The Central School
The Central School
The Central School (TCS) in Al Nahda 2, Deira, teaches the Indian CBSE curriculum (affiliation 6630008, to senior secondary level) from KG1 to Grade 12 and is part of the NIMS Group of schools. KHDA's records give its opening year as 1981; the school says it was established in 1982 in a small villa in Deira, came under NIMS Group management in 1986 and moved in 2002 to its Al Nahda campus, inaugurated by the Emirati poet and lyricist Dr. Arif Al Shaikh, creator of the UAE national anthem. The school year runs from April to March. Kindergarten runs in two shifts and Grades 1 and 2 are taught in the forenoon; from Grade 3, girls attend a forenoon section and boys a separate afternoon section (the school's admission page and timing circulars). KHDA rated the school Acceptable after its October 2023 inspection, with wellbeing Good and students' personal development Very Good, and Outstanding in the secondary phase. Grades 11 and 12 offer Science, Commerce and Vocational streams, and the second languages are Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, Bengali and Urdu. In 2025-26 all 143 Class 12 candidates passed the CBSE examinations, as did 99.08% of the 219 Class 10 candidates assessed (the school's mandatory disclosure). The campus has physics, chemistry, biology and home science labs, four computer labs, a library, the Sheikh Zayed Auditorium, basketball and volleyball courts and a kindergarten building opened in 2024. KHDA counted 3,552 students and 209 teachers in October 2023. The school's motto is "Mind without Fear".
Fees read from the school's published 2026-27 fee schedule; KHDA rating from its 2023-24 inspection report. Last checked 16 October 2026. How Talem verifies →
Fees for 2026/2027, per year group. Excludes registration, uniform, and transport.
Tuition for 2026-27 is the KHDA-approved fee, the same in KHDA's fact sheets and the school's own 2026-27 tuition sheet, and KHDA records that the school requested no increase. It is charged over 10 months, with no fees for July and August (Admission Policy 2025-26), termly or, for families with no arrears who re-register on time, monthly. The fee page on the school's website still shows the 2024-25 figures (KG AED 4,081) under a 2025-26 heading.
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KHDA 2023–2024 inspection
Phase 1: KG1 and KG2 in two shifts (7:10 am to 10:50 am and 10:30 am to 2:30 pm), in a kindergarten building opened in August 2024. Learning is activity-based, through learning centres across seven areas of learning, circle time, theme-based learning and a reading programme that sends books home every week (the school's curriculum page). KHDA (October 2023) rated attainment and progress in English and mathematics Good in KG; Arabic is not taught in KG.
Phase 2: Grades 1 to 5. Grades 1 and 2 are taught in the forenoon; from Grade 3 girls attend the forenoon section and boys the afternoon section. Subjects: English, mathematics, EVS, Arabic, Islamic Studies for Muslim students or Moral Science, Moral, Social and Cultural Studies, a second language (Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, Bengali or Urdu), ICT, art and physical education, with music, art and dance in the timetable (the school's curriculum page).
Phase 3: Grades 6 to 8 (the school's curriculum page and 2025-26 annual report), in separate girls' (forenoon) and boys' (afternoon) sections. Subjects: English, mathematics, science, social studies (Indian and UAE), a second language (Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, Bengali or Urdu), Arabic, Islamic Studies for Muslim students or Moral Science, UAE Social Studies, Moral, Social and Cultural Studies, ICT, art and physical education (curriculum page).
Grades 9 and 10, to the CBSE Class 10 (AISSE) examination: English, mathematics, science, social science, information technology, physical education, a second language, Islamic Studies or Moral Science, Moral, Social and Cultural Studies, and Arabic in Grade 9 only (curriculum page). Class 10 pass rates: 99% in 2023-24, 100% in 2024-25 and 99.08% of 219 candidates assessed in 2025-26 (the school's mandatory disclosure). KHDA (October 2023) rated teaching Good in the secondary phase.
Grades 11 and 12, to the CBSE Class 12 (AISSCE) examination, with Science, Commerce and Vocational streams for girls and boys (the school's circular of 14 January 2026). Places depend on eligibility: 75% in science and maths for Science, 70% in maths and social science for Commerce and 65% overall for Vocational, scored from the half-yearly and model examinations and an aptitude test (stream circulars, February 2025). Class 12 pass rates: 100% in 2023-24, 99% in 2024-25 and 100% of 143 candidates in 2025-26 (the school's mandatory disclosure).
One of the school's four science labs (physics, chemistry, biology and home science), used for experiments, research and projects in the secondary and higher secondary grades; the school says it is equipped with modern equipment (facilities page).
The chemistry lab, used for experiments, research and projects in the secondary and higher secondary grades (facilities page).
Preserved specimens, slides, models and microscopes; students of Grades 9 to 12 do their CBSE practicals here (facilities page).
A cooking range, microwave and refrigerator for cooking, diet planning, textile and home management (facilities page); home science is an elective for girls in Grades 11 and 12 (stream circulars).
Four computer labs, separate for Kindergarten, Primary and Senior students, with high-speed internet (facilities page).
The school library, with resources for study and reading for pleasure across the curriculum (facilities page).
Holds about 250 people, with an elevated stage, projectors and light and sound systems (facilities page).
Opened on 26 August 2024 for both kindergarten shifts, with spacious classrooms and dedicated play areas (the school's circulars of 20 August 2024).
Principal
Named as principal on the school's team page, in its April 2026 newsletter and in KHDA's directory (May 2026). M.Sc., B.Ed. (the school's CBSE disclosure); CBSE's affiliation register lists 30 years' experience.
Vice Principal
Director, The Central School
Head of Student Affairs & School Wellbeing
Administration Manager
Head of Inclusion & Wellbeing
Head of Section, Phase 1 (Kindergarten)
Head of Section, Phase 2 (Primary, Grades 1 to 5)
Head of Section, Phase 3 (Middle School)
Head of Section, Phase 4
Assistant Head of Section, Phase 1 (Kindergarten)
Assistant Head of Section, Phase 2 (Primary)
Assistant Head of Section, Phases 3 and 4, and Head of Assessment
Chairman, School Management Committee
Vice Chairman, School Management Committee
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Al Nahda 2, Deira, Dubai (PO Box 90697)
