American International School vs Greenwood International School
American International School and Greenwood International School are both in Dubai, about 13 km apart. Both schools follow an American curriculum. Published annual fees are AED 17,490 - 29,066 at American International School and AED 20,124 - 30,860 at Greenwood International School, which puts Greenwood International School roughly 10% higher. Both take pupils from 4 to 18. American International School is the larger school, with around 2,725 pupils to Greenwood International School's 1,260.
American International School Dubai is located in Al Qusais 1, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The mailing address is PO Box 87727, 6th Street, Al Qusais 1. The campus sits in a cosmopolitan northeast Dubai district and serves a multinational student body. The school is part of the Athena Education group.
Location
Schools Complex, Muhaisnah 1, Dubai, UAE
Stages
Stages
KG1 to Grade 12 (Kindergarten through High School), with learning divided into Kindergarten, Elementary, Middle, and High School.
Stages
KG1-KG2, Grades 1-12
School type
School type
Private, independent international school. It offers co-education up to Grade 5; from Grade 6, classes are separated by gender.
School type
Co-educational Day School
Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
The student body is multinational; most students are Arab nationals, contributing to a cosmopolitan school community.
Pupil nationality mix
Diverse international student body
Additional learning support
Additional learning support
AIS Dubai maintains an inclusive approach. It welcomes Students of Determination, students who are gifted and talented, and students who study English as an Additional Language (EAL). An Inclusion Lead coordinates targeted support and works with staff to implement individualized programs where needed.
Additional learning support
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Country affiliation
Country affiliation
No formal country affiliation; the curriculum is based on the American Curriculum.
Country affiliation
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Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
No formal religious affiliation; Islamic values are integrated within the American Education Program.
Religious affiliation
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School day structure
School day structure
The school day starts around 7:30 AM and ends around 2:15 PM on Monday–Thursday, with a Friday dismissal at 11:00 AM.
School day structure
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Bus service details
Bus service details
AIS operates its own bus service with four main routes: Sharjah, Deira, New Dubai, and Bur Dubai. Routes cover areas including Al Qusais; yearly transportation fees vary by route (e.g., 7,300 AED two-way for Sharjah, 6,850 AED for Deira, 8,400 AED for New Dubai, 7,300 AED for Bur Dubai).
Bus service details
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Fees
Fees
Fee details
Fee details
Application and registration fees
- New-student registration / application fee: AED 525, non‑refundable and inclusive of VAT. - KHDA fact sheets list an application fee of AED 500 for new students (assessment included). - Enrolment deposit (new students): up to 10% of the annual tuition, non‑refundable and deductible from the first‑term fees. - Re‑enrolment fee (returning students): up to 5% of the tuition fee or AED 500 (whichever is higher), non‑refundable and deductible from the first‑term fees.
- Tuition is presented as an annual fee; enrolment and re‑enrolment charges are deducted from the first‑term payment. - Enrolment deposit (up to 10% of tuition) and re‑enrolment fees (up to 5% or AED 500) are charged as described above and are non‑refundable. These amounts are applied against the first‑term fees. - The school's published materials state that an approved tuition‑increase percentage has been included in the stated tuition levels.
Boarding fees
- Boarding is not listed in the school's fees fact sheets; no boarding fees are provided. Boarding is therefore not applicable.
Other mandatory and optional costs
- Required/supplied items (examples shown by grade): - Uniform: generally AED 625–650 (grade dependent). - Books / required education supplies: amounts vary by grade (examples range from about AED 1,050 up to AED 3,525). - School ID card replacement: AED 150. - Optional services and typical price ranges (charged separately): - Transport: AED 6,850 to AED 8,400 (range shown). - Extracurricular activities: AED 300 to AED 1,700 (per activity or programme, as listed). - Medical fee: AED 225. - Club activities, costumes, trips, camps, enrichment and other optional items: price ranges are published (examples include local trips AED 200–1,200; overseas trips AED 7,500–14,000; enrichment/skill programmes AED 225–1,600; summer/winter camps AED 250–1,250; STEM programme AED 500). - Some grades list specialty items (e.g., robotic device AED 350–750, national test fees, external SEND assessment ranges).
Discounts and concessions
- Sibling discounts: second sibling 3%; third sibling 5%; fourth sibling 5% (as applicable). - Welcoming discount (where applicable): 10%. School employees may receive discounts (up to 50% stated where applicable).
Refunds and non‑refundables
- Registration / application fees, enrolment deposit (up to 10% of tuition) and re‑enrolment fees (up to 5% of tuition or AED 500) are non‑refundable. Enrolment and re‑enrolment charges are deducted from the first‑term fees when applicable.
Fee payment options and contacts
- Online parent portal: the school uses a parent/ERP portal for enrolment and parent services. Payments may be handled through the school's parent portal. - In person: the school records a reception, cashier and accounts contacts for payments at school. - Bank transfer / accounts: the school lists admissions and accounts contacts (phone numbers and email addresses) to obtain payment instructions and bank details from the accounts office. Use the admissions or accounts contact for bank transfer details and to confirm accepted payment methods.
Late payment / non‑payment
- Re‑enrolment and the requirement to clear outstanding fees are enforced; the fact sheets and admissions pages specify non‑refundability for deposits and that fees are payable according to the school's terms. For account or payment queries contact the accounts office listed above.
Notes
- The figures above are shown in UAE Dirhams (AED) as published by the school in the school‑level fee fact sheets and fee pages. The fact sheets also list a number of optional charges and supplies by grade; those optional items are billed separately when required.
Fee details
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Diving deeper
Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements
Boarding arrangements
Boarding is not provided. The American International School in Abu Dhabi operates as a day school. The IB World School profile lists boarding facilities as DAY. Transportation is available via a school bus service for students who require travel to and from campus.
Boarding arrangements
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Uniform requirement
Uniform requirement
There is a school uniform. Uniforms are sold on campus on Monday to Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Parents should purchase uniforms before the first day of school.
Uniform requirement
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Food options
Food options
The canteen is open during the school day; students can purchase meals from the cafeteria or bring their own lunch. The canteen is catered by Food Nation; lunches can be pre-purchased using the Spare app; KG1-G4 must pre-order lunches and students in Grades 5-12 can purchase lunch in the canteen.
Food options
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House system
House system
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House system
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Governance and ownership
Governance and ownership
The American International School in Abu Dhabi is part of Esol Education and is one of ten ESOL Education schools in the Middle East. ESOL Education owns and operates AISA as part of its network.
Governance and ownership
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Academics
Academics
Curriculum details
Curriculum details
AIS Dubai delivers a KG-12 program that begins with California Transitional Kindergarten Standards for KG1 and California Common Core Kindergarten Standards for KG2, moving to an American curriculum framework in the upper grades. In Elementary (Grades 1–5), English and Math follow the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) with Science aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), and the program includes Arabic & Islamic Studies, UAE Social Studies under MOE guidelines, plus ICT, French, Art, Music, and Physical Education. Middle School (Grades 6–8) uses the American system with specialist teachers across English, Math, Science, Arabic, Islamic Studies, ICT, Social Studies, Art, Music, French, and PE, and its curriculum is built on CCSS and NGSS with UAE heritage integrated throughout. High School (Grades 9–12) culminates in an American High School Diploma requiring a minimum of 22 credits (up to 27), and offers Advanced Placement (AP) courses with counseling support for course planning. Across the school, curriculum foundations include CCSS for English/Math, NGSS for Science, AERO for Social Studies and World Languages, SHAPE for Physical Education, NCAS for Visual/Performing Arts, and MOE standards for Arabic/Islamic/UAE Social Studies, with AP options in the senior years.
Curriculum details
American curriculum aligned with Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and Michigan state standards, plus UAE MOE requirements
Student teacher ratio
Student teacher ratio
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Student teacher ratio
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Exam results
Exam results
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Exam results
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Higher education progression
Higher education progression
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Higher education progression
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Gifted and talented
Gifted and talented
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Gifted and talented
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Academic calendar
Academic calendar
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Academic calendar
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Wellbeing & support
Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning
Social & emotional learning
Social and Emotional Learning is supported through the High School Counsellor, the Inclusion Lead who coordinates targeted student supports, and a Safeguarding and Wellbeing team established to address welfare concerns.
Social & emotional learning
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Special educational needs (SEN)
Special educational needs (SEN)
The school is inclusive and welcomes Students of Determination and English as an Additional Language (EAL); an Inclusion Lead coordinates specialized support programs and liaises with outside agencies as needed.
Special educational needs (SEN)
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English as an additional language
English as an additional language
English as an Additional Language (EAL) is explicitly named as a group welcomed and served within the Inclusion Guidelines.
English as an additional language
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Mental wellbeing
Mental wellbeing
Mental wellbeing is supported by the Safeguarding and Wellbeing team and by access to counseling through the school's Counsellor (High School) as part of the Inclusion and Student Care framework.
Mental wellbeing
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Safeguarding
Safeguarding
Safeguarding and child protection policies include clearly stated roles and reporting procedures, staff training, safe recruitment, and collaboration with outside agencies to safeguard students.
Safeguarding
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Safeguarding policy
Safeguarding policy
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Safeguarding policy
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Facilities
Facilities
Facilities overview
Facilities overview
AIS Dubai offers a campus with facilities for academics, sports and the arts for students from Kindergarten through Grade 12. Two auditoriums on campus support performances and assemblies, with capacities of 280 and 150. Academic facilities include dedicated science laboratories: Chemistry Lab, Biology Lab, Physics Lab and Integrated Science Lab, and two computer labs with interactive whiteboards. The library provides print and digital resources, online periodical databases, and computers for student and staff research. Creative spaces include art rooms, music rooms, drama and creative play rooms, and sports facilities with two artificial grass football fields, a basketball court, a throw ball court and a badminton court.
Facilities overview
The school operates across two campuses (Nakhleh and Sidr) and features STEM rooms, ICT labs, libraries, and gymnasiums.
Sports facilities
Sports facilities
Two artificial grass football fields; a basketball court; a throw ball court; and a badminton court are on campus. The kindergarten wing includes an indoor activity room for creative play and outdoor play areas for Kindergarten to Grade 2, with access managed as per KHDA Covid-19 safety rules.
Sports facilities
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Academic facilities
Academic facilities
Academic facilities include dedicated Chemistry Lab, Biology Lab, Physics Lab, and Integrated Science Lab for Middle and High School students; two Computer Labs with desktop computers and interactive whiteboards for ICT instruction; and IT resources with internet access.
Academic facilities
STEM rooms, ICT labs, and libraries support academic learning across the curriculum.
Extra curricular facilities
Extra curricular facilities
Art rooms, music rooms and drama/creative play rooms support arts clubs and performances. The school operates two auditoriums for events and has a kindergarten indoor activity room and outdoor play spaces to support early-years activities, with access during the school weekdays._source: AIS Facilities PDF turn2view0
Extra curricular facilities
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Parent experience
Parent experience
History
History
AIS Dubai was inaugurated in August 2003 and began welcoming students in September 2003. It is part of Athena Education, based in the UAE, and is located in Al Nahda Quasis-1. The school follows an American international program from KG1 to Grade 12 and now serves a multinational student body with about 2,500 students and roughly 211 staff members. The campus offers KG1 through Grade 12, with co-education up to Grade 5 and gender-segregated classes from Grade 6. This structure supports a U.S.-style high school diploma pathway within a cosmopolitan UAE context.
History
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Community
Community
AIS Dubai serves a multinational community in the UAE and integrates Islamic values within its American education framework. Community life is visible in student leadership initiatives and in School Stories, which document various activities and events. Notable events include Emirati Children's Day and Hag Al Laila celebrations, Mother's Day activities in Kindergarten, a robotics workshop, and an Arabic and Islamic fair, all reflecting a family- and culture-focused campus rhythm. The school maintains accessible parent communications through a Parent Portal and regular newsletters to keep families engaged with campus life.
Community
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Parent teacher association
Parent teacher association
AIS Dubai does not publish a separate PTA page on its site; however, parent involvement is facilitated through formal channels like the Parent Portal and the school's monthly newsletters. Family engagement is further supported by events and activities highlighted in School Stories, including AIS Science Fair, Emirati Children's Day and Hag al Laila celebrations, and Arabic & Islamic fairs, which frequently involve families. The Student Leadership area shows opportunities for student-led activities that commonly engage parents and the wider community. Regular parent communication is enabled through the Parent Portal and the school's newsletters, ensuring families receive event invitations and important information. AIS also invites parental input and participation around campus life via these communications and through school tours and general reach-out channels.
Parent teacher association
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Extra-curricular
Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual
Academic & intellectual
AIS Dubai offers a broad set of after‑school clubs that extend learning beyond the classroom. High school clubs include Students Council, UNESCO, Health Club, Techno Innovation Club, Art Club, Journalism Club, Career Committee, Social and Moral Club, English Club, French Club, Arabic Club, Choir Club, and Science Club. The school hosts education‑focused events such as a University Fair with over 40 universities and a Study Abroad Virtual Fair. The Student Leadership program provides formal structures for clubs, with elected Presidents and Vice Presidents and opportunities to propose new clubs and lead initiatives.
Academic & intellectual
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Arts & creative
Arts & creative
Arts and creativity are active components of student life, featuring Art Club and Choir Club as part of the after‑school offerings. The high school clubs list demonstrates multiple creative and performance pathways, alongside language and academic clubs. Students participate in arts‑focused events and showcases through the school's activities program.
Arts & creative
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Cultural & language
Cultural & language
Language clubs include English Club, French Club and Arabic Club, with UNESCO Club supporting global and cultural awareness. The school observes cultural events such as UAE Flag Day and UAE National Day, and hosts internationally oriented activities like International Teaches Day. These cultural offerings are complemented by global‑mocused events and clubs that connect students to broader cultural perspectives.
Cultural & language
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Social & hobbies
Social & hobbies
Students engage in social and hobby activities through clubs such as Social and Moral Club, English Club, French Club, Arabic Club, Journalism Club, Art Club, and Choir Club. The Student Council coordinates school events and fosters community, collaboration, and school spirit across departments. These clubs provide avenues for peer interaction, creativity, and personal interests beyond academics.
Social & hobbies
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Community & service
Community & service
The Student Leadership program emphasizes service and community engagement, with leadership roles that enable students to contribute to outreach and school improvement projects. Student Council members may volunteer as needed and participate in community‑oriented initiatives as part of their leadership duties. These opportunities are embedded in the club framework and leadership processes described for AIS Dubai.
Community & service
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Leadership & professional
Leadership & professional
AIS Dubai places a strong emphasis on leadership and professional development through its Student Leadership program. Each club designates two Presidents and two Vice Presidents (one from the girls' and one from the boys' section), with interviews and a formal appointment process. The Career Counselor/Head of Activities reviews club objectives each year, and student leaders develop time management, delegation, teamwork, communication, inquiry, problem‑solving, and emotional intelligence.
Leadership & professional
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Lifestyle & wellbeing
Lifestyle & wellbeing
Wellbeing is supported through a comprehensive athletics program and campus recreation. The Athletics program includes Soccer, Tennis, Golf, Basketball, Volleyball, Track & Field, Cross Country, Badminton, and Swimming, with team‑based competition beginning in Elementary and continuing at U14, JV, and Varsity levels; AIS participates in JEAC, EAC, and NESAC leagues. The Campus Recreation program provides after‑school recreation, intramural leagues, and pay‑per‑term offerings with external providers on campus for sport, arts, science, and technology, and also hosts activities for the school community and families.
Lifestyle & wellbeing
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Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
English is the language of instruction across Kindergarten through Grade 12, and in Kindergarten language development emphasizes reinforcing the home language while acquiring a second language. Arabic and French are taught as language subjects across the grade levels; Elementary includes Arabic Language and French as specialist subjects, and Middle School includes both languages. In High School, language study is organized under a World Language domain, indicating continued language study through graduation. Non-native English speakers have access to English as an Additional Language (EAL) support through the Inclusion team.
Language provision
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Bilingual teaching
Bilingual teaching
English is the language of instruction across Kindergarten through Grade 12, and in Kindergarten language development emphasizes reinforcing the home language while acquiring a second language. In Elementary and secondary grades, Arabic and French are taught as language subjects; Arabic is presented as Arabic Language and Arabic Social Studies, while French is offered as a dedicated language course. A formal bilingual instruction program delivering content in two languages is not described. English is the primary language of instruction throughout the grade levels.
Bilingual teaching
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Immersion programs
Immersion programs
AIS Dubai does not advertise formal language immersion programs. English is the language of instruction across the school, with Arabic and French taught as separate language subjects across grade levels. The curriculum descriptions do not indicate any immersion features or outcomes.
Immersion programs
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Reputation
Reputation
Awards
Awards
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Awards
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Accreditations
Accreditations
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Accreditations
10-year Good rating from KHDA
Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
1. Complete the student enquiry form online or during a walk‑in visit to the school. The process records your contact details and allows the school to begin the admission discussion. The school will contact you if a vacancy exists and outline the next steps.
2. Book a school tour to see the campus and facilities. The tour helps you understand the learning environment and the resources available for your child. After the tour, the school will communicate any further steps if a vacancy is available.
3. The school contacts you if a vacancy is available and schedules the next steps in the admission process. Availability depends on space in the relevant year group and adherence to the admissions policy. You will receive information on required assessments or meetings as part of this communication.
4. Sibling priority is given in the admission process. Priority is stated for siblings who are students at the school. If a vacancy is not immediately available, the school will communicate next steps and potential timelines accordingly.
5. A waiting system is offered in cases where there is no immediate vacancy. The school will contact you as soon as a vacancy arises. This waiting mechanism is part of the placement process outlined in the admissions steps.
6. Placement processes are in line with regulatory requirements and vary by grade. Gatekeeping steps include readiness assessments where applicable and discussions with teachers or the elementary/middle/high school teams. The process for each grade ensures appropriate placement decisions and next steps.
7. Documents for submission include: photos, birth certificate, vaccination card, passport and residence visa copies (for non-UAE citizens), Emirates IDs for parents, medical file, last report card, and transfer certificate where applicable. The school provides guidance on these requirements and how they should be submitted. Certain documents may be required for transfer, online submission options are noted for applicants outside the UAE.
8. Transfer Certificate (TC) process: submit the TC from the current school, pay KHDA‑related fees for attestation, and provide the KHDA‑attested TC as part of the admission package. There are grade‑level specifics for TC submission and attestation depending on the student's current location. The KHDA guidelines govern the transfer procedures and documentation.
9. Inclusion admissions: assessments and supports are designed for students with special needs, including those with English as an Additional Language (EAL) and students of determination. The school follows KHDA guidance for inclusive practices and may request relevant assessments to tailor services.
Admissions
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Scholarships
Scholarships
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Scholarships
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Waitlist
Waitlist
The school offers a waiting system if there is no immediate vacancy. If no seat is available at the time of inquiry, parents are placed on a waitlist and contacted as soon as a vacancy arises. Priority is given to siblings when vacancies become available.
