Raffles World Academy, known locally as RWA, is an established IB World Continuum school in Umm Suqeim. It opened in September 2008 as Raffles International School West Campus and took its current name in 2012, and it now teaches more than seventeen hundred pupils from over eighty five nationalities across the full IB pathway. It is one of the more accessible IB options in the Dubai international schools market, attractive to families who want the complete Diploma route without the fees of the very top tier schools.
This profile covers the IB programmes, the fee band, the admissions calendar and the community around the school. GlobalSchoolGuide is independent and no school pays to be listed, so what follows is an editorial reference rather than a promotion.
Raffles World Academy at a glance
| Curriculum and exam boards | IB World Continuum: Primary Years, Middle Years and Diploma Programmes |
|---|---|
| Stage range | KG1 to Grade 12 (ages 3 to 18) |
| Founded | 2008 (renamed Raffles World Academy 2012) |
| Accreditation | Authorised IB World School; regulated by KHDA |
| Fee band | Value to upper mid tier (see Dubai fees guide) |
| Campus area | Al Marcup Street, Umm Suqeim 3 |
Curriculum and academics
Raffles World Academy is an authorised IB World School offering the full continuum. The Primary Years Programme runs from KG1 to Grade 5, the Middle Years Programme covers grades 6 to 10, and the school finishes with the IB Diploma Programme and the IB Courses route in grades 11 and 12. Teaching the IB from the earliest years gives the school a single inquiry led approach throughout, and the Courses option alongside the full Diploma gives older students some flexibility in how they complete the programme.
The IB Diploma is a broad, internationally portable qualification recognised by universities worldwide, and Arabic is taught as the KHDA requires. Families weighing the IB route can read our guide to the IB pathway and our shortlist of IB schools in Dubai to see how Raffles World Academy sits alongside the other Diploma providers in the city.
Want to know what Raffles World Academy will really cost?
Our Dubai fee calculator estimates total cost of place including tuition, registration, transport and the extras parents forget to budget for.
Raffles World Academy fees
Raffles World Academy spans the value to upper mid part of the Dubai market, which is part of its appeal for families who want a full IB pathway without the premium tier fees. Published tuition runs from roughly AED 33,500 in the pre kindergarten years to around AED 88,000 in the IB Diploma grades, sitting below the most expensive IB through schools mapped in our Dubai school fees guide. The fee rises by phase, with the steepest step into the Diploma years where the programme is most resource intensive.
Budget for the line items that sit on top of tuition. Expect a registration charge, a seat deposit, uniform and optional school transport, plus IB examination entry fees in the Diploma years. Dubai schools bill tuition across the terms and the KHDA caps annual increases, so the figure quoted at offer is a dependable basis for a relocation budget.
Admissions and intake
Raffles World Academy runs an August to July academic year and opens admissions ahead of each session. The school admits across the year groups subject to availability, with the early years and the start of each IB phase the most natural entry points. Because the school is well established and competitively priced, the most popular grades carry waiting lists, so families relocating to Dubai are advised to register as early as the published window allows.
Applications are made online and ask for recent school reports, passport and visa documentation and, for transfers, a transfer certificate. Applicants are assessed for their readiness for the IB programme appropriate to their age, and entry into the Diploma years takes account of MYP results or their equivalent. Plan around the school's waiting lists at the busiest grades rather than assuming an immediate place on arrival.
Location and who goes there
The campus is on Al Marcup Street in Umm Suqeim 3, within the established western belt of Dubai close to Jumeirah, Al Sufouh and the coastal communities. The location places it among a cluster of well known schools in the Umm Suqeim and Al Sufouh corridor, which keeps commutes manageable for the broad international parent body that the school's eighty five plus nationalities reflect. The mix is genuinely global rather than dominated by a single national community, which suits the international character of the IB.
For the wider picture of how the IB schools sit alongside the British, American and Indian schools across the emirate, see the Dubai schools hub.
Raffles World Academy reviews
No verified parent reviews of Raffles World Academy have been submitted to GlobalSchoolGuide yet. We hold back from publishing a star rating until we have enough verified first hand accounts to represent the school fairly, and we never fabricate ratings. If your family attends or has attended the school, please consider sharing your experience through our school reviews page to help other relocating families.
Frequently asked questions
How much are Raffles World Academy fees?
Published tuition runs from roughly AED 33,500 in the pre kindergarten years to around AED 88,000 in the IB Diploma grades, which places the school across Dubai's value to upper mid band. Budget separately for registration, a deposit and optional transport.
Is Raffles World Academy a good school?
Raffles World Academy is an established IB World Continuum school in Umm Suqeim, founded in 2008, with the full PYP, MYP and Diploma pathway. Whether it suits your family depends on wanting an all IB route at a more accessible fee than the very top tier.
What curriculum does Raffles World Academy follow?
The school is an authorised IB World School offering the Primary Years Programme from KG1 to Grade 5, the Middle Years Programme in grades 6 to 10 and the Diploma Programme in grades 11 and 12.
When do Raffles World Academy applications open?
The school runs an August to July year and opens admissions ahead of each session, admitting across the year groups subject to availability. Apply early because the most popular grades carry waiting lists.
Where is Raffles World Academy located?
Raffles World Academy is on Al Marcup Street in Umm Suqeim 3, close to Jumeirah, Al Sufouh and the coastal communities of western Dubai.
