School of Modern Skills
School of Modern Skills
School of Modern Skills (SMS) is a private American curriculum school founded in 2006, located in Muhaisnah 1, Dubai. Serving approximately 1,700 students from KG1 to Grade 12, the school is particularly popular with Emirati families who make up around 85% of the student population. SMS follows the Californian Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for English and Mathematics, Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) for Science, and UAE Ministry of Education programmes for Arabic, Islamic Education, and Social Studies. The school is co-educational from KG1 to Grade 3, with separate boys' and girls' campuses from Grade 4 onwards. SMS holds NEASC accreditation and is accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS). The school offers a trilingual education opportunity in Arabic, English, and French, along with a strong emphasis on Emirati identity and Islamic values alongside international teaching methodologies.
Fees for 2026/2027, per year group. Excludes registration, uniform, and transport.
Tuition for 2026-2027, matching the fees the regulator has approved, though the school's own page is still headed 2025-2026. The school teaches KG1 to Grade 12 and has no pre-primary class, so the regulator's pre-primary entry does not correspond to a place a family can take up. Uniform and books are charged on top and the school prints them per year group: uniform from AED 461 to AED 793 and books and stationery from AED 1,260 to AED 4,026, taking a Grade 11 place to about AED 34,400 in total. Fees are paid in three instalments, half in August then a quarter each in December and March, in cash or by cheque. A seat is held by a reservation fee the school states in two different ways, as 10 per cent of annual tuition on one page and AED 1,500 on another; it is deducted from the first term and is not refunded unless the family leaves Dubai. Returning families pay up to 5 per cent or AED 500, whichever is higher. The admission test fee is given as AED 350 on the school's pages and AED 500 on its regulator sheets. There is no general discount: staff receive 45 per cent for up to two children, and 20 per cent is available for complete memorisation of the Holy Quran on production of a certificate and an internal test. Transport, graduation materials and international examination fees are extra.
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KHDA 2023–2024 inspection
Early childhood programme following American early learning standards. Play-based and structured learning activities designed to build foundational literacy, numeracy, and social skills. Co-educational environment with a focus on preparing students for the elementary school transition.
Core academic programme based on the Californian Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for English Language Arts and Mathematics, and the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) for Science. UAE Ministry of Education programme for Arabic, Islamic Education, and Social Studies. Co-educational through Grade 3; gender-separated campuses from Grade 4. STEAM activities integrated through the STrEaM activity room and hydroponics garden.
Subject specialisation deepens with dedicated science laboratories (biology, physics, chemistry) and technology labs. French language instruction begins in Grade 6, offering trilingual education. Gender-separated campuses with dedicated facilities for boys and girls. Standardised testing including MAP assessments. Students participate in TIMSS and PISA international benchmarks.
College preparatory programme with Advanced Placement (AP) course options. Students prepare for SAT, IELTS, and EmSAT examinations. Sustainability science available as an elective. Comprehensive university guidance and career counselling provided. Strong focus on STEAM specialisations including coding, robotics, and engineering design. Students participate in community service and leadership programmes.
Specialist laboratories for biology, physics, and chemistry on both campuses.
Dedicated computing labs equipped with modern technology on both boys and girls campuses.
Well-resourced libraries supporting independent study and research across both campuses.
Dedicated space for STEAM activities, coding, robotics, and engineering design projects.
Specialist room for science, technology, reading, engineering, arts, and mathematics integration.
Dedicated art and creative spaces on both campuses.
Hands-on learning facility for sustainability science and biology experiments.
Full-sized football field for PE lessons and competitive matches.
Principal
Joined School of Modern Skills in August 2022. Previously served as Deputy Director and Head of Secondary at Universal American School in Dubai (rated Very Good by KHDA) for four years.
Vice Principal
Head of Inclusion
Guidance & Counselling Team
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27th Street, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, Muhaisnah 1, Dubai, UAE
