North American International School (NAIS)

North American International School (NAIS) in Al Mizhar 1, Dubai, is a well-established private school that offers a comprehensive US-based American curriculum from Kindergarten to Grade 12. Founded in 2007 by Mr and Mrs Tahir, the school began with only a few students but has since grown into a vibrant learning community representing over 56 nationalities. NAIS places a strong emphasis on inclusivity, cultural diversity, and personalised learning, maintaining a relatively low teacher-to-student ratio of about 1:8, which allows for greater individual attention and academic support.

The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) has rated NAIS as Acceptable, indicating that it meets the quality standards expected of Dubai’s private schools while continuing to work toward higher performance levels. The school employs an experienced team of teachers and teaching assistants who focus on holistic education—balancing academics with extracurricular and athletic programs. Its well-equipped facilities include modern classrooms, science and computer labs, and outdoor sports areas, all designed to nurture students’ intellectual, social, and physical development in a safe and supportive environment.

For the 2025–2026 academic year, tuition fees at NAIS range from AED 22,923 for KG1 to AED 39,896 for Grade 12, making it a competitively priced option for families seeking American education in Dubai. The school also offers sibling discounts of up to 15% and maintains transparent fee policies. Conveniently located behind the Arabian Centre in Al Mizhar 1, NAIS continues to attract both local Emirati families and expatriates, reflecting its strong reputation for delivering a balanced, inclusive, and globally minded education experience.

• Location: Al Mizhar 1, Dubai
• School fee: AED 22,923 - AED 39,896
• Curriculum: American
• Co-ed or segregate: Co-education
• KHDA rating: Acceptable
• Years offered: KG1 to Grade 12

North American International School is located in the budget-friendly residential area of Al Mizhar 1. It is known for its residential and commercial activities. The following residential communities surround the school:

• Muhaisnah 1
• Mirdif
• Al Mizhar 2
• Oud Al Muteena 1

Parents of students studying in NAIS Dubai will find Muhaisnah 1 closest to the school. It is the largest residential sub-community of the greater Muhaisnah that is predominantly a villa-based community. Its proximity to the Dubai International Airport and industrial zones make it an alluring option for families.

• Villas for rent near North American International School
• Villas for sale near North American International School

The campus of North American International School occupies a generous plot in Al Mizhar 1 and blends modern and traditional architectural features. Entry is via a main gate guarded by a dedicated security team, ensuring a safe and secure environment for all students, staff and visitors. Inside, the school boasts a wide array of academic and non-academic amenities designed to support well-rounded student growth. The main facilities at the campus include:

NAIS is on Street 4, slightly off the intersection of Algeria Street and Al Khawaneej Street. The front entrance of NAIS Dubai faces the LuLu Hypermarket in Al Mizhar. Those interested in visiting the school can easily access it via the aforementioned roads.

One of the attractive features of this school is its caring and supportive environment. Such an environment encourages children to discover their talents. The teaching staff and other faculty members are friendly and play their role in creating a home-like atmosphere. This diverse atmosphere of the school builds an understanding of many cultures. Students passing out demonstrate a global mindset due to the school’s atmosphere.

Another strong point of NAIS is the quality of education. Despite having fewer students than other international schools, it offers high-quality education. Its syllabus is based on the Common Core standards and North Carolina Standard Course of Study. It also provides adequate academic support services to its students. The Department of Inclusion and Behaviour Management fully supports students and parents to get along with the vision and culture of NAIS. Other support services include:

• Elementary English Language Learning
• Elementary Learning Support Centre
• Secondary Learning Support Centre
• Career guidance
• Counselling

Students participate in many non-curricular activities, resulting in professional and personal development. Most activities are related to sports or art, allowing students to explore their athletic and creative abilities. The school follows a house-based system that encourages friendly competition. Washington, Lincoln and Kennedy are the three houses that compete against one another. Students in the senior grades become house mister/mistress, house captain, class captains and prefects. Their role is to manage the student council and integrate students into activities of their choice.

NAIS offers education to children from kindergarten to high school. The educational system is split into the following sections:

The syllabus followed at the North American International School is based on the US curriculum. The education programme is meticulously planned to ensure that students are exposed to a broad range of subjects. For science and mathematics, the school follows the Common Core Standards. While it adopts the guidelines of the Ministry of Education (MOE) for Islamic Education and Arabic. NAIS shapes its syllabus by adopting California State Standards for remaining subjects. The specifics for each phase of education are as follows:

Kindergarten Curriculum

The first few years of children’s learning set the foundations for the rest of their academic lives. NAIS focuses on building their understanding of the fundamental concepts. NAIS fully understands the needs of young learners and implements a learning programme that suits their styles. The teachers support growth in the following areas:

• Positive attitude towards learning
• Numeracy, literacy and communication skills
• Social, personal and emotional well-being
• Language, quality of perseverance and attention skills
• Physical, sound and creative development and appreciation and understanding of the world

It conducts an assessment test before KG1 and KG2 to identify the strengths and weaknesses. Similarly, it conducts an exit entrance test to gauge students’ readiness for the next stage. Students are also monitored throughout the classes to track their progress.

Elementary Curriculum

At this stage, NAIS focuses on cultivating inquiry and problem-solving skills among students. These skills allow them to understand how things work. They undergo a diagnostic test at the start of an academic year to delineate the strengths and weaknesses of students. Furthermore, informal formative assessments take place throughout the year. These assessments are graded and included in the final report. The measure of Academic Progress (MAP) test is the only formal assessment undertaken at the end of each academic year. Students in Grade 1 to Grade 5 study the following subjects:

Middle School Curriculum

NAIS understands that this phase corresponds to emotional, physical, social and intellectual transition. The school designed a curriculum to build confidence, self-esteem and self-reliance. The syllabus is based on a common core standard that encompasses a broad range of subjects. Each subject contributes to building skills necessary for high school education. It conducts a diagnostic test for middle school students that is graded and included in the final report.

Subjects taught in middle school are:

High School Curriculum

The high school curriculum at NAIS focuses on spurring critical thinking and analytical skills. Those completing their high school education from NAIS have exceptional interpersonal, creative and academic skills.

The assessments include formative assessments throughout the academic year and three MAP exams at the end of each term. NAIS also provides career guidance to help them select the best path for their future lives.

Please note that students need to complete at least 24.5 credit hours, 60 hours of work experience and 40 hours of community service to receive the high school certificate. For more information, read the curriculum of North American International School.

One of the main challenges for the multicultural community of Dubai was to regulate its education sector. The government of Dubai established the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) in 2006. It aims to improve the quality of education offered by educational institutes. To achieve this, it inspects the performance of schools and issues a yearly report. The performance of schools is rated based on a specifically designed six-point scale. This scale varies from outstanding to very weak and is briefly explained below:

In its latest inspection, KHDA rated the overall performance of North American International School as Acceptable. Here is a ten-year summary of ratings for NAIS:

North American International School academic calendar starts in August and ends in June. There are three terms in the academic year of NAIS Dubai. The important dates of all the terms are as follows:

Besides those above, the school observes holidays on many religious, national and international events. For more information, check out the academic calendar of NAIS on its official website.

Online Application and Documents

NAIS is a non-selective school that accepts admission applications from all. Before starting the admission process, the school encourages parents to visit the school and check the facilities by themselves. It serves as an opportunity for teachers and parents to better understand one another. You can book a tour by filling out the form. The school will contact you with the time and date.

Once satisfied, you can initiate the admission process by filling out the online application form. Parents are advised to fill out the form with correct information. Recheck the contact details before applying, as the school will contact you on the provided contact details.

The documents required by the school are:

• Birth certificate of the candidate (two copies, KG 1 to Grade 1)
• Previous mark sheets
• Candidate’s Immunisation record (one copy)
• Recent passport-size photographs of the candidate (four photos)
• Passport of the candidate (two copies)
• Passport of parents (both mother and father, two copies each)
• Emirates ID cards of the candidates and parents (two copies)
• Residence visa of the candidate (two copies)
• Residence visa of parents (both father and mother, two copies each)
• Filled transportation form (optional and must be sent if transportation service is required)
• Original Transfer certificate (for admissions in Grade 2 and onwards)

The age-grade guideline 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)

Guidelines for Transfer Certificate

The transfer certificate must be in Arabic and have the school stamp and signature if your child last studied in Dubai.

If applying from other Emirates in the UAE, the transfer certificate must be in Arabic and have the school sign and stamp. It should also be attested by the Ministry of Education of that Emirate.

If applying from outside the UAE, the transfer certificate must have the school stamp and signature. It needs to be attested by the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the UAE Embassy in that country.

Assessment and further procedures

The school contacts the parents for assessment after applying and required documents. If applying for kindergarten, the assessment involves an interview conducted by the school’s principal. An entrance test is conducted for admissions in Grade 1 and above. The entrance test consists of questions from English and mathematics. The decision to offer a seat depends on the previous academic record and the assessment. Parents are usually informed about the outcome within a few days.

To reserve the seat, pay the required deposit and the rest of the tuition fees within deadlines. Please ensure that all the documents are sent to the school before the child’s first day at school.

The admission office is open every Saturday to Thursday from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm. For further details, read the admission guidelines for NAIS Al Mizhar.

The North American International School fees are:

The tuition fee can be paid in three instalments. Refer to the fee structure of North American International School for more information.

Sibling discount

The school offers a sibling discount of 5% on the second child, 10% on the third child and 15% on the fourth child. The discount is applicable on the payment of the second instalment.

Other charges

To find more, view the fees structure at North American International School.

The school does not offer any scholarship programme.

There is a school canteen that provides nutritious snacks and beverages to students from Grade 1 and above. Students in kindergarten bring home-packed lunches. Those looking to eat their snacks or home-packed lunches can visit the dining room.

Those looking for a comfortable and safe ride to and from the school can contact the Regal Bus Transport Company. They have collaborated with the NAIS to provide a safe and reliable way to commute for students. The transportation fee varies from AED 2,400 to AED 4,600 for different areas. For further information, email anees.k@naischool.ae or call 04 288 4844 Ext: 422.

It is a day-only school and does not offer boarding or hostel facilities.

There are currently no winter camps or summer camps for students.

A range of indoor and outdoor sports-related facilities is available at the campus. These facilities include:

At NAIS, there is a wide range of extra-curricular activities. These activities help students learn modern-day skills necessary to thrive in the 21st century. Some notable non-academic activities are:

It understands the importance of students’ learning beyond the boundaries. Therefore, it arranges field trips to help students learn and understand different phenomena under practical settings. One noticeable field trip was the visit to Mleiha Archaeological Centre. Located in Sharjah, it is an archaeological site with historical significance. Senior students visited the place and learned a lot about the historical and geographical importance of the United Arab Emirates.

Currently, the only after-school care provided by the school is in the form of an extra-curricular programme. Some activities take place after regular school timings.

The school has a medical centre equipped with the necessary equipment. The medical staff consists of a doctor and a full-time nurse that provides medical care and attention to students and staff. The nurse is available from 8:00 am to 2:30 pm, and the doctor is available from 1:30 to 2:30 pm. In cases of a serious condition, the school’s doctor refers to other doctors. The medical centre also conducts immunisation and other government-initiated health programmes for the well-being of students.

North American International School has multiple modes of communication to keep parents informed about the progress made by children. The parent-teacher meeting helps teachers and parents collaborate. These meetings happen thrice a year where parents and teachers discuss the progress made by students.

Another essential source of communication is the NAIS Portal. By signing into the portal, parents can access important information such as examination schedule, timetable, news and notifications for upcoming events. The school’s official website is also regularly updated with new information, newsletters and circulars.

The school also has an active social media presence where they regularly post images and important notifications for parents and the wider community. For urgent updates, parents and teachers can contact each other through WhatsApp groups.

Those interested in becoming a part of their workforce can visit NAIS Careers.

NAIS location: Near 11 A Street, behind Arabian Centre, Al Mizhar 1, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Telephone number

For general enquiry: 042884844 - 042884844 ext. 413

Email address

• For admissions: admission@naischool.ae
• For general information: info@naischool.ae

Official Website and Social Media

• Official Website

Note that the cover image belongs to North American International School (NAIS)

What curriculum does North American International School follow?

NAIS offers a US-based American curriculum from Kindergarten to Grade 12.

Where is North American International School located?

The school is located in Al Mizhar 1, Dubai, behind Arabian Centre.

What is the KHDA rating of North American International School?

According to the latest KHDA report, NAIS is rated Acceptable.

What are the annual school fees at NAIS Dubai?

Tuition fees range from AED 22,923 for KG1 to AED 39,896 for Grade 12.

Is North American International School co-educational?

Yes, NAIS is a co-educational school welcoming both boys and girls.