Dubai · Ib · fees published for 2026/27
Universal American School vs Uptown International 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 6,035
1% more at Universal American School
The two schools publish a different number of year groups (15 and 17), so the totals cover different spans. The per-year figures below are the like-for-like comparison.
Universal American School per year
AED 67,832
average across the ladder
Uptown International School per year
AED 59,497
average across the ladder
Compare by
How the gap opens up
Universal American SchoolUptown International 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 | Universal American School | Uptown International School | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-KG | 40,377 | 31,145 | -9,232 |
| KG1 | 43,745 | 35,045 | -8,700 |
| KG2 | 49,602 | 40,530 | -9,072 |
| Grade 1 | 63,077 | 47,040 | -16,037 |
| Grade 2 | 63,077 | 52,455 | -10,622 |
| Grade 3 | 66,113 | 57,860 | -8,253 |
| Grade 4 | 66,113 | 57,860 | -8,253 |
| Grade 5 | 73,419 | 59,485 | -13,934 |
| Grade 6 | 73,419 | 59,485 | -13,934 |
| Grade 7 | 73,419 | 59,485 | -13,934 |
| Grade 8 | 73,419 | 67,600 | -5,819 |
| Grade 9 | 82,925 | 67,600 | -15,325 |
| Grade 10 | 82,925 | 73,005 | -9,920 |
| Grade 11 | 82,925 | 73,005 | -9,920 |
| Grade 12 | 82,925 | 73,005 | -9,920 |
Uptown International School publishes 2 further year groups that Universal American School does not, so those rows have no counterpart above.
Side by side
| Universal American School | Uptown International School | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Dubai Festival City, Dubai | Mirdif, Dubai |
| Curriculum | American, IB | IB |
| Inspection rating | Very Good (KHDA) | Very Good (KHDA) |
| Tuition (per year) | AED 40,377 – 82,925 /yr | AED 31,145 – 78,420 /yr |
| Ages / years | 3 - 18 years | 1 - 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed | Mixed |
| Established | 2005 | 2005 |
| Facilities | Olympic-Size TrackSwimming PoolMulti-Sport GymnasiumNatural Grass Football PitchScience LaboratoriesICT SuitesDual LibrariesBlack Box TheatreRecording StudioArt & Ceramics StudiosPerforming Arts CentreMusic RoomsLanguage CentreMulti-Purpose HallCafeteriaMedical Clinic | Design Technology StudiosVisual Arts StudiosScience LabsLibrarySports FacilitiesCatering FacilitiesEarly Years ZonePrimary ZoneSecondary ZoneSEN Support |
Universal American School vs Uptown International School at a glance
- Universal American School publishes annual fees from AED 40,377 to AED 82,925, against AED 31,145 to AED 78,420 at Uptown International School, which works out roughly 13% above Uptown International School across the fee range.
- For Pre-KG, the two are nearly level: AED 40,377 at Universal American School and AED 40,530 at Uptown International School.
- Both teach the IB curriculum; Universal American School additionally offers American.
- Uptown International School starts younger, admitting from age 1 against age 3 at Universal American School.
- Both schools were established in 2005.
- Location wise, Universal American School sits in Dubai Festival City and Uptown International School in Mirdif, so the school run may decide it.