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Uptown International School

United Arab Emirates, Dubai

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· Reviewed by · B2C Marketing Manager

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees AED 31,145 - 78,420
Ages 1 - 18 years
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP)
Introduction

Uptown International School is an international IB school in the Mirdif area of Dubai (corner of Tripoli Street and Algeria Road). It delivers the International Baccalaureate Primary Years, Middle Years and Diploma Programmes as an IB-continuum school and serves children and young people from age 1 to 18. The school is English‑medium; Arabic is taught to all students (Arabic is compulsory up to Grade 9) and additional languages are offered across the programmes, with French and Spanish among the options and a range of DP language courses (English A/B, Arabic A/B, French B, Spanish ab initio) listed in the curriculum documentation. Published information highlights on‑site libraries, campus‑wide ICT, a gym and swimming pool, six sports pitches, four courts and an on‑campus cafeteria. The school's published materials also note its membership of the Taaleem group and its stated provision for inclusion, English language learner support and continuity between PYP, MYP and DP pathways.

Mirdif Area, Tripoli Street, Algeria St, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

The Essentials

Uptown International School has instruction in English.

Location
UIS is located in Mirdif, Dubai, at the corner of Tripoli Street (Tripoli Street) and Algeria Road. The Mirdif area is a residential, family-friendly district with straightforward road access to central Dubai and nearby Rashidiya. The campus offers on-site parking and is accessible by car, with nearby public transport options along Algeria Street and in the surrounding district.

Stages
UIS offers the International Baccalaureate continuum from early years through Grade 12, including the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), and Diploma Programme (DP). The school serves students from KG1 up to Grade 12.

Type
The school is co-educational (mixed gender) and operates as a day school. Boarding is not offered. UIS is part of the Taaleem group of schools.

Pupil Nationality Mix
About 72 nationalities are represented at UIS. The most common nationality is UAE, and the local-to-international student ratio is approximately 0.58:1.

Additional learning support
UIS provides inclusive education with dedicated support for students with special learning needs. Available provisions include a range of learning-support services, including English as an additional language (EAL) and other SEN supports as needed.

Country affiliation
There is no formal country affiliation; UIS operates as a Taaleem school in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and offers IB World School programmes.

Religious affiliation
UIS has no religious affiliation.

School day structure
The school day typically runs from around 7:45 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. for most grades, with shorter Friday hours (approximately until noon for younger students). Schedules can vary by grade level.

Bus service
UIS provides a school bus service through private operators. Transportation is outsourced to a bus provider, with arrangements managed to support families.
Fees

Annual tuition at Uptown International School ranges from AED 31,145 to AED 78,420 for 2026/27.

Application and registration fees
- Application fee (new students): AED 500 plus 5% VAT (AED 525).
- New-student registration / seat-holding deposit: AED 4,000 (deducted from first term/first year tuition when a place is accepted).
- Re-registration fee for returning students: AED 2,000 (payable to secure a place for the following academic year).

Tuition fees by year group (annual and per-term amounts)
Note: Uptown International School bills in three term amounts. The listings below show the published annual tuition and the three-term split (Term 1, Term 2, Term 3) as used for billing.

- Early Years / Nursery (full-week option): Annual AED 36,000; typical three-term split shown in school schedules for Early Years (example term splits used for Early Years/Pre-K in published schedules).

- Pre-KG / Foundation Stage (Pre-KG): Annual AED 40,500 — Term 1 AED 16,200; Term 2 AED 12,150; Term 3 AED 12,150.

- KG1 (Foundation Year 1): Annual AED 46,500 — Term 1 AED 18,600; Term 2 AED 13,950; Term 3 AED 13,950.

- KG2 (Foundation Year 2): Annual AED 48,500 — Term 1 AED 19,400; Term 2 AED 14,550; Term 3 AED 14,550.

- Primary (Grade 1 to Grade 5): Annual AED 57,500 — Term 1 AED 23,000; Term 2 AED 17,250; Term 3 AED 17,250.

- Lower Secondary / Middle (Grade 6 to Grade 10): Annual AED 67,500 — Term 1 AED 27,000; Term 2 AED 20,250; Term 3 AED 20,250.

- Upper Secondary (Grade 11 and Grade 12 / IB Diploma): Annual AED 72,500 — Term 1 AED 29,000; Term 2 AED 21,750; Term 3 AED 21,750.

(Alternative, more granular grade-level annual figures published in recent fee listings show closely matching annual values across individual grades; the term splits above reflect the standard three-term billing schedule used for the academic year.)

Billing schedule and payment terms
- Fees are billed per term in three instalments (three terms per academic year). Term amounts are the figures listed above. Parents are required to pay the term amount by the start of each respective term or by the due date specified on the school invoice.
- The new-student registration deposit (AED 4,000) is deducted from the first term/year tuition once admission is accepted. The application fee is non-refundable. Re-registration fees are non-refundable but are applied to secure places for returning students in the next academic year.
- Late or returned payment penalties apply (schools charge for dishonoured cheques and may withhold reports or suspend access in the event of unpaid fees). Post-dated cheques are commonly used for subsequent term payments where permitted.

Boarding fees
- Boarding is not applicable; Uptown International School operates as a day school.

Other costs and optional charges
- Transport (school bus): charged separately; typical annual ranges reported in published schedules and third‑party listings vary by route and distance — common published ranges are approximately AED 5,000 to AED 15,000 per year depending on route. Specific route charges are set by the transport provider and the school.
- School uniform: purchased separately; typical cost ranges reported in market listings and parent guides vary (examples in published guides indicate roughly AED 300 to AED 2,000 depending on number of items and age). Uniform shops serving the school are listed in local guides.
- Meals / canteen: charged separately when used; sample annual canteen/meal cost ranges in local guides are approximately AED 5,000–6,000 depending on chosen plan.
- Extracurricular activities, school trips, special events, photographs and other consumables: charged as applicable; individual activity fees vary widely (examples in published school-fee breakdowns show ECA, trips and international excursions ranging from nominal amounts to several thousand AED for large international trips).
- Learning resources and required books: schools typically supply core books on loan or include some resource charges as part of the fee; any separate resource or technology charges are applied as stated in the school's published fee schedule.

Sibling discount
- A sibling discount is offered on tuition for the third (youngest) and subsequent child attending within the Taaleem group in Dubai; the commonly published discount is 10% for the applicable child.

Refund and withdrawal policy
- Notice of withdrawal and requests for tuition refunds must be submitted in writing to the Principal. Refunds follow Ministry/KHDA rules and published school policy. Typical published refund practice used by the school is: if a student has not attended any classes prior to the start of the academic year, the balance of Term 1 paid is refunded minus any registration deposit; if a student withdraws during a term the school applies a sliding charge based on the period attended (examples: if attendance was two weeks or less one month's fees charged; if more than two weeks but less than one month two months' fees charged; if attendance exceeds one month then term fees are charged). Refund calculation follows the formal withdrawal date and school records.

Fee payment options
- Accepted methods include bank transfer, credit card (Mastercard and Visa accepted), cash and cheque (manager's cheque preferred). When paying by bank transfer parents are required to cover remitter charges and to provide transfer details and student reference information to the finance office. The school issues official receipts after confirmation of payment.

Important administrative notes
- The application fee is non-refundable. The registration/re-registration deposits are non-refundable but are credited as described above. Returned or dishonoured cheques incur penalties. Specific transport routes, uniform suppliers, and optional activity charges are set and billed separately. For any formal payment or refund processing the school's finance office provides the precise account details, invoice references and official receipts.
Academics

Uptown International School teaches IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP) for students aged 1 to 18.

Curriculum
Uptown International School delivers the IB continuum, with the Primary Years Programme (PYP) for ages 3–12, the Middle Years Programme (MYP) for Grades 6–10, and the Diploma Programme (DP) for Grades 11–12, alongside the Career-related Programme (CP) in upper secondary. The PYP is inquiry-driven and transdisciplinary, organized around six subject groups—Language, Social Studies, Mathematics, Arts, Science, and Personal, Social and Physical Education—and guided by six transdisciplinary themes such as Who we are and Sharing the planet. The MYP uses eight subject groups (Language Acquisition, Language and Literature, Individuals and Societies, Sciences, Mathematics, Arts, Physical and Health Education, and Design) and includes a final-year personal project. The DP comprises six subject groups plus a DP core made up of Theory of Knowledge, the Extended Essay, and Creativity, Activity, and Service (CAS). The CP core adds four components—Personal and Professional Skills, Language and Cultural Studies, Service/Community Engagement, and a Reflective Project—tied to a DP-based career-related study. The program is delivered in English.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
Uptown International School implements a formal wellbeing program to support social and emotional learning (SEL), with actions for staff and students, survey results used to refine wellbeing plans, and a focus on students' emotional and social growth, supported by two guidance counsellors.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
The DSIB 2023-2024 inspection notes the provision for learners of determination is outstanding, with an inclusion team, diagnostic assessments and expert referrals, personalised learning through Individual Education Plans (IEPs) and small-group tuition, inclusive admissions, 163 students of determination, and two guidance counsellors.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
English language learners are addressed within the inclusion framework, with diagnostic assessments and referrals to support EAL needs as part of the school's inclusion and language-support provisions.

Mental Wellbeing
Wellbeing is a clear priority, with an overall wellbeing rating of Very Good and explicit actions for student welfare and emotional and social development, with survey feedback informing wellbeing plans and leadership keeping parents well-informed.

Safeguarding
Safeguarding procedures are described as highly effective, with staff training for student care and welfare and an inclusion team supported by two guidance counsellors to safeguard students.
Parent Experience

History
Uptown International School (UIS) opened in September 2005 in Dubai's Mirdif district. UIS is owned and operated by the Taaleem Group, a major UAE education provider. UIS joined the International Baccalaureate as an IB World School in 2008 and received Diploma Programme authorization in 2015, enabling a through IB pathway from PYP through DP. Taaleem operates several IB and UK-curriculum schools in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, placing UIS within a wider Taaleem network.

Community
UIS has a diverse student body drawn from more than 50 nationalities. Active community life includes events such as UISMUN, International Day celebrations, Eid Al Etihad events, and family gatherings like the Teddy Bear Picnic. UIS also partners with external organizations to broaden learning experiences, such as forest-school programs with Aventura Parks.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
Uptown Parents (UPF) is the school's parent group that coordinates volunteers and supports events. UPF organizes events such as the Winter Wonderland Market and the Magrudy's Book Fair, and it maintains a dedicated contact for parent-led activities at upf@uptownschool.ae. Parent involvement is visible in campus events and in communications about school activities, including participation in panels and community gatherings. UPF's activities and vendor collaborations are designed to strengthen ties between families, staff, and students.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
The school is an International Baccalaureate World School and offers the Diploma Programme.
Languages

Language Provision
English is the language of instruction; Arabic is used as a language of instruction in some programmes.

Bilingual Teaching
The school teaches in English and Arabic.
School Events
The school has not added events
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