Dubai International Academy in Emirates Hills is the longest established International Baccalaureate continuum school in the UAE and was the first school to open in the Emirates Hills district, in 2005. Part of the Innoventures Education group, it teaches the full IB pathway and is the only full IB curriculum school in the emirate to hold the KHDA's Outstanding rating, the regulator's top grade. It sits among the strongest options in the Dubai international schools market.
This profile sets out the IB pathway, the premium fee band, the admissions calendar and the community around the school. GlobalSchoolGuide is independent and no school pays to be listed.
Dubai International Academy Emirates Hills at a glance
| Curriculum and exam boards | Full IB continuum: PYP, MYP and Diploma Programme |
|---|---|
| Stage range | KG1 to Grade 12 (ages 4 to 18) |
| Founded | 2005 |
| Regulator and rating | KHDA rated Outstanding (most recent published cycle) |
| Fee band | Premium tier (see Dubai fees guide) |
| Campus area | Emirates Hills, First Al Khail Street |
Curriculum and academics
Dubai International Academy runs the International Baccalaureate continuum, with the Primary Years Programme in the early and primary years, the Middle Years Programme through lower secondary and the IB Diploma Programme in the sixth form. As the first school in the country authorised across the full IB framework, it has a longer track record with the programmes than almost any school in the region, which is reflected in its sustained Outstanding rating.
The continuum suits families who want a single international framework from the early years to university entry, with the Diploma widely recognised by universities in the United Kingdom, the United States, Europe and beyond. The school reports its own Diploma outcomes each year; as an independent guide we point families to the school's published data rather than ranking schools against one another here.
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Dubai International Academy Emirates Hills fees
Dubai International Academy Emirates Hills sits in the premium tier of the Dubai market. Published tuition for 2025 to 2026 runs from around AED 45,000 at KG1 to roughly AED 80,000 in the senior grades, as mapped in our Dubai school fees guide. Tuition is capped and approved by the KHDA each year, so confirm the current figure for your child's grade before you budget.
Plan for the standard premium tier extras on top of tuition: a registration charge, a capital or facility levy, transport if you live outside the immediate area, and IB examination entry fees in the senior years. To see how it sits among the city's strongest schools, read our roundup of the best international schools in Dubai.
Admissions and intake
The school runs an August to June academic year and admits across year groups subject to availability, with KG the main early intake and the sixth form a second key entry point. Given its Outstanding rating and established reputation, it frequently operates waiting lists at popular grades, so early application in the published window matters for relocating families.
Admission is based on prior school reports, age appropriate assessment and, in the senior school, evidence that the applicant can manage the IB Diploma workload. Applicants should prepare recent report cards, passport and visa documents and a transfer certificate where the KHDA requires one.
Location and who goes there
The campus is on First Al Khail Street in Emirates Hills, a coastal western district of Dubai close to the Springs, the Meadows, Dubai Marina and Jumeirah Lake Towers. The location places it among the most established school addresses in the city and within easy reach of the affluent villa communities where much of its parent body lives, keeping commutes short across the western suburbs.
For the wider view of how this school sits alongside the British, American and Indian options across the emirate, see the Dubai schools hub.
Dubai International Academy Emirates Hills reviews
No verified parent reviews of Dubai International Academy Emirates Hills 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 useful to parents, and we never invent ratings. If your family attends or has attended Dubai International Academy Emirates Hills, you can help other relocating parents by sharing your experience through our school reviews page.
Frequently asked questions
How much are Dubai International Academy Emirates Hills fees?
Published tuition for 2025 to 2026 runs from around AED 45,000 at KG1 to roughly AED 80,000 in the senior grades, placing the school in Dubai's premium fee tier. The KHDA approves the maximum each year, so confirm the figure for your child's grade.
What curriculum does Dubai International Academy follow?
Dubai International Academy Emirates Hills teaches the full International Baccalaureate continuum: the Primary Years Programme, the Middle Years Programme and the IB Diploma Programme, from KG1 to Grade 12.
Is Dubai International Academy a good school?
It is the only full IB curriculum school in Dubai to hold the KHDA's Outstanding rating, the regulator's top grade, and the longest established IB continuum school in the UAE. Whether it suits your child depends on your preference for the IB and the Emirates Hills location.
Where is Dubai International Academy Emirates Hills located?
The school is on First Al Khail Street in Emirates Hills, a western district of Dubai close to the Springs, the Meadows, Dubai Marina and Jumeirah Lake Towers.
When do Dubai International Academy applications open?
The school runs an August to June year and opens admissions ahead of each session, with KG and the sixth form the main intakes. It often runs waiting lists, so apply early.
