Deutsche Internationale Schule Dubai, usually shortened to DISD or the German International School, is the city's main German curriculum school, founded in 2008 in Dubai Academic City. It teaches in German following the Thuringian state curriculum and prepares pupils for the Deutsches Internationales Abitur, the German school leaving qualification recognised by universities across Germany and beyond. It is one of the more specialised options in the Dubai international schools market, built around the German speaking community.
This profile sets out the German pathway and the Abitur, the fee band, the admissions calendar and the community the school serves. GlobalSchoolGuide is independent and no school pays to be listed.
Deutsche Internationale Schule Dubai at a glance
| Curriculum and exam boards | German curriculum (Thuringian); Deutsches Internationales Abitur (DIA) |
|---|---|
| Stage range | Pre Kindergarten to Grade 12 (ages 3 to 18) |
| Founded | 2008 |
| Recognition | Official German school abroad; Abitur authorised by the German Standing Conference (KMK), 2011 |
| Fee band | Mid to upper mid tier (see Dubai fees guide) |
| Campus area | Dubai Academic City |
Curriculum and academics
DISD teaches in German according to the Thuringian state curriculum and carries pupils through to the Deutsches Internationales Abitur, the German International Abitur taken across Years 11 and 12. The qualification was authorised by the German Standing Conference of education ministers, the KMK, in 2011, which means the Abitur awarded in Dubai carries the same standing as one earned in Germany. The school structures the senior years as the qualification phase, with the final examinations feeding directly into the Abitur grade.
For children arriving without fluent German, the school provides German as a foreign language support so they can move into the mainstream programme. Families weighing the German route against the British, American or IB systems can read our guide to the German curriculum schools abroad, which explains how the Abitur compares with other university entrance qualifications.
Want to estimate the cost of a place at DISD?
Our Dubai fee calculator brings tuition, registration, transport and the extras together so you can plan the full cost of relocation.
Deutsche Internationale Schule Dubai fees
| Stage | Annual tuition |
|---|---|
| Kindergarten 1 | AED 38,760 |
| Grade 1 | AED 45,730 |
| Grade 6 | AED 62,656 |
| Grades 11 to 12 (Abitur) | AED 73,227 |
Source: Deutsche Internationale Schule Dubai (germanschool.ae). German curriculum to Abitur (KHDA). Plus a one-time AED 525 application fee. Fees are the most recent published figures and exclude one-off costs such as registration, deposits and capital levies. Always confirm current fees directly with the school.
DISD sits in the mid to upper mid part of the Dubai market. Published tuition runs from around AED 38,000 in the early years to roughly AED 73,000 in the senior Abitur grades, which keeps it below the top British and IB schools but in line with the upper middle of the market mapped in our Dubai school fees guide. The pricing reflects its status as a specialist German school rather than a large commercial group.
Budget for the standard extras alongside tuition: a registration charge, a refundable deposit, books and uniform, and transport if needed. Families whose children need language support should note that German as a foreign language is charged separately, at around AED 4,800 to 5,500 a year depending on the stage, so factor that in when the child is new to German.
Admissions and intake
DISD runs a German style academic year and admits mainly at the early years, with places at other grades subject to availability and, for the senior school, to the applicant's level of German. The school assesses readiness and, for older pupils, German language competence, because the programme is delivered in German. Children without sufficient German can often still join lower down the school with the support of the language programme.
Applicants should prepare recent report cards, passport and visa documentation and a transfer certificate where the KHDA requires one. Because the German speaking pool in Dubai is relatively contained, the school is a close knit community and entry at the most popular early years places benefits from an early application.
Location and who goes there
The campus is in Dubai Academic City, the education focused district in the south east of the city that also hosts several universities. While the location is some distance from the older centre, it is well connected to Dubai Marina, Jumeirah Beach Residence, Jumeirah Lake Towers, Emirates Hills, the Springs and the Meadows and the Sheikh Zayed Road corridor, where much of the German and wider European community lives. Many families make the commute from these western and central neighbourhoods.
For the wider view of how the German sector sits alongside the British, American, IB and Indian schools across the emirate, the Dubai schools hub maps the whole market.
Deutsche Internationale Schule Dubai reviews
No verified parent reviews of Deutsche Internationale Schule Dubai have been submitted to GlobalSchoolGuide yet. We do not publish a star rating until we have collected enough verified first hand accounts to be fair to the school, and we never invent ratings. If your family attends or has attended DISD, please share your experience through our school reviews page to help other German speaking families.
Frequently asked questions
How much are Deutsche Internationale Schule Dubai fees?
Published tuition at DISD runs from around AED 38,000 in the early years to roughly AED 73,000 in the senior Abitur grades, placing it in Dubai's mid to upper mid fee tier. German as a foreign language support is charged separately at around AED 4,800 to 5,500 a year.
What curriculum does DISD follow?
DISD teaches in German following the Thuringian state curriculum and prepares pupils for the Deutsches Internationales Abitur, authorised by the German Standing Conference (KMK) in 2011.
Is Deutsche Internationale Schule Dubai a good school?
DISD is recognised as an official German school abroad and its Abitur carries the same standing as one earned in Germany. Suitability depends mainly on whether the German language pathway fits your family's plans.
Does DISD accept children who do not speak German?
Yes. DISD provides German as a foreign language support, charged separately, so children new to German can often join lower down the school and move into the mainstream programme over time.
Where is Deutsche Internationale Schule Dubai located?
DISD is in Dubai Academic City in the south east of the city, with many families commuting from Dubai Marina, Emirates Hills, the Springs and the Sheikh Zayed Road corridor.
