IB World Schools
IB World Schools teach the International Baccalaureate, from the Primary Years Programme through to the Diploma. Compare IB schools across the UAE by fees, rating and reviews below.
51 UAE schools offer at least one International Baccalaureate programme: 33 in Dubai, 9 in Abu Dhabi, 6 in Sharjah and 3 elsewhere. That makes it one of the smaller curriculum groups in the country, and it is the one most often chosen by families who expect to move again or who are looking beyond UK universities. Most pair the IB with something else rather than running it alone: 19 of the 51 are IB-only, while 14 also teach a British curriculum, 12 American and 3 Australian, so the sixth form is often a choice between the Diploma and A-levels. 11 hold Outstanding and 21 Very Good.
The IB is usually described as a premium curriculum, and at the lower end of this list it plainly is not. Published fees run from AED 15,600 to AED 143,681. The lowest is Australian School of Abu Dhabi, open since 2005 and rated Good, at AED 15,600 to AED 37,030. The highest is North London Collegiate School Dubai at AED 91,735 to AED 143,681, rated Very Good.
GEMS Modern Academy in Nad Al Sheba is the most affordable Outstanding school offering the IB anywhere in the country, starting at AED 30,983. It runs an Indian CISCE base with an IB Diploma finish, which is the pattern behind a good part of this list: the Diploma bolted onto a different primary curriculum rather than a full IB continuum.
The full-continuum schools are the older ones. American Community School of Abu Dhabi is the oldest here, open since 1972 and Outstanding, at AED 60,765 to AED 101,537. Dubai International Academy at Emirates Hills opened in 2005, is Outstanding, and is one of the 19 that run the IB alone rather than alongside another curriculum.
All 51 institutions
Fees at a glance
| School | Curriculum | Annual fees from | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| GEMS American Academy Abu Dhabi | American | AED 57,850 | Very Good |
| GEMS Wellington Academy - Silicon Oasis | British | AED 40,340 | Very Good |
| Victoria International School of Sharjah | Australian | AED 32,000 | Very Good |
| GEMS World Academy Abu Dhabi | IB | AED 55,420 | Very Good |
| Uptown International School | IB | AED 31,145 | Very Good |
| Universal American School | American | AED 40,377 | Very Good |
| The Aquila School | British | AED 48,673 | Good |
| Swiss International Scientific School in Dubai | IB | AED 62,900 | Very Good |
| Sunmarke School | British | AED 54,104 | Very Good |
| Repton School Dubai | British | AED 57,178 | Outstanding |
Fees shown are annual starting tuition from official school fee schedules; ratings come from KHDA, ADEK, SPEA and other regulator publications. Updated 2026.
Frequently asked questions
- How many IB schools are there in the UAE?
- Talem lists 51 IB World Schools across the UAE offering the PYP, MYP or Diploma Programme.
- What is the IB Diploma?
- The IB Diploma is a two-year programme for ages 16 to 19, recognised by universities worldwide, covering six subject groups plus the core.
- Is the IB harder than A-Levels?
- The IB is broader, with six subjects plus the core, while A-Levels go deeper into three or four. The better fit depends on your child's strengths and goals.