Dubai English Speaking School
Dubai English Speaking School
Dubai English Speaking School (DESS) is the oldest British curriculum school in Dubai, founded in 1963 on land granted by Sheikh Rashid. A not-for-profit, co-educational primary school located in Oud Metha, DESS delivers the English National Curriculum through the Early Years Foundation Stage and Key Stages 1 and 2 for students aged 3 to 11 (FS1 to Year 6). With approximately 1,000 students from over 53 nationalities, the school is renowned for its inclusive culture, outstanding academic outcomes, and exceptionally low staff turnover of just 8%. DESS has been rated Outstanding by KHDA and holds accreditations from BSO (British Schools Overseas) and COBIS. The school is part of the DESS family, which includes DESS College (secondary, Years 7–13) in Academic City and a new DESS Primary Academic City campus that opened in September 2025. Year 6 graduates receive automatic entry into DESS College.
Fees for 2026/2027, per year group. Excludes registration, uniform, and transport.
DESS is a not-for-profit school. KHDA records no discount and the school publishes a single annual fee per year group for 2026-2027; KHDA states the school requested no increase for this year. The school states that Year 6 students are guaranteed a place at DESS College in Year 7, subject to its published conditions. A sibling discount applies from the third child (5% for a third child; 10% for a fourth plus 5% for the second youngest; a further 10% for any child after the fourth) and is applied to the Term 2 invoice only. Tuition excludes GCSE, GCE and other external examination fees, which are invoiced separately.
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KHDA 2023–2024 inspection
The EYFS programme follows the English Early Years Foundation Stage framework, providing a play-based, exploratory curriculum that develops foundational literacy, numeracy, and social skills. Children learn through a balance of adult-led and child-initiated activities across seven areas of learning, with access to a dedicated Foundation Stage swimming pool and outdoor learning areas.
Key Stage 1 delivers the English National Curriculum with a strong focus on core literacy and numeracy skills. Arabic is taught formally from Year 1, and students engage in specialist teaching for music, PE, swimming, and art. The school's innovative curriculum encourages student-led inquiry and creativity.
Key Stage 2 extends and deepens understanding across the English National Curriculum. Students benefit from specialist teaching in science, STEM, music, art, PE, and languages. The programme emphasises critical thinking, research skills, and innovation, preparing students for a seamless transition to DESS College (Years 7-13). From Year 3, additional languages are introduced alongside Arabic.
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Six-lane, 25-metre outdoor swimming pool for lessons, squads, and competitions
Separate learner pool dedicated to EYFS students for confidence-building and water safety
Full-size natural grass pitches for football, rugby, athletics, and sports days
Multi-purpose indoor halls for PE, gymnastics, basketball, and school events
Large central playground area for break times and outdoor activities
Fully equipped science labs for hands-on experiments and investigations
Dedicated STEM room for science, technology, engineering, and maths projects
Extensive school library supporting the curriculum and a culture of reading for pleasure
Headteacher
Headteacher overseeing day-to-day school operations, curriculum delivery, and student outcomes across the primary school.
Deputy Headteacher
Deputy Headteacher
Assistant Headteacher
Assistant Headteacher
Deputy Headteacher
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Oud Metha Road, Oud Metha, Dubai, UAE
