Dubai Modern Education School vs Greenwood International School
Dubai Modern Education School and Greenwood International School are both in Dubai, about 1 km apart. Both schools offer American programmes, and Dubai Modern Education School also offers UAE. Published annual fees are AED 13,487 - 24,763 at Dubai Modern Education School and AED 20,124 - 30,860 at Greenwood International School, which puts Greenwood International School roughly 33% higher. Both take pupils from 4 to 18. Dubai Modern Education School is the larger school, with around 2,004 pupils to Greenwood International School's 1,260.
Dubai Modern Education School is located on Algeria Street in Al-Mizhar 1, Dubai, UAE. The campus sits in the Al Mizhar district among other private schools and is accessible via major Dubai routes. The school provides a local address and contact details for inquiries and campus visits.
Location
Schools Complex, Muhaisnah 1, Dubai, UAE
Stages
Stages
DMES runs two curricula: the US School with the US California State Curriculum (Kindergarten to Grade 12) and the MOE School with the UAE Ministry of Education Curriculum (Grades 1–12). The school is structured as a K-12 institution across both streams, and NEASC accreditation is pursued for the US stream.
Stages
KG1-KG2, Grades 1-12
School type
School type
DMES is a private, co-educational day school. There is no publicly listed boarding facility.
School type
Co-educational Day School
Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
DMES serves a culturally diverse student body with representation from over 40 nationalities; Emirati students make up a significant portion of the student body, with international students representing the remainder; the school describes its population as academically and culturally diverse.
Pupil nationality mix
Diverse international student body
Additional learning support
Additional learning support
DMES identifies itself as inclusive and uses differentiated instruction, project-based learning, and inclusive education. There are dedicated inclusion resources to support students with diverse learning needs.
Additional learning support
—
Country affiliation
Country affiliation
Affiliations: United States (via the US School and US California Curriculum) and United Arab Emirates (via MOE Curriculum).
Country affiliation
—
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
No formal religious affiliation is stated.
Religious affiliation
—
School day structure
School day structure
The regular school day typically runs from about 7:45 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, with a shorter day around 1:00 p.m. on Fridays; exact times may vary by grade and program.
School day structure
—
Bus service details
Bus service details
DMES operates 18 buses on multiple routes across Dubai. Bus registration is handled by the school's transport team; safety rules include seat belts, and buses run on scheduled times with no waiting beyond schedule. The Transportation Supervisor is the contact for inquiries.
Per-term breakdown (term instalments by year group)
- The school issues tuition invoices by term. The three-term billing pattern used by Dubai schools (first-term larger, then two smaller equal instalments) is commonly used on KHDA fact sheets and school fee schedules; the per-term figures below apply a 40% / 30% / 30% split to the annual tuition amounts and are presented as whole-dirham instalments:
- KG1 / KG2 (Annual AED 13,487): Term 1 AED 5,395; Term 2 AED 4,046; Term 3 AED 4,046. - Grade 1 (Annual AED 17,537): Term 1 AED 7,015; Term 2 AED 5,261; Term 3 AED 5,261. - Grade 2 (Annual AED 17,665): Term 1 AED 7,066; Term 2 AED 5,299; Term 3 AED 5,300. - Grade 3 (Annual AED 17,789): Term 1 AED 7,116; Term 2 AED 5,337; Term 3 AED 5,336. - Grade 4 (Annual AED 19,177): Term 1 AED 7,671; Term 2 AED 5,753; Term 3 AED 5,753. - Grade 5 (Annual AED 19,428): Term 1 AED 7,771; Term 2 AED 5,828; Term 3 AED 5,829. - Grade 6 (Annual AED 19,617): Term 1 AED 7,847; Term 2 AED 5,885; Term 3 AED 5,885. - Grade 7 (Annual AED 22,032): Term 1 AED 8,813; Term 2 AED 6,610; Term 3 AED 6,609. - Grade 8 (Annual AED 22,284): Term 1 AED 8,914; Term 2 AED 6,685; Term 3 AED 6,685. - Grade 9 (Annual AED 22,410): Term 1 AED 8,964; Term 2 AED 6,723; Term 3 AED 6,723. - Grade 10 (Annual AED 24,610): Term 1 AED 9,844; Term 2 AED 7,383; Term 3 AED 7,383. - Grade 11 (Annual AED 24,763): Term 1 AED 9,905; Term 2 AED 7,429; Term 3 AED 7,429. - Grade 12 (Annual AED 24,911): Term 1 AED 9,964; Term 2 AED 7,473; Term 3 AED 7,474.
Billing schedule and payment terms
- All fees must be paid by their due dates to secure a student's place; the school provides bank-transfer details and accepts card payments by appointment at the accounts office. Fees are shown inclusive of book charges where stated by the school. - Bank account for transfers (school account details published for payments): Account number 10582369; IBAN AE870500000000010582369; Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank; Account name Dubai Modern Education School. When transferring, parents must reference the family ID or share the deposit slip as instructed by finance. - Accepted payment methods: credit / debit card (Visa/Mastercard), cash at the office, bank cheque, and bank transfer.
Boarding fees
- Dubai Modern Education School does not provide a boarding (residential) facility; there are no boarding fees.
Other mandatory and optional costs
- Books: the published tuition figures note that book charges are included where specified. - Uniform: parents are responsible for school uniform costs; uniform purchase is an additional cost. - Transport: school transport is offered for an additional fee; route and area-based transport charges apply and are billed separately. - Meals / canteen: lunch service for younger pupils may have charges; older pupils may buy meals in the canteen — meal costs are additional where provided. - External examination and activity fees: costs for external exams, internationally recognised tests (e.g., SAT, IELTS, AP where applicable), extra-curricular trips, and some school trips are charged separately.
Refunds and withdrawal
- Registration / application fees are generally treated as non-refundable by schools; a registration deposit may be deducted from tuition when a place is accepted. Refunds for withdrawals during the academic year are processed according to the applicable Ministry/KHDA rules and the school's parent‑school contract; typical practice in Dubai applies deductions based on the period of attendance and non-refundable items (books, uniforms, some mandatory fees). Specific refund calculations and any notice periods are handled by the school's accounts office.
Notes and important points about billing
- The annual tuition figures above are the school's published yearly charges per grade. The per-term instalments presented above are calculated using a 40% / 30% / 30% split and shown as whole-dirham instalments for convenience; the school's published fee schedule and billing documents set the official term amounts and due dates.
Where to pay and whom to contact in the school for fee queries
- Finance / Accounts contacts are published by the school; payments by bank transfer must include the family ID as a reference and deposit slips should be sent to the school finance email when applicable. Accepted methods are card, cash, cheque and bank transfer.
Fee details
—
Diving deeper
Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements
Boarding arrangements
—
Boarding arrangements
—
Uniform requirement
Uniform requirement
Uniforms are split by level: KG girls wear a yellow shirt with a dark blue skirt; KG boys wear a yellow shirt with dark blue trousers; Grades 1–12 girls wear a navy blue skirt with a sky-blue long-sleeve shirt, and boys wear a sky-blue shirt with navy trousers. The sport uniform is a white sweater with light-green pants for both genders. Girls must tie back long hair and may wear only a black scarf; makeup, flashy jewelry, nail polish, and sandals or slippers are not permitted.
Uniform requirement
—
Food options
Food options
The school has a canteen on site. The canteen provides a comprehensive food services program to meet dining and nutritional needs at affordable prices, with healthy menu options and accommodations for dietary requirements.
Food options
—
House system
House system
—
House system
—
Governance and ownership
Governance and ownership
DMES is privately owned and operates as a co-educational school. It comprises two on-site schools: the US School and the MOE School, offering US California State Curriculum (Kindergarten to Grade 12) and UAE MOE Curriculum (Grades 1 to 12), respectively. Hamda Lootah is listed as the founder of DMES.
Governance and ownership
—
Academics
Academics
Curriculum details
Curriculum details
Dubai Modern Education School (DMES) runs two school programs: the US School using the California State Curriculum (Kindergarten to Grade 12) and the MOE School using the UAE Ministry of Education Curriculum (Grades 1 to 12). The DMES MOE curriculum is aligned with UAE MOE standards across core and elective subjects, including Islamic Education, Arabic Language, English Language, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Design, Technology, Creative Design and Innovation, Health Sciences, Visual Arts, Musical Arts, and Arabic for non-native speakers. The US program aligns with California Common Core Standards for English Language Arts and Mathematics, and incorporates NGSS for Science, within the California CCSS framework. DMES describes its curriculum as coherent, flexible and enriched, designed to develop learners' capacities as successful, confident, effective contributors and responsible citizens. Admissions include MAP testing for Grades 3–12 to assess English, Math and Science, with KG to Grade 4 undergoing informal assessments. The campus is located in Al Mizhar 1, Dubai.
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
—
Student teacher ratio
—
Exam results
Exam results
—
Exam results
—
Higher education progression
Higher education progression
—
Higher education progression
—
Gifted and talented
Gifted and talented
—
Gifted and talented
—
Academic calendar
Academic calendar
—
Academic calendar
—
Wellbeing & support
Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning
Social & emotional learning
Dubai Modern Education School frames wellbeing as a core objective of its education. The school states a commitment to supporting and improving the wellbeing, happiness and quality of life of students, and its homeroom program focuses on morals and values. DMES provides a formal counseling program with dedicated Guidance & Career Counseling Rooms to address academic, career, and personal/social development. A Wellbeing & Child Protection Officer oversees safeguarding and student wellbeing, ensuring alignment with school policies. The Inclusion Lead and inclusive practices support diverse learners within a combined US and MOE curriculum framework.
Social & emotional learning
—
Special educational needs (SEN)
Special educational needs (SEN)
DMES presents inclusive education and does not position itself as a specialist SEN institution. An Inclusion Lead (Mirna Fakhi) coordinates SEN provisions across US & MOE curricula. There are dedicated 'Rooms for Students of Determination' in all school buildings to support SEN learners. An Academic Counselor provides academic and career guidance within the US Curriculum. Inclusion features are integrated within both US and MOE curricula.
Special educational needs (SEN)
—
English as an additional language
English as an additional language
DMES provides English instruction within both its US and MOE curricula. The US Curriculum has a dedicated Head of English & Foreign Languages (Haya Sabri), indicating formal language leadership. The MOE Curriculum standards include English Language (2019), showing English is a formally governed subject. The school does not publicly disclose a dedicated EAL program. Language support appears to be delivered through the regular English and language departments, and leadership structures exist to oversee language education.
English as an additional language
—
Mental wellbeing
Mental wellbeing
DMES lists student wellbeing as a priority and aims to support wellbeing, happiness, and quality of life. There are dedicated Guidance & Career Counseling Rooms to implement a comprehensive counseling program addressing academic, career, and personal/social development. The school has a Wellbeing & Child Protection Officer (Alia Almheiri) to oversee safeguarding and student welfare. The Child Protection Policy provides a framework for safeguarding and includes a disclosure and reporting process. An integrated approach links mental wellbeing with safeguarding through spaces, roles, and policies across the school.
Mental wellbeing
—
Safeguarding
Safeguarding
Dubai Modern Education School has adopted a Child Protection Policy to safeguard students. The policy provides a Disclosure and Reporting Flow Chart, and there is a designated Child Protection Officer. There is a Wellbeing & Child Protection Officer responsible for safeguarding and student welfare. The school maintains safeguarding policies and procedures accessible to families and staff. Policies & Procedures are part of the school's overarching governance framework.
Safeguarding
—
Safeguarding policy
Safeguarding policy
—
Safeguarding policy
—
Facilities
Facilities
Facilities overview
Facilities overview
Dubai Modern Education School (DMES) operates two curricula on a single campus in Al Mizhar 1, offering both US and UAE MOE programs. The campus provides separate gym halls and expansive outdoor spaces for physical education, plus a 1000-seat multi-purpose hall for assemblies and events. Academic facilities include dedicated science laboratories for biology, chemistry and physics, along with library/media centers and ICT laboratories to support digital learning. Creative facilities include an art room, innovation spaces, a LEGO lab and robotics labs to support project-based learning and technology activities. Additional amenities include a canteen, a school clinic, outdoor gardens and play areas, with parking available outside the campus.
Facilities overview
The school operates across two campuses (Nakhleh and Sidr) and features STEM rooms, ICT labs, libraries, and gymnasiums.
Sports facilities
Sports facilities
Separate gym halls and spacious outdoor spaces support PE and sports activities. A 1000-seat multi-purpose hall is used for assemblies and other non-curricular events, complemented by on-site courts and outdoor spaces for team sports.
Sports facilities
—
Academic facilities
Academic facilities
Science laboratories for biology, chemistry and physics are provided, along with dedicated library/media centers and ICT laboratories to support classroom learning and digital projects.
Academic facilities
STEM rooms, ICT labs, and libraries support academic learning across the curriculum.
Extra curricular facilities
Extra curricular facilities
Creative and maker-type facilities include an art room, LEGO Lab and robotics labs, plus innovation spaces and gardens that support hands-on learning and enrichment outside the classroom.
Extra curricular facilities
—
Parent experience
Parent experience
History
History
Dubai Modern Education School (DMES) was established in 1996 as a private, co-educational institution in Dubai. The campus houses two schools on one site: the US School and the MOE School, delivering the US California State Curriculum and the UAE Ministry of Education Curriculum, from Kindergarten to Grade 12. The founder is Hamda Lootah, and the school emphasizes a family‑oriented, inclusive learning environment with a mission to empower learners to contribute to the global community through innovation, exploration, and citizenship. In 2019, DMES began pursuing NEASC candidacy and has continued its accreditation journey toward international standards. DMES has operated for more than twenty-five years, reflecting its long‑standing commitment to quality education and community service.
History
—
Community
Community
DMES describes itself as a family-oriented, co-educational community serving a diverse student body through US and MOE curricula. The school emphasizes wellbeing and a strong partnership with families, reinforced by an active Parent Council that coordinates family involvement and school celebrations. It serves students from more than 40 nationalities, reflecting Dubai's multicultural setting. The campus maintains an active gallery of events, trips, workshops, and celebrations that illustrate the community's engagement.
Community
—
Parent teacher association
Parent teacher association
Dubai Modern Education School runs a Parent Council, a volunteer body that acts as the bridge between the parent community and DMES. The Council was formed to facilitate effective communication between parents and DMES. Parents are welcomed to become members and to participate in school-wide celebrations and events. The Council meets regularly to coordinate various special events and to exchange ideas throughout the year. The Parent Council serves as a channel for parent feedback and involvement in school life, and it helps grow the DMES community by mobilizing volunteers for events and initiatives.
Parent teacher association
—
Extra-curricular
Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual
Academic & intellectual
Dubai Modern Education School offers two curricula: the US California State Curriculum and the UAE Ministry of Education Curriculum. The school emphasizes differentiated instruction, project-based learning, and STEM education to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. It provides a broad range of elective courses and maintains student clubs to extend learning beyond the core subjects, including more than 30 elective courses. These academic and co-curricular opportunities are designed to support intellectual growth and prepare students for global citizenship.
Academic & intellectual
—
Arts & creative
Arts & creative
Arts and creative activities are part of DMES's learning framework within its co-curricular program. The school emphasizes creativity through project-based learning and provides elective courses and clubs that address the arts. Students have opportunities to engage in creative pursuits as part of their broader development. Creativity is integrated with other disciplines through cross-curricular projects.
Arts & creative
—
Cultural & language
Cultural & language
DMES operates within two curricula, offering multilingual courses and language support as part of its program. The school emphasizes global citizenship and cultural awareness, with co-curricular activities that promote cross-cultural understanding. Co-curricular activities include language and cultural awareness components.
Cultural & language
—
Social & hobbies
Social & hobbies
Student clubs and the co-curricular program provide social and hobby-based groups for students. An Activity Coordinator manages the activities program, ensuring structured clubs and events throughout the year. The program supports peer collaboration, creative expression, and informal interest-based groups.
Social & hobbies
—
Community & service
Community & service
DMES emphasizes community service and outreach as part of its mission. The founder's message references community service as a guiding principle, and the school's policies describe co-curricular opportunities that include volunteering and service projects. Co-curricular offerings include volunteering and service opportunities aligned with social responsibility.
Community & service
—
Leadership & professional
Leadership & professional
Leadership development is integrated through student government and leadership programs within the co-curricular program. An Activity Coordinator role indicates structured guidance for student activities and leadership opportunities.
Leadership & professional
—
Lifestyle & wellbeing
Lifestyle & wellbeing
DMES places a priority on student wellbeing, with a dedicated Wellbeing & Child Protection Officer to support welfare and safeguarding. The school expresses a commitment to wellbeing and the happiness and quality of life of students. The campus provides facilities for sports and physical education to support an active lifestyle.
Lifestyle & wellbeing
—
Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
The school provides English language instruction and foreign language studies.
Language provision
—
Bilingual teaching
Bilingual teaching
—
Bilingual teaching
—
Immersion programs
Immersion programs
—
Immersion programs
—
Reputation
Reputation
Awards
Awards
—
Awards
—
Accreditations
Accreditations
—
Accreditations
10-year Good rating from KHDA
Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
Step 1: Inquiry and campus visit. DMES is a private, co-educational school with selective admissions. Parents arrange a visit and tour with the School Executive Principal, the MOE Head of School, and the US Head of School to learn about the program and campus. The visit helps families determine fit before advancing to testing.
Step 2: Entrance tests and placement. For Grades 3–12, placement involves an online MAP test in English, Math, and Science, scheduled by the school. For KG to Grade 4, informal assessments may include reading, writing, arithmetic and non-verbal reasoning. These assessments inform placement within DMES programs.
Step 3: Registration and deposit. After testing, the student's place is guaranteed upon signing a contract and paying a deposit. The process formalizes admission and secures enrollment ahead of the academic year. Families should follow up with the Admissions & Finance team if they have questions.
Step 4: Transfer from another school. Students transferring from another school must provide the most recent school reports outlining academic levels and behavior. This information helps DMES determine whether they can meet the student's educational and pastoral needs. The transfer evaluation is part of the admissions process.
Step 5: Application steps. Registration can be submitted online or in person to the registration office. Eligible candidates will be called for an interview, and selected candidates must submit all required documents along with the fee payment.
