Dunecrest American School

• Dunecrest American School location
• Years offered
• Dunecrest American School curriculum
• KHDA rating
• How to apply?
• Fee structure
• Dunecrest American School transportation
• PTA and contact information

Dunecrest American School inspires excellence by encouraging students to nurture their talents, pursue their passions, and positively impact the world around them. Their future-forward education is grounded in the American common core and embraces authentic, cross-curricular learning to engage children and help them become the best version of themselves.

In 2018, Dunecrest American School became the 9th school in the Esol Education family delivering exceptional international education. This depth of experience, coupled with a passion for teaching, enables Dunecrest to raise student achievement every day, in every way.

For its older students, Dunecrest American School, Al Barari nurtures successful outcomes by offering both the US High School Diploma and International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme. It also has IB certificate courses and a full slate of visual performing arts programs, athletics, extracurriculars and technology offerings.

• Al Barari
• Living Legends
• The Villa
• Mudon
• Arabian Ranches

Dunecrest American School is located in the family-friendly community of Al Barari. The school is also close to the Living Legends area. Those looking for family homes near the school can opt for The Villa, located 5 minutes away. Other communities near Dunecrest American School Dubai are Arabian Ranches and Mudon.

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Spanning 8.5 acres, Dunecrest American School provides a spacious campus with excellent facilities in Al Barari community for 1,400 students.

As a new, purpose-built campus, the school benefits from bright, naturally-lit classrooms and open spaces that encourage collaboration and project-based learning. State-of-the-art technology throughout the building optimises the school for modern teaching.

High-quality athletics facilities offer ample opportunities for students to be physically active and adopt a life-long love of wellness. Thoughtful early childhood and elementary playgrounds develop fine and gross motor skills while supporting imaginative play. Indoor and outdoor games areas for older students in the form of board games, ping-pong, basketball, and soccer pitches help build a fun, active community.

Dunecrest American School is centrally located in the Al Barari Dubailand. Just 5 minutes away from Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road (E311), it can be conveniently accessed from several popular residential communities, including Living Legends, Majan and Arabian Ranches.

Dunecrest Dubai makes diligent efforts to provide challenging opportunities from Pre-Kindergarten until Grade 12 through its coursework. Understanding the need of the modern age, the school fosters curiosity by creating learning situations for young learners. Because of its commitment to diversity, Dunecrest accepts all students regardless of differences in religion, nationality and ethnicity. It also promotes tolerance and respect among students.

As an Esol Education school, Dunecrest leverages more than 40 years of experience in delivering top-quality American and IB education throughout the region. Not only that but there are over 100 engaging teams, clubs and extra-curricular activities for students.

The school campus has plenty of facilities. Dunecrest American School is accredited by the Middle States Association Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools (MSA-CESS), one of the world’s premier governing, American-curriculum accreditation bodies with more than 2,700 members in over 100 countries. It is also a recognised IB World School offering the IB Diploma.

The Dunecrest education team works dedicatedly to building a welcoming community that encourages students to evolve into the best version of themselves. Teachers use the latest technology to give their best.

Dunecrest students aged 14 and older can join a 2-week summer program to experience college life at Stanford University – one of the world’s top-ranked institutions. This is possible through the Stanford Pre-Collegiate International Institute programme. The university collaborates with top-tier high schools worldwide and brings students to the Stanford campus. Other world-class enrichment opportunities and programs, including the Bronx Green Machine collaboration, MIT visiting technologists and MIT App Inventor, are available to Dunecrest students.

The Government of Dubai has developed protocols for schools to follow until the pandemic is over. This is an accumulative effort and approach to keep everyone safe and healthy, including students, teachers, parents, and relevant third parties.

The KHDA has uploaded protocols for school reopening on the official website for your convenience. Here’s an overview of the preventive SOPs in place.

• Sterilising the school building, classrooms, laboratories and other facilities regularly, according to the recommendations of the National Authority for Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management.
• Assessing the temperature of everyone who enters the school building daily.
• Maintaining physical distance guidelines as recommended by the relevant health authorities and reducing classroom headcount capacity.
• From this academic year, 1-metre distancing is recommended. Schools must take appropriate precautions to ensure that students and teachers stay physically distanced where possible.
• Buses may run at full capacity provided they comply with health and safety protocols.
• Schools shall reinstate Physical Education, swimming lessons and sports activities. Changing rooms and sports areas will be sanitised after each group of students.
• The canteen shall reopen and resume live cooking.
• School trips, excursions and holiday camps shall be resumed.
• After-hours care, extra-curricular activities, performances, assemblies and other events at school or external venues are allowed.
• Students older than six years, staff and visitors to schools must continue to wear face masks.
• Vaccination is not compulsory. Unvaccinated school staff must submit a negative PCR test each week. Students are not obliged to submit negative PCR tests.
• From October 3rd 2021, all teaching and learning at Dubai private schools will only be face-to-face. Students who wish to continue with distance learning after the stated date must provide a medical certificate issued by Dubai Health Authority.

Offering classes from Pre-KG to Grade 12, Dunecrest American School follows the Age Equivalency Guide. The student must fulfil the age requirements for the desired grade. Here’s an overview to give you a better idea:

The years offered are divided into Early Years, Elementary, Middle and High school.

From Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 12, Dunecrest American School promotes the values of curiosity and diligent efforts to help students flourish as learners.

Early Years include Pre-KG and KG1. Teachers at Dunecrest provide a welcoming environment for young children and make them comfortable in the learning setup from Day 1. The research-based American Creative Curriculum and the AERO Common Core Plus, Curricular Standards for Science and Math, are followed during Pre-KG and KG1.

For Mathematics, standards are divided into counting numbers in base ten, measurement and introduction to geometry. AERO Common Core Plus standards combined with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) apply to Science at this level. Students at this early stage are given an idea about the earth, human activity and matter and its interactions.

Elementary School includes KG2 to Grade 5. Following AERO Common Core Plus Standards, subjects taught at the level include Language Arts, Science, Social Studies, Math, World Languages, Physical Education, Music and Art. Special support is provided to students with additional learning needs.

Middle School students are encouraged to integrate project and problem-based learning with subject studies. Year-long courses are available for Science, Arabic, Islamic Studies, Physical Education, Mathematics and Art. Students are also encouraged to pick other electives throughout the semester. These include options in Arts, Computer Programming, World Languages and Robotics.

The High School programme offers two academic pathways. Students can opt for the US High School Diploma Program or the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP). This choice is offered to students in Grade 11 and Grade 12.

The US High School Diploma is aligned with the AERO Common Core Plus standards. Courses offered include English, Humanities, Science, Robotics, Languages, Physical Education and the Arts. Grade 9 students engage in independent and small group design projects while students in Grade 10 participate in an individual investigation programme that requires independent research, academic writing and literacy skills.

As per the new COVID-19 protocols issued by KHDA, schools are discontinuing the distance learning programme from October 3rd, 2021. Those wishing to continue distance learning have to show a relevant health certificate issued by Dubai Health Authority (DHA). Schools may revert to distance learning if COVID-19 cases are detected in a class or a group in a class.

KHDA does not publish an official school rating during an institution’s first three years of operation. Initially, the school was set to receive its first inspection for the academic session 2020 – 2021. However, due to the ongoing pandemic, the school will now be inspected for the AY 2021 – 2022.

• The first term commences in the last week of August and ends in the second week of December when students go on a 3-week winter vacation.
• The second term starts in the first week of January and ends in the last week of March for a 2-week spring break.
• The third term begins in the second week of April and ends in the last week of June. The school closes for summer breaks of 2 months before the next academic session starts.

Dunecrest American School academic calendar is available on the official website.

Those interested in Dunecrest American School admission can use the online application form available on the school website. Parents can upload the required documents email them to admissions@dunecrest.ae. Documents can be in JPG, PDF or PNG format. The school will acknowledge the duly completed application form within one business day.

The school reviews admission applications based on a student’s ability to succeed in the school’s programs. Students are assessed on their educational ability, potential and emotional needs.

Following documents are required for admission:

• Student’s passport copy
• Recent test scores (MAP and CAT4)
• Two previous report cards
• Confidential Report or reference from the previous school
• Applicant’s birth certificate
• Residence visa of both parents and the applicant (may be submitted at the time of enrolment)
• Emirates ID card of both parents and the applicant (may be submitted at the time of enrolment)
• Recent photographs of the applicant and parents
• Original transfer/leaving certificate

Once Dunecreast issues an acceptance letter, a registration deposit of AED 3,000 has to be paid to the school within five days to secure a seat. The re-enrollment fee of 5% of the annual tuition fee is required to confirm a student’s place.

The deposit is non-refundable unless the student has to move outside Dubai before the academic year.

Before enrolment, please ensure that your child meets the following age placement guidelines.

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)

Dunecrest offers a sibling discount of 20% for the third child and subsequent children. Tuition fees do not include transportation, cafeteria, or uniform charges. School tuition is paid in three instalments.

Dunecrest American School fees payment can be made by cash/check drawn in the name of Dunecrest American School LLC. Families can also pay via electronic bank transfer or direct deposit.

Dunecrest school cafeteria provides healthy options to promote good eating habits. The cafeteria has a welcoming and engaging environment that creates a relaxed space for students to gather. Its trusted caterers offer daily delicious hot and cold à la carte and meal options for breakfast and lunch.

Transportation service is provided to support busy families with drop-off and pick up. The school bus services many residential areas in Dubai that are divided into four zones.

Based on demand, athletic and special-interest camps are hosted on Dunecrest’s sprawling campus after regular hours and during school holidays.

One such camp**, Ivy League Camp**, was particularly successful with the community and was brought from the US to Dunecrest in partnership with the camp owners themselves. Camp programs at Ivy League offered everything from game theory and stock market simulations to enterprise competitions and AI. Sessions were overseen by Harvard, Yale, Stanford University seniors and functioned in many ways like an exclusive mentorship or coaching program.

Middle and High School students participate in Dunecrest XL, which includes cultural, service and adventure programs in neighbouring countries. Some popular past destinations include Kenya, Oman, Prague, and Georgia.

Sports are part of a robust competitive, and friendly program at Dunecrest American School. As a growing school, students should easily find a program that matches their interests and abilities. Dunecrest has a three-season sports calendar: swimming, tennis, basketball, badminton, soccer and volleyball. The school campus has spacious playgrounds equipped with age-appropriate resources for elementary, middle, high school students. Students can use the state-of-the-art sports fields for training.

High-quality athletics facilities offer ample opportunities for students to develop their physical skills and adopt a lifelong love of wellness. Dunecrest’s athletics complex includes a multi-purpose hall, 1,500 sq. m. purpose-built gymnasium for indoor games, a shaded swimming pool, and a regulation-sized soccer field encircled by a professionally laid running track.

The rich US curriculum is complemented by extra-curricular activities at Dunecrest American School, Al Barari Dubai. All activities are offered after school hours. Some prominent extra-curricular activities include:

ECAs are divided into internal activities and external activities. Internal extra-curricular activities are mostly free or minimally charged. External extra-curricular activities are provided by external teachers within the school campus and are charged separately.

Students can participate in the United Nations conference known as Model United Nations or MUN. Through these conferences, students learn about pressing world issues, develop critical thinking and improve their leadership and communication skills.

From Middle school onwards, students benefit from the ‘week without walls’ program known as Dunecrest XL. This learning module comes under the Outreach and Service Learning program.

During Dunecrest XL, students visit various communities in the UAE and abroad. Students select week-long programs that match their passions and interests, from community outreach to environmental restoration to cultural exploration or physical challenges. Middle school and High school teachers lead these experiences.

All extra-curricular activities are scheduled after school dismissal.

The school clinic has a full-time nurse to provide medical care to students.

Technology plays a vital role in strengthening parent-teacher communication, as parents can track their child’s progress through the parent portal. This also helps in promoting the home-school partnership.

Dunecrest has an open door policy. Head of School Bill Delbrugge, principals and teachers encourage parents and students to raise questions or suggestions in person.

• Telephone: +971-4-508-7444
• Email:
  • General inquiry: info@dunecrest.ae
  • Admissions: admissions@dunecrest.ae
• Website Dunecrest American School
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