St. Mary Catholic High School Dubai, Muhaisnah

Established in 2015, St Mary Catholic High School Muhaisnah (SMM) is part of the St Mary’s Group of Schools, offering the National Curriculum of England across Foundation Stage 1 to Year 13, including Sixth Form (AS/A Levels and BTECs) as of August 2024, subject to approval. 

The school holds a ‘Good’ rating from the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA). The current approved tuition fees for the 2025-26 academic year range from AED 12,498 for EYFS to AED 24,177 for Year 13.

SMM serves a diverse student body predominantly of Indian nationality and maintains a student-to-teacher ratio of approximately 1:13, ensuring individual care and support.

• Location: Muhaisnah
• School fee: AED 12,498 - AED 24,177
• Curriculum: National Curriculum of England
• Co-ed or segregate: Co-education
• KHDA rating: Good
• Years offered: FS1 to Year 13

The school is located in Muhaisnah 4 – a family-friendly sub-community in greater Muhaisnah. The community is located close to the Dubai-Sharjah border and has several nearby residential communities. These include:

• Muhaisnah 3
• Al Nahda (Dubai)
• Al Qusais
• Al Mizhar 1
• Al Mizhar 2

Muhaisnah 3, another sub-community of Al Muhaisnah, is nearest to St. Mary Catholic High School. It is a villa-only community that offers spacious and luxurious villa-based properties, especially on rent. Its proximity to workplaces and amenities makes it an ideal place for the families to live. Those looking for other options can look into the residential properties in the Al Qusais area. Whereas, budget-friendly residential options are available in Al Mizhar 1 and Al Mizhar 2.

The school building design is an amalgamation of traditional Arabic and modern architecture. Each room is provided with wide windows that ar

Muhaisnah Campus

St. Mary Catholic High School in Muhaisnah has a spacious campus with high-end academic and non-academic facilities. The design of the school building is an amalgamation of traditional Arabic and modern architecture. Each room has wide windows that are decorated with tinted glasses. Outside the main gate, there is a parking spot for faculty members. Inside the building lies a reception with a large waiting area. Classrooms are spacious, bright and have comfortable furniture for children. Outside the classrooms lie wooden lockers for storage. There also exists science labs, computer labs and rooms for Arabic and Islamic education.

The school also has a library stocked with fictional and non-fictional books, novels, magazines, periodicals, newspapers, journals and other learning resources. The Muhaisnah campus also has a multipurpose indoor hall that is extensively used for indoor sports and physical education. Outside the school’s building lies a full-sized basketball court and a soccer pitch.

Oud Metha Campus

The St. Mary Catholic High School Dubai campus in Oud Metha has a range of facilities supporting students’ education. The bright and spacious classrooms have ICT support that aid in the learning process. To support the curriculum, the oud Metha campus also has science and computer labs. Other major facilities at the school are library, free-flowing spaces, outdoor play areas, multipurpose hall, soccer pitch, basketball court and a cafeteria.

St. Mary Catholic High School Muhaisnah is situated opposite to Ali Al Shanqeeti Mosque, facing 22 Street in Muhasinah 4, Dubai. Gulf Model School is a 5-minute walk away from Al Muhaisnah campus. Halab Street and Amman Street are major roads that connect the school with the rest of Dubai.

There are several reasons attracting parents to enrol their kids in St Mary Catholic High School Muhaisnah.

It is the newer campus of St. Mary Catholic schools in Dubai that are under the management of St. Mary Education Group. It offers high-end facilities that are relatively new as compared to its Oud Metha branch. These facilities not only support the academic needs of students but also play an important role in the provision of extra-curricular activities. The ECA programme at the school is comprehensive and focuses on building modern-day skills among individuals.

The school provides a standard yet holistic education to its students. It aims to transform learners into their full emotional, spiritual, intellectual and artistic potentials. For this purpose, it follows the internationally recognised National Curriculum of England. Furthermore, it adopts the practices of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework that is extensively used to introduce children to education centres. The striking feature of this school is that it has enriched its curriculum to integrate catholic religious education for Christian students. Nevertheless, Muslim students study Islamic Education while non-Muslim and non-Catholic students study Citizenship Education.

An alluring feature of this school is its affordable fee structure. The fee ranges from AED 11,228 to AED 17,500, which is lower than many British schools in Dubai. Therefore, it attracts many low to middle-income families that are interested to provide quality education to their children at an affordable price range.

St Mary Catholic High School Muhaisnah (SMM) educates children aged 3 to 18 years, offering a complete learning journey from the Foundation Stage to Year 13. The school follows the National Curriculum of England, providing a strong academic foundation through each key stage:

This structure ensures a seamless progression from early years to post-16 education, preparing students for higher studies through GCSEs, AS, and A Level qualifications.

The school understands that each child is unique and has a different set of abilities. Moreover, the learning capability of each child is different. Each child can be confident, resilient and self-assured. To instil these abilities among learners, St. Mary Catholic High School Muhaisnah builds a positive relationship with students. It also provides an enabling environment where children can thrive and develop. Some subjects taught in this stage are:

St Mary Catholic High School Muhaisnah, follows the National Curriculum of England, a globally recognised framework often used in British-curriculum schools. The syllabus blends international rigour with local relevance, promoting independent learning, critical thinking and an appreciation of diverse communities, cultures, self-esteem and mutual respect.

Foundation Stage

In the Foundation Stage the school uses the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework, which emphasises play-based learning and informal teaching methods to build foundational skills. The curriculum centres on seven key areas:

Subjects at this stage include Phonics, Literacy and Mathematics, preparing children for the next stage of education.

Primary, Middle, Secondary and Sixth Form

After the Foundation Stage, students enter the formal phases of the UK National Curriculum. The Primary Stage is split into Key Stage 1 (Years 1–2) and Key Stage 2 (Years 3–6). The Middle School covers Key Stage 3 (Years 7–9), and the Secondary Stage covers Key Stage 4 (Years 10–11), during which students prepare for IGCSE examinations. From Year 12–13 (Sixth Form), students proceed to AS/A Levels and BTEC options (subject to approval). 

Subjects offered include: English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Islamic Studies, Arabic, Moral Education, Religious Studies, French, Computing, Music, Art and Physical Education. 

For full details of each stage and subject provision please see the school’s Curriculum Overview.

The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) is the educational regulatory body in Dubai. Established in 2006, its aim is to improve and maintain the quality of education offered by institutes in Dubai. To achieve its aim, KHDA inspects the performances of schools every year and judges their performance against the six-point scale. The KHDA’s six-point scale is specifically designed that ranges from outstanding to very weak. Here is the brief description of each rating in this scale:

The current KHDA rating for St. Mary Catholic High School, Al Muhaisnah, is Good.

The academic calendar at St. Mary Catholic High School Muahisnah starts in late August and ends in July.

The admission process at St. Mary Catholic High School is straightforward and based on five important steps.

Step 1 – Online Registration

The first process to initiate the admission process at the school is to fill the online application form available on the school website. After successful submission, the registration number for the child will be generated on the screen. Please note this number as it is vital for further processes.

Step 2 – Assessment

Parents will receive an email with an invite for the assessment. The assessment includes an entrance test and an oral interview. The entrance test is for the admissions in Year 1 and above. For the foundation stage, the school conducts an oral interview.

Step 3 – Outcome of Assessment

Please note that only the parents of successful candidates are notified about the outcome of the assessment. An email is sent to the parents with further instructions to secure the admission. Therefore, it is recommended that parents should recheck the email before submitting the online application. The school is not responsible for incorrect email addresses and does not entertain queries to check the status of admission.

Step 4 – Enrolment Offer

After shortlisting, the parents will receive the offer letter via email. Please accept the admission within the deadline mentioned in the email. If not, slots will be given to students in the waiting list. The admissions depend on the availability of seats.

Step 5 – Completing the Admission Process and Paying the Deposit

In this stage, parents are requested to pay the required deposit within the deadline. Besides, the following documents are required to complete the admission process:

• Birth certificate
• Passport, UAE residence visa and Emirates ID card
• Parent’s passport, UAE residence visa and Emirates ID card
• Family book (if UAE National)
• Recent passport size photograph
• Original transfer certificate
• Original academic report
• Recommendation letter issued by the previous school
• Medical declaration form
• Immunisation record
• A document declaring special educational needs

The KHDA’s age-grade guidelines are as follows:

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)

The transfer certificate is mandatory for admissions in Year 2 onwards. Those applying from outside Dubai must get their transfer certificate attested by the education ministry of that emirate. Check out the admission process of this school for more information on documents.

For further information, read the admission procedure of St. Mary Catholic High School.

The St. Mary Catholic High School Muhaisnah fees are:

For more information, view the fees structure of St. Mary Catholic High School Muhaisnah.

Currently, there are no scholarship programmes for students of St. Mary Catholic High School Al Muhaisnah.

There is a cafeteria where children can enjoy various hot and cold food items. These items are prepared in a hygienic environment and are available to students at an affordable price range. The cafeteria serves as the place for networking where children socialise with each other and eat their food. Besides, students can also bring home-packed lunch boxes.

The school provides a reliable and safe transport facility to students. Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is the transport service provider for St. Mary Catholic High School Al Muhaisnah. It manages a well-maintained fleet of buses with incredible safety and security features. Kindly visit the RTA’s counter at school from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm (Sundays to Thursdays) to register your child for transport service. The documents required for registration are:

• A copy of the parents’ Emirates ID card
• 4 recent passport-size photographs
• The registration fee (payable via cash, credit card and cheque)

The areas covered by school transport are:

• Dubai – Deira, Al Karama, Bur Dubai, Al Satwa, Al Garhoud and areas beyond Dubai World Trade Centre (WTC)
• Sharjah – All Sharjah regions

For more information, contact RTA’s representative at +971 04 2080555 and +971 04 2080566.

It is a day-only school and does not offer any boarding or hostel related facilities to students. Those living far from the school have access to the transport service offered by the school.

The school offers a limited range of holiday camps to students during the winter, spring and summer breaks. Moreover, the school also offers a ‘Special StuDIYo Design Technology’ Camp during Ramadan. The camp was offered to students aged 5 to 12 years old where they learn the art of designing new things from metal and wood. For more information, email info@studiyolab.com or call +971 50 8724598.

St. Mary Catholic High School Al Muhaisnah offers several sports facilities to students. The school has a multi-purpose indoor hall where students receive physical education training. Moreover, they also play indoor games such as badminton and basketball. It also has a full-sized outdoor basketball court that is used in competitions. The school also has a large grass-based soccer field where children play football. The soccer pitch is also used for arranging athletic races and other games in the annual sports competition.

Extra-curricular activities have become an important part of today’s school as it allows them to build modern-day skills among students. St. Mary Catholic High School Muhaisnah campus also understands the importance of non-academic activities in the overall development of students. It has designed a curriculum that integrates the extra-curricular programme to balance the academic and non-academic activities. Moreover, the school regularly updates the extra-curricular programme to ensure students learn new skills each year. It has also amended its extra-curricular programme to ensure the participation of students of determination.

At Muhaisnah campus, the extra-curricular activities are broken down by the school phase. Students of Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 have two periods where they participate in non-academic activities. Secondary students have more extra-curricular options available to them. The major activities included in the programme for secondary students are:

St. Mary Catholic High School Muhaisnah arranges several field trips for its students. One popular field trip was the visit to Legoland Dubai.

Currently, the only after-school care offered to students at Muhaisnah campus is in the form of the extra-curricular activity.

St. Mary Catholic High School Muhaisnah considers the health and safety of its students paramount. The school, within its capacity, ensures students follow a healthy and active lifestyle. The school has a well-equipped medical centre that provides medical assistance to students and staff. The school clinic has qualified and experienced healthcare professionals registered with the Dubai Health Authority (DHA). Students with minor injuries and sickness are treated within the school’s clinic. In case of serious injuries, affected students are taken to the nearby hospital and parents are informed. To learn more about the clinic, read the clinic policies of St. Mary Catholic High School Muhaisnah.

Communication with all the stakeholders, including parents, is key to the success of Saint Mary Catholic High School Al Muhainah. KHDA has also highlighted the school’s effective partnership with parents. For this purpose, the school has several modes of communication.

The parent portal is the most common mode of communication between school and parents. By simply signing into the portal, parents gain access to information such as attendance record, academic performance, news, circulars, notifications of upcoming events and much more.

Friends of Saint Mary School Muhaisnah (FOSMM) is a school-based body that arranges events, such as morning coffee, where teachers, parents and senior leadership can discuss and share their ideas.

Additionally, the school’s official website is a good source of information to both current and prospective students. Here, visitors can access information on the admission process, fees, school policies, KHDA related information and much more.

Other sources of communication include parent-teacher meetings, social media platforms and school designated WhatsApp Groups.

• Address: close to 42nd street near Lulu Village, Muhaisnah 4, Muhaisnah, Dubai, UAE.
• Telephone number: +971 04 2614014 (for general information)
• Email Address: info-smm@smgeducation.org (for general information)
• Official Website
• Facebook
• Twitter
• YouTube

What age groups does St Mary Catholic High School Muhaisnah cater to?

The school educates children from 3 to 18 years, from Foundation Stage 1 to Year 13.

Which curriculum does the school follow?

SMM follows the National Curriculum of England, blending international standards with local relevance.

What are the main stages of education at the school?

The stages are Foundation Stage, Primary (KS1 & KS2), Middle (KS3), Secondary (KS4), and Sixth Form (Years 12–13).

Which subjects are offered at St Mary Catholic High School Muhaisnah?

Students study English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Islamic Studies, Arabic, Moral Education, Religious Studies, French, Computing, Music, Art, and Physical Education.

What examinations do students take at the school?

Students sit IGCSE examinations in Years 10–11 and can pursue AS/A Levels or BTEC qualifications in Sixth Form (Years 12–13).

Note that the cover image belongs toSt. Mary Catholic High School Muhaisnah