On this page
For the full picture of senior provision, start with our international schools in Dubai directory, which lists every school by curriculum and stage. The schools below all run an examined Years 12 to 13 programme that leads directly to university entry, and they admit by application rather than by residential catchment. This is a shortlist to research, not a ranking, and provision changes, so confirm current pathways with each school.
If you are weighing the qualification itself, our guides to A-levels and the International Baccalaureate explain how each is examined and recognised by universities. Families comparing senior options should also read our wider Dubai secondary schools guide and the related shortlists for special educational needs and the most affordable international schools in Dubai.
The shortlist
Repton School Dubai
Repton School Dubai, on its Nad Al Sheba campus, follows the English National Curriculum and is unusual in offering both A-levels and the IB Diploma in the sixth form, so a family can choose between specialising and breadth within one school. It is also the only British school in Dubai with boarding, which suits sixth formers relocating without family. For students who want the option to switch between an A-level and an IB Diploma route, Repton is a natural first call.
Dubai College
Dubai College is a long established, academically selective British school that teaches IGCSE followed by A-levels in Years 12 and 13, and it holds a KHDA Outstanding rating. It is a strong fit for families who want a wholly British sixth form with the three or four subject specialism A-levels allow, and a track record of competitive university destinations. Places are sought after, so register interest early.
Jumeirah College
Jumeirah College, part of the GEMS group, is a KHDA Outstanding British school that teaches A-levels in the sixth form. It offers a broad A-level subject list and a settled, well resourced senior school, making it a dependable choice for families who want an examined British post-16 pathway without boarding. Confirm the subjects available for the year of entry, as A-level options are reviewed each year.
Nord Anglia International School Dubai
Nord Anglia International School Dubai offers a choice between A-levels and the IB Diploma in the sixth form, letting students pick the credential that best matches their strengths and target universities. As part of a large international group it brings a broad senior curriculum and global links, which appeals to internationally mobile families who may move again before university.
How we chose
We included only Dubai schools we could confirm run a genuine, externally examined sixth form leading to university entry, A-levels, the IB Diploma or both, and that enrol students through to Year 13. We did not rank them, score them or attach ratings, because the right sixth form depends on your child's subjects, the qualification universities in your target country prefer, and the fit of the school. Verify current subject lists and pathways directly, as schools add and retire options year to year. Note too that Dubai schools admit by application and assessment rather than by catchment, and the most selective sixth forms weigh prior attainment, so eligibility and timing matter as much as the academic fit.
Shortlist Dubai schools for your child
Tell us your child's stage, curriculum and priorities and the school finder returns a matched Dubai shortlist.
Start the school finderFees and next steps
Sixth form fees in Dubai sit at the top of each school's fee scale, and the most established A-level and IB Diploma schools, including Dubai College, Jumeirah College, Repton School Dubai and Nord Anglia International School Dubai, are in the upper fee tier, with Repton charging more again for boarding places. Rather than quote figures that move each year, we keep the live bands in one place: see our guide to international school fees in Dubai for current tuition by school and curriculum, and confirm the exact sixth form figure, plus any examination and registration costs, with the school before you apply.
To build a shortlist around your child, use the school finder, browse the full Dubai schools directory, or compare the related shortlists for special educational needs and the most affordable international schools in Dubai.
Common questions
Dubai College and Jumeirah College both teach A-levels in Years 12 and 13, and Repton School Dubai and Nord Anglia International School Dubai offer A-levels alongside other post-16 routes. Confirm the subject list with each school for the year of entry, as A-level options change from year to year.
Repton School Dubai and Nord Anglia International School Dubai both run the IB Diploma Programme in the sixth form, and several other Dubai IB World Schools offer the Diploma in Years 12 and 13. Check the current Diploma subject options directly with each school.
Neither is universally better. A-levels let a student specialise in three or four subjects, while the IB Diploma is broader, with six subjects plus the core. Universities in the UK, the United States and elsewhere accept both, so the right choice depends on your child's strengths and target universities. Our curriculum guides compare them in detail.
Sixth form sits at the top of each school's fee scale, and the most established A-level and IB Diploma schools in Dubai are in the upper fee tier. Rather than quote a figure that dates quickly, we keep current bands in our international school fees in Dubai guide, and you should confirm the exact post-16 fee with each school.
No. Dubai international schools admit by application and assessment, not by where you live, and demand for the strongest sixth forms is high. Apply directly, check entry requirements and prior-attainment expectations, and start early for the most sought after schools.