Dunecrest American School is a IB (PYP) / IB (MYP) / IB (DP) / American Curriculum school in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Annual tuition ranges from $11,288 to $24,494 USD.
Location & Getting There
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Key Details
Key facts
About
Dunecrest American School is a co-educational day school in Dubai, UAE, offering a standards-based American curriculum from Pre-KG through Grade 12, with the IB Diploma Programme available in Grades 11 and 12. Operated by Esol Education and set on an 8-acre campus in the Al Barari area of Dubailand, the school is accredited by the Middle States Association and CIS, and emphasises collaborative, project-based learning alongside a comprehensive wellbeing programme. The school supports students aged 3 to 18 through inclusive education, an ELL programme, and a multi-tiered SEN inclusion framework.
School data verified by NanaSays. Last updated: April 2026.
Why Families Choose
Dunecrest combines the American curriculum with the IB Diploma Programme and operates an 8-acre desert-edge campus in Dubai featuring naturally lit classrooms, modern facilities, and athletic spaces designed for collaborative, project-based learning and wellness. The school is operated by Esol Education and is accredited by the Middle States Association and CIS.
Fees & Financials
| Grade / Year | Annual Fee |
|---|---|
| KG1 | AED 13,157~$ 3,585 |
| KG2 | AED 14,334~$ 3,906 |
| Pre-K | AED 11,288~$ 3,076 |
| Grade 1 | AED 19,845~$ 5,407 |
| Grade 2 | AED 19,845~$ 5,407 |
| Grade 3 | AED 19,845~$ 5,407 |
| Grade 4 | AED 19,845~$ 5,407 |
| Grade 5 | AED 21,910~$ 5,970 |
| Grade 6 | AED 21,910~$ 5,970 |
| Grade 7 | AED 21,910~$ 5,970 |
| Grade 8 | AED 21,910~$ 5,970 |
| Grade 9 | AED 24,494~$ 6,674 |
| Grade 10 | AED 24,494~$ 6,674 |
| Grade 11 | AED 24,494~$ 6,674 |
| Grade 12 | AED 24,494~$ 6,674 |
Conversions to USD use exchange rates as of April 2026.
Original currency: AED 41,500 - 90,050. Application fee: $136.
Admissions Process
- 1Complete online application (takes approximately 2–3 minutes). 2. Admissions team responds within 48 hours for completed applications. 3. Upload documents per the Documents Checklist: student passport, report cards from the previous three years in English, and any available recent standardised test scores (MAP or CAT4). 4. Upon acceptance, provide additional documents: birth certificate, parents' passports, student and parents' photos, final report card, and UAE residency documents (Residence Visa and Emirates ID) if applicable — visa documents may be submitted later if not yet available. 5. Pay application/testing fee of AED 500 when an offer is made. 6. Pay registration deposit within five days of the acceptance letter to secure the place.
Admissions Details
School Day
School day runs approximately 7:45 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. on most days. Administration hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday to Thursday, and 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Fridays. Fridays feature early dismissal: 11:50 a.m. for Early Childhood and Elementary, and 12:00 p.m. for Middle and High School.
Student Life
Elementary students wear orange polo shirts; Middle and High School students wear burgundy polo shirts. Uniforms include shorts, pants, skorts, or leggings, paired with flat closed-toe shoes (Crocs, sandals and slides are not permitted). On PE days, students may wear the PE uniform for the whole day.
The cafeteria offers balanced meals including fruits, vegetables, protein and wholesome options, with a focus on nutrition education. The lunchtime environment is designed to be bright and welcoming to support healthy eating habits. Cafeteria services are charged separately from tuition.
Wellbeing & Safety
Dunecrest's Wellbeing Policy focuses on mental and emotional health through a comprehensive counseling program offering individual and group counseling for students, staff, and parents. Staff receive professional development on mental health and wellbeing. SEL is delivered through programs, workshops, advisory sessions, the Second Step Program, and UAE Moral Education curriculum. A peer support system encourages help-seeking. The school uses Komodo wellbeing data, PASS results, and wellbeing surveys to identify needs and guide interventions. External mental health professionals are engaged as needed.
Dunecrest maintains a Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy aligned with UAE Federal Law No. 3 of 2016 (Wadeema's Law). The policy aims to prevent abuse, neglect, exploitation, and harassment, outlines procedures for reporting and responding to concerns, and establishes a child-safe environment across staff and students.
Student Demographics
School Background
Established and operated by Esol Education, described as the world's largest operator of international American schools.