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Dubai National School Al Barsha

United Arab Emirates, Dubai

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· Reviewed by · B2C Marketing Manager

Independently researched by doris.
Not yet claimed by the school
The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees AED 24,172 - 39,665
Ages 3 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 2336
Bus Service No
Availability Not shared by this school
Academic offering
Curriculum American Curriculum
Typical class size 20

First Al Khail St, Al Barsha First, Al Barsha, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Vibes and Culture
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The Essentials

Dubai National School Al Barsha has 2,336 pupils, typical class sizes of 20, instruction in English.

Location
Dubai National School is located on First Al Khail Street in Al Barsha 1, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The campus sits in the Al Barsha area and is accessible via major routes such as Al Khail Road and Sheikh Zayed Road. The surrounding area is residential with amenities nearby, including the Mall of the Emirates corridor.

Stages
DNS Al Barsha serves students from Pre-K (PK) through Grade 12, i.e., PK-12. The school reports an enrollment of about 2,500 students across 52 nationalities with a full American curriculum. The English language is the medium of instruction across phases.

Type
The school is an independent private day school. It serves both boys and girls, with classes segregated by gender from Grade 4 onward; there is no boarding facility advertised for any year group.

Pupil Nationality Mix
DNS serves about 2,500 students from 52 nationalities. The school's population is diverse, with Emirati students making up a significant portion of the intake; Emirati backgrounds are reported as the majority in some external profiles of the school.

Additional learning support
Inclusion is a formal part of DNS, with inclusive education support services that comply with KHDA policies. The school provides provisions for students with special educational needs and disabilities as part of its care and support framework, including wellbeing and safeguarding provisions.

Country affiliation
The school follows the American curriculum based on Massachusetts State Standards, aligning with an American/US educational framework.

Religious affiliation
DNS does not have a formal religious affiliation; Islamic Studies is included as part of the Arabic language program within the MOE-mandated curriculum.

School day structure
The school day starts with gates opening at 7:30 am and the first period beginning at 8:00 am. The schedule includes seven classes on Mondays and Tuesdays, six on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and four on Fridays. End times vary by level: Pre-K, KG1 & KG2 finish at 1:00 pm; Grades 1-3 finish at 2:10 pm; Grades 4-12 finish at 2:30 pm; Friday timings are shortened, with earlier dismissals.

Bus service
DNS Al Barsha operates its own transport service with a fleet that serves many Dubai areas. Morning bus pickup is typically at 7:45 am; afternoon drop-offs vary by student level (PreK-G12 1:00 pm; PreK-KG2 1:00 pm; G1-12 2:30 pm). Bus routes include Al Barsha 1-3, Tecom & The Greens, Dubai Marina, JLT, JVC, Ibn Battuta & Discovery Gardens, Umm Suqeim & Jumeirah, Dubai Hills, Arjan, Arjan/Remraam, and other areas, with fees published for 2025-2026 (e.g., 7,000 AED for most routes, 4,200 AED one-way). Enrollment is coordinated through the Transport Supervisor after registration.
Diving Deeper
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Fees

Annual tuition at Dubai National School Al Barsha ranges from AED 24,172 to AED 39,665 for 2026/27.

Annual tuition — fees by year group
- Pre‑KG: AED 24,172 per year.
- KG1: AED 24,172 per year.
- KG2: AED 24,172 per year.
- Grade 1: AED 26,420 per year.
- Grade 2: AED 26,420 per year.
- Grade 3: AED 26,420 per year.
- Grade 4: AED 27,936 per year.
- Grade 5: AED 28,650 per year.
- Grade 6: AED 28,650 per year.
- Grade 7: AED 31,929 per year.
- Grade 8: AED 31,929 per year.
- Grade 9: AED 33,038 per year.
- Grade 10: AED 35,119 per year.
- Grade 11: AED 39,665 per year.
- Grade 12: AED 39,665 per year.

Application / registration fees
- Application fees and registration deposits follow the UAE/KHDA framework used by private schools: an application charge may be collected (KHDA guidance caps the pre‑offer application fee) and schools commonly collect a registration/re‑registration deposit (often expressed as a percentage of annual tuition). The KHDA framework limits an application fee before an offer to a modest fixed amount and allows a registration deposit (commonly up to 10% in practice).

Billing schedule and payment terms
- Fees are billed termly; Dubai private‑school frameworks require that annual tuition be collectable in three instalments (term 1, term 2 and term 3) or, alternatively, in 10 equal monthly instalments. The KHDA guidance sets the typical maximum instalment split at up to 40% (first term), 30% (second term) and 30% (third term). The school's published academic calendar shows term start dates that align with standard termly billing points.
- School fees do not include the costs listed below (these are charged separately). Parents should expect the tuition figure to be the annual tuition amount and to be billed according to the school's published payment plan.

Boarding fees
- Dubai National School — Al Barsha operates as a day school; there are no boarding fees.

Other costs and mandatory extras
- Books, resources, uniforms, transport, lunch and external activities are not included in the tuition figures and are charged separately.
- School transport (example ranges published by the school): typical round‑trip bus fees shown by route are in the AED 7,000–7,500 range; one‑way service for many routes is shown around AED 4,200–4,500. Specific route fees vary by pick‑up area.
- Other common additional items (charged separately) include textbooks, examination/assessment charges, school ID cards, diaries, technology/resource charges, special activities or trips, and optional after‑school offerings. The tuition page explicitly excludes these items from the published tuition figures.

Refunds and withdrawal charges
- Refunds and cancellations are administered under the UAE/KHDA/MOE fee frameworks that apply to private schools in Dubai. These frameworks specify how tuition refunds are calculated when a student withdraws during the term (for example, standard guidance sets the amount schools may retain according to how long the student attended: withdrawal within two weeks → charge one month's tuition; between two weeks and one month → charge two months' tuition; beyond one month → charge up to a term's tuition, with monthly values calculated by dividing the annual tuition by 10). Book and uniform charges are typically non‑refundable unless unused. Registration/re‑registration deposits are typically non‑refundable except in specific circumstances provided by regulation.

Fee payment options
- Private schools in Dubai commonly accept multiple payment methods: online payment portals, bank transfer (wire/telegraphic transfer), debit/credit card, cash and cheques. Schools also commonly accept post‑dated cheques (PDCs) or set up monthly instalment plans where permitted under KHDA rules. Expect the school to offer at least bank transfer and card/online payment facilities.

Summary notes for parents (concise)
- The figures above are the published annual tuition amounts by grade.
- Tuition excludes books, uniforms, transport, lunch and many external activities; transport fees are charged separately and vary by route (round trip examples AED 7,000–7,500).
- Fees are billed termly under the standard Dubai practice (three instalments or 10 monthly instalments); the KHDA framework caps the typical term split at 40%/30%/30% where schools use three instalments. Refunds and withdrawal charges follow the UAE/MOE/KHDA refund rules described above.
Academics

Dubai National School Al Barsha teaches American Curriculum for students aged 3 to 18.

Curriculum
Dubai National School Al Barsha uses an American curriculum based on Massachusetts State Standards, with English as the medium of instruction and alignment to CCSS and NGSS; AP courses are available at the high school level. The curriculum progresses sequentially from Kindergarten through Grade 12 and is aligned with UAE MOE standards, while integrating Arabic language, Islamic Studies, Social Studies, and Culture. Middle School follows the Massachusetts Frameworks, emphasizing project-based learning with STREAM integration and cross-curricular links to Islamic education, Arabic and social studies. High School uses a Massachusetts-aligned credit system; 25 credits are required to graduate; the program includes core and elective courses, with AP courses implemented to meet UAE MOE equivalency. The program emphasizes standards-aligned resources, ongoing assessment, and the development of global citizenship and Islamic values within the Emirati context.
Wellbeing
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Parent Experience
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Facilities
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Extra-Curricular Activities
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Languages
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Reputation
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Admissions

Admissions
1. Parents submit an application with information about the child and contact details. They also complete a health and wellbeing form. This initial step begins the admission process.
2. Students are placed in grade levels based on age, previous academic records, and the results of the admission exam and the personal interview with teachers, counsellors and phase leaders. If needed, a one-to-one evaluation may be conducted to inform placement. The placement criteria ensure alignment with the school's admission standards.
3. For phases 2–4, students sit for three paper-based or online admission exams in English, Arabic, Mathematics and high school Physics; non-native Arabic speakers may take a special Arabic exam in addition to English and Mathematics. These exams provide information to determine placement in the offered programs.
4. Admission exams are scheduled on assigned days and times and do not require prior preparation, as they measure candidates' skills and knowledge needed for the grade level.
5. A decision regarding admission is made within two working days. Placement is determined based on the results of the admission exams, reviews of previous academic records, and the personal interview with teachers, counsellors and phase leaders; the Principal may be involved if required.
6. High school candidates from non-American program schools may be required to obtain equivalency from the UAE Ministry of Education. Admission is granted for early registration, and applicants who have siblings studying at DNS receive priority.
7. Phase 1 (PK, KG1 & KG2) admission procedures involve a face-to-face or online interview with the teacher, counsellor and phase leader to evaluate linguistic abilities and motor skills. The interview lasts 15–30 minutes, though it may extend depending on the child's needs. Interviewers observe pencil grip, recognition of colors, shapes and alphabets, and motor skills.
8. If the child refuses to speak, the parents are asked to speak to the child. If the child still does not speak, a video of the child speaking and playing may be assessed as part of the admission process. The interviewing committee analyzes the child's interaction to detect speech difficulties or learning disabilities.
9. If any speech difficulty or learning disability is detected, the phase leader may require an explanation from the parents and may request medical or therapy reports to establish inclusion provisions for the child. The school complies with inclusive admission practices and related policies.
10. Inclusive admission is aligned with UAE law and KHDA guidelines; after enrollment, the child is monitored and parents' consent is sought to start inclusion provisions such as IEPs and BIPs as needed. The head of inclusion leads the inclusion process and participates in interviews and screenings as required.
School Events
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