Uptown International School
About Uptown International School
Uptown International School (UIS) is a fully authorised IB Continuum School in Mirdif, Dubai, part of the Taaleem group. It offers the IB Primary Years, Middle Years and Diploma Programmes, with BTEC among its external examinations, and has held IB World School status since 2009 having been established in 2005. At its January 2024 KHDA inspection it was rated Very Good overall, with 1,412 students and 118 teachers; Emirati students are the largest national group, at 440. Its standout judgement is inclusion, rated Outstanding, supporting 163 students of determination, and curriculum, safeguarding and care are Outstanding in every phase. The campus in Mirdif is zoned for Early Years, Primary and Secondary, with Design Technology and Visual Arts studios, science labs and on-campus catering.
Fees read from the school's published 2026-27 fee schedule; KHDA rating from its 2023-24 inspection report. Last checked 25 July 2026. How Talem verifies →
Annual tuition fees
Fees for 2026/2027, per year group. Excludes registration, uniform, and transport.
These are the school's published 2026/27 fees, which are also KHDA's total after the discount it records against this school's approved tuition - the approved column shows that tuition before the discount. Fees include books, lent and returned. Registration is AED 4,000 or 10% of annual tuition for new pupils and AED 2,000 or 5% to re-register, both credited against the first term. Billed in three terms at 40%, 30% and 30%. Siblings from the third child pay 10% less at any Taaleem school in Dubai. Nursery places are offered on flexible two or three day patterns with extra charges for extended hours, so the nursery figure is not a full-time annual price.
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KHDA Rating
KHDA 2023–2024 inspection
Stages & pathways
Early Childhood & Kindergarten
ECC–KG2IB PYP early years programme on a 14-acre campus with dedicated Early Years zone. Outstanding ratings in Personal Development, Curriculum, Health & Safety, and Learning Skills.
Primary Years Programme (PYP)
Grades 1–5IB PYP transdisciplinary inquiry programme. Arabic (FL and AL), Islamic Studies integrated. Outstanding curriculum and inclusion provision. PYP Exhibition capstone in Grade 5.
Middle Years Programme (MYP)
Grades 6–10IB MYP with subject specialisation and interdisciplinary connections. Dedicated Design Technology and Visual Arts studios. Personal Project capstone in Grade 10. Service learning integrated.
Diploma Programme (DP)
Grades 11–12IB Diploma Programme with six subject groups plus core components: Theory of Knowledge (TOK), Extended Essay (EE), and Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS).
How to apply
Facilities
Early Years Zone
Dedicated zoned area for ECC and Kindergarten with purpose-built early years facilities.
Primary Zone
Dedicated zoned area for PYP primary school students.
Secondary Zone
Dedicated zoned area for MYP and DP secondary students.
Science Laboratories
Three fully equipped science laboratories.
Design Technology Studios
Dedicated studio space for the IB Design Technology programme, shared with Visual Arts, with separate provision for Primary and Secondary.
Library
Separate Primary and Secondary libraries with Wi-Fi study rooms, plus a dedicated Early Years library.
Sports Facilities
Indoor 25-metre, eight-lane swimming pool, a full-size sprung-floor gymnasium, two regulation football pitches, indoor basketball courts, outdoor tennis courts and a 120-metre running track, on a 14-acre (50,000 sqm) campus. The Kindergarten section has its own gym and pool.
Visual Arts Studios
Dedicated studio space for the IB Visual Arts programme, shared with Design Technology, with separate provision for Primary and Secondary.
Extra-curricular activities
School leadership
Colin Stewart Gerrie
Principal
Joined UIS as Principal in August 2023 after 2 years as Vice Principal and Head of Secondary at Taaleem's Greenfield International School. Originally from Scotland, with 13 years of school leadership experience. Instrumental in delivering school improvement and elevating KHDA evaluations.
Michael Dickie
Head of Primary
Paul Rowe
Head of Secondary
Samantha Sweeney
Whole School Deputy - Student Achievement
Be Bhogal
Whole School Deputy Teaching, Learning and Wellbeing
Dr Aline El Jurdi
Whole School Deputy Head of School Improvement, Teaching & Learning
Mick Wright
Deputy Head of Secondary
Rick Cheshire
Assistant Head Teacher, Systems and Processes
Alexander Mark Sims
Assistant Head Teacher, MYP Coordinator
Mia Roberts
Assistant Head Teacher – Student Culture, Experience and Inclusion
Chris Nitsche
Assistant Head Teacher – DP and CP
Geetha Ashok
Assistant Head Teacher, PYP Coordinator
Amee-Rose Larkin
Assistant Head Teacher – Early Years
Candice Oosthuizen
Assistant Head Teacher – Student Culture, Experience and Inclusion
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Questions & answers
Where we are
Algeria Street, Mirdif, Dubai, UAE
