious award can also go on an exciting expedition. One of the past expeditions included a mountain climbing trip to Nepal.

DIS arranges an extensive range of field trips in Dubai. These trips are conceptualised to help students to develop social and communication skills while expanding their knowledge base.  Moreover, DIS has organised various international trips to Vietnam, Iceland, Austria, Nepal, England and Borneo to extend students’ experiences and knowledge base.

The school clinic at Deira International School includes full-time staff, including a doctor, an assistant and two registered nurses licensed with Dubai Health Authority (DHA). The clinic is equipped with an automated defibrillator, oxygen apparatus and a nebuliser to handle any emergency. The medical team also provides first aid to injured and sick students during school hours and after-school activity time on the school campus.

As per Dubai Health Authority’s regulations, the school doctor conducts a comprehensive, non-invasive medical examination of existing students in pre-kindergarten, 1, 5, 9, 12 and all new students.

Students are taken to the clinic if they feel ill. Their parents/guardians are called if they need to be taken home.

DIS thinks of parents as their teaching partners. The school uses an application called Tapestry in the Early Years department. A Tapestry account is created for Early Years 1 and 2 students where their learning can be documented using photos, videos and teacher observations. Tapestry can also be considered a two-way communication tool for teachers and parents. This is because, along with providing parents with a comprehensive understanding of what their child learns at school, it also provides teachers with insight into the children’s home life.

The school has also created a Whatsapp group for each grade. Parents can join the group to stay updated regarding the events and happenings in the school.

• Telephone: +971-4-232-5552
• Email:
  • General Enquiry: info@disdubai.ae
  • Admissions: Registrar@disdubai.ae
• Website
• Official Facebook Page
• Official Twitter Page
• Official Instagram Page.

Please note that the cover image belongs to Deira International School.

What are the timings of your school?

Deira International School remains open Monday through Friday. The timings are:

• Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday:
  • Foundation Stage: 07:50 am to 01:00 pm
  • Primary: 07:50 am to 02:30 pm
  • Secondary: 07:50 am to 03:30 pm
• Tuesday school day timing is 07:50 am to 02:30 pm for all students.
• Friday school day timing is 07:50 am to 12:00 pm for all students.

How many grades/years are there in your school?

Foundation Stage until Year 13.

How many students are currently studying in your school?

Currently, there are around 1,807 students enroled in Deira International School, including 220 students of determination.

Can you please describe the academic calendar of your school?

The academic calendar starts late August and ends in early July.

Can you please mention the range of the tuition fee charged by your school?

The annual tuition fee ranges from AED 42,487 - AED 85,599.

Do you offer scholarship programmes to needy and deserving students?

The school provides scholarships in recognition of students' outstanding achievement in the International Baccalaureate Diploma and Creative Arts, as well as the athletic and academic excellence of Emirati students.

How do you communicate with parents?

DIS Dubai Festival City uses school application Tapestry, WhatsApp groups and a parent portal to establish communication with parents and guardians.

Do you have a cafeteria or a canteen on campus?

There are two cafeterias - one for the primary section and one for the secondary section. Both the canteens serve heathy and nutritious meals to students.

How many teachers are currently teaching in your school?

There are around 157 teachers and 53 teaching assistants at Deira International School.