Bur Dubai has always been a mix. Families from India, Pakistan, the Philippines, Egypt, the UK and dozens of other places live side by side in the old neighbourhoods around the creek. So it makes sense that the schools here are a mix too: CBSE, American, French, Ministry, and British.
If you’re specifically looking for UK schools in Bur Dubai, you’re probably in one of three situations:
- You’ve just moved from the UK and want your child to carry on with the same system.
- Your child is in a different curriculum, often CBSE, and you’re thinking about switching.
- Your child is starting school for the first time, and you’ve heard good things about the British system.
This guide is written for all three. It focuses on one school, The Apple International Community School (AICS), in Al Karama on the Bur Dubai side of the city. We’ll explain how the UK curriculum works there, what it costs, and what to check before you apply.
Where AICS is
AICS is on 29A Street, behind Karama Centre, near Karama Park.
Karama sits right next to the older parts of Bur Dubai, with Oud Metha, Umm Hurair and Al Mankhool all around it. For most families living on the Bur Dubai side, the school is a short drive through local streets, without needing Sheikh Zayed Road.
What “UK school” actually means
You’ll see a few different labels used in Dubai: UK curriculum, British curriculum, English National Curriculum. They all mean the same thing. It’s the school system used in England, which runs from early years through to national exams at 16.
AICS follows the National Curriculum for England across every year group, from FS1 to Year 11. It isn’t a mixed or “inspired by” version. It uses the same structure and the same stages as schools in England.
That matters for two reasons:
- If you came from the UK, your child should continue without big gaps.
- If you might move to the UK later, your child won’t need to catch up on a different system.
How the UK curriculum is structured at AICS
The British system is built in stages. Each stage has clear goals, so you always know roughly where your child should be.
| Stage | Year groups | Ages | What it focuses on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Years (EYFS) | FS1, FS2 | 3–5 | Learning through play, speaking, early reading and counting |
| Key Stage 1 | Years 1–2 | 5–7 | Reading, writing and number basics |
| Key Stage 2 | Years 3–6 | 7–11 | Deeper English, maths and science, plus history and geography |
| Key Stage 3 | Years 7–9 | 11–14 | Secondary school with subject specialist teachers |
| Key Stage 4 | Years 10–11 | 14–16 | IGCSE courses and exams |
A few things make the UK system different from what many Bur Dubai families are used to.
Children start formal school a year earlier in name. In the UK system, a five-year-old is in Year 1. In many other systems, the same child would still be in kindergarten. The learning in FS and Year 1 is still gentle and play-based, so it’s not as big a jump as the label suggests.
Students choose subjects at 14. In Years 10 and 11, students take a set of IGCSE subjects. English and maths are core, and then they pick others. This lets children start leaning towards what they’re good at, whether that’s sciences, business or humanities.
Exams are external. IGCSEs are marked by exam boards, not by the school. That gives universities and colleges a common standard to compare students against.
Switching from CBSE or another curriculum
This is one of the most common questions in Bur Dubai, so it deserves its own section.
The UK and Indian systems name their year groups differently. In the UAE, this is the usual way they line up:
| UK (AICS) | Usual equivalent |
|---|---|
| FS1 | Pre-KG |
| FS2 | KG1 |
| Year 1 | KG2 |
| Year 2 | Grade 1 |
| Year 3 | Grade 2 |
| Year 7 | Grade 6 |
| Year 10 | Grade 9 |
So a child in Grade 3 would normally move into Year 4. The admissions team will confirm the right year group based on your child’s age and school records.
A few honest pointers if you’re switching:
Switching earlier is easier. Moving in the primary years is usually smooth. Moving in Year 10, after IGCSE courses have started, is much harder. If you’re thinking about it, Year 9 or earlier is the safer window.
The teaching style feels different. The UK curriculum puts a lot of weight on explaining your thinking, writing at length and applying knowledge to new problems. Children who are used to more memorisation sometimes need a term or two to adjust. That’s normal.
Maths is usually fine. Children coming from CBSE are often strong in maths and adapt quickly. English writing is more often the area that needs a little support at first.
Ask about the transition. On your visit, ask how the school helps new students who join from a different curriculum, and how they assess where your child is starting from.
Moving from the UK to Bur Dubai
If your family has just arrived from England, the good news is that the structure will feel familiar. Same year names, same stages, same IGCSE pathway.
A few things that are different in Dubai:
- Arabic and Islamic Studies are part of the timetable for all UAE schools, as required by the Ministry of Education. Non-Muslim students study Moral, Social and Cultural Studies instead of Islamic Studies.
- The school week follows the UAE calendar, with a shorter day on Friday.
- The age cut-off is set by the school’s admissions policy. Check the AICS age criteria page so your child is placed in the right year.
Bring your child’s latest UK school report when you apply. It helps the school place them correctly from day one.
What it costs: AY 2026–27 fees
These are the official fees published by AICS and approved by KHDA. Parents pay the discounted figure.
| Year group | KHDA-approved fee (AED) | You pay (AED) |
|---|---|---|
| FS1 / FS2 | 19,427 | 15,850 |
| Year 1 / Year 2 | 21,002 | 16,980 |
| Year 3 / Year 4 | 21,002 | 17,980 |
| Year 5 / Year 6 | 22,052 | 18,500 |
| Year 7 / Year 8 | 23,102 | 19,130 |
| Year 9 | 24,678 | 19,550 |
| Year 10 | 24,678 | 20,100 |
| Year 11 | 25,728 | 20,955 |
The fee includes: textbooks and workbooks, one set of regular uniform and PE kit, e-learning apps, lab resources, external exam fees, medical resources and robotics.
The external exam fees point is worth noticing if your child is heading towards IGCSEs. At many schools, exam entry fees are billed separately.
Not included: ministry books, optional books, transport, and a one-time AED 500 (+VAT) application fee for new students.
Siblings: 20% off annual tuition for the second child, 25% off for the third.
Payment: three term instalments, with a small discount usually offered for paying the full year upfront before the August deadline.
UK schools in Dubai vary hugely in price. Some charge several times these amounts. AICS sits at the affordable end of the range.
Facilities
AICS has more space and sports facilities than many parents expect for the fee:
- Indoor swimming pool
- Football field
- Lawn tennis and badminton courts
- Basketball court
- Music, drama and visual arts rooms
- Library
- Play areas for younger children
In the UK system, PE, music, art and drama are part of the curriculum, not just extras. Having proper spaces for them means those lessons actually happen as intended.
The KHDA rating
AICS is currently rated Acceptable by KHDA.
That’s an honest part of the picture. Some older UK schools in and around Bur Dubai hold higher ratings, and it’s reasonable to compare.
AICS opened in 2021, which makes it one of the newer UK schools in this part of Dubai. It’s run by LEAMS Education, which also operates Apple International School in Al Qusais, open since 1994.
Our suggestion: read the full KHDA report, not just the headline word. Ask the school what it’s working on. Then visit and judge the teaching for yourself.
Is AICS the right UK school for your family?
AICS is often a good fit if you:
- Want the English National Curriculum close to Bur Dubai
- Want one school from FS1 all the way to IGCSE
- Are switching from CBSE in the primary years
- Want a fee that includes books, uniform and exam fees
- Have more than one child and can use the sibling discount
It may be less suitable if you:
- Need A-Levels at the same school, since AICS currently goes up to Year 11
- Need a school rated Good or above by KHDA right now
- Have a child who needs very specialised learning support. If so, ask detailed questions during your visit
Questions to ask on your visit
Take this list with you:
- Which year group will my child join, based on their age and current grade?
- How do you support children joining from a different curriculum?
- How many children are in that class?
- Which IGCSE subjects are offered?
- What exactly is included in the fee, and what isn’t?
- How do teachers share progress with parents?
Frequently asked questions
Is AICS a UK curriculum school? Yes. AICS follows the National Curriculum for England from FS1 to Year 11, leading to IGCSEs.
Is AICS in Bur Dubai? AICS is in Al Karama, on the Bur Dubai side of the city, behind Karama Centre near Karama Park. It’s close to Oud Metha, Umm Hurair and Al Mankhool.
What’s the difference between UK, British and English curriculum? Nothing. They’re different names for the same system used in England.
Can my child switch from CBSE to AICS? Yes. Switching is easiest in the primary years. As a general guide, Grade 1 lines up with Year 2, and Grade 3 with Year 4. The school confirms the right year group.
How much are AICS fees? For AY 2026–27, parents pay from AED 15,850 for FS1 to AED 20,955 for Year 11. The fee includes books, a set of uniform and PE kit, e-learning resources, external exam fees and robotics.
Does AICS offer A-Levels? Not currently. The school runs from FS1 to Year 11.
What is AICS’s KHDA rating? AICS is currently rated Acceptable. It opened in 2021 and is part of LEAMS Education.
The bottom line
If you want a UK school in Bur Dubai, you’re choosing a system as much as a building. The English curriculum gives clear stages, external IGCSE exams and a structure that travels well if your family moves again.
AICS offers that system from FS1 to Year 11, close to home, with proper facilities and a fee that includes most of the extras. It’s a newer school, and it’s honest about that. The best way to know if it suits your child is to go and see it.
The Apple International Community School 29A Street, Behind Karama Centre, Near Karama Park, Al Karama, Dubai
Book a school tour | AY 2026–27 fees | Curriculum overview | Age criteria | Call +971 4 379 7732 | WhatsApp +971 54 998 4536
Written by Gatsin, a digital marketing agency in Dubai that works with schools across the UAE. Fees and facilities are taken from the school’s published 2026–27 information.