Dubai · Ib · fees published for 2026/27
Raffles World Academy vs Universal American School
Talem publishes every year group’s fee at both schools, so the honest comparison is the whole bill, not a range.
What each costs from Pre-KG to Grade 12
Difference
AED 85,279
9% more at Universal American School
Compare by
How the gap opens up
Raffles World AcademyUniversal American School
Cumulative tuition, one point per year group.
Year by year
Every figure below is the fee each school publishes for that year group.
| Year group | Raffles World Academy | Universal American School | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-KG | 33,544 | 40,377 | +6,833 |
| KG1 | 33,544 | 43,745 | +10,201 |
| KG2 | 40,253 | 49,602 | +9,349 |
| Grade 1 | 53,270 | 63,077 | +9,807 |
| Grade 2 | 53,270 | 63,077 | +9,807 |
| Grade 3 | 53,671 | 66,113 | +12,442 |
| Grade 4 | 64,405 | 66,113 | +1,708 |
| Grade 5 | 64,405 | 73,419 | +9,014 |
| Grade 6 | 64,807 | 73,419 | +8,612 |
| Grade 7 | 72,188 | 73,419 | +1,231 |
| Grade 8 | 72,188 | 73,419 | +1,231 |
| Grade 9 | 72,188 | 82,925 | +10,737 |
| Grade 10 | 78,488 | 82,925 | +4,437 |
| Grade 11 | 87,990 | 82,925 | -5,065 |
| Grade 12 | 87,990 | 82,925 | -5,065 |
Side by side
| Raffles World Academy | Universal American School | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Umm Suqeim, Dubai | Dubai Festival City, Dubai |
| Curriculum | IB | American, IB |
| Inspection rating | Very Good (KHDA) | Very Good (KHDA) |
| Tuition (per year) | AED 33,544 – 87,990 /yr | AED 40,377 – 82,925 /yr |
| Ages / years | 3 - 18 years | 3 - 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed | Mixed |
| Established | 2008 | 2005 |
| Facilities | 600-Seat Auditorium/GymnasiumSwimming PoolsSoccer FieldBasketball CourtsTennis CourtsBadminton CourtsScience LaboratoriesComputer LabsLibraryArt RoomsDance StudioMusic RoomsTheatreCafeteriaMedical Clinic | Olympic-Size TrackSwimming PoolMulti-Sport GymnasiumNatural Grass Football PitchScience LaboratoriesICT SuitesDual LibrariesBlack Box TheatreRecording StudioArt & Ceramics StudiosPerforming Arts CentreMusic RoomsLanguage CentreMulti-Purpose HallCafeteriaMedical Clinic |
Raffles World Academy vs Universal American School at a glance
- Raffles World Academy publishes annual fees from AED 33,544 to AED 87,990, against AED 40,377 to AED 82,925 at Universal American School, putting the two schools in a broadly similar fee band.
- For Pre-KG, Raffles World Academy charges AED 33,544 and Universal American School AED 40,377, so Raffles World Academy saves AED 6,833 a year at that stage.
- Both teach the IB curriculum; Universal American School adds American.
- Both admit children from age 3, running through to 18 at the top end.
- Universal American School is the longer-established of the two, founded in 2005, with Raffles World Academy following in 2008.
- Location wise, Raffles World Academy sits in Umm Suqeim and Universal American School in Dubai Festival City, so the school run may decide it.