Dubai British School Jumeira vs Jumeirah English Speaking School – Arabian Ranches
Dubai British School Jumeira and Jumeirah English Speaking School – Arabian Ranches are both in Dubai, about 15 km apart. Both schools offer British programmes, and Jumeirah English Speaking School – Arabian Ranches also offers IB and BTEC Qualification. Published annual fees are AED 43,500 - 69,872 at Dubai British School Jumeira and AED 54,129 - 104,544 at Jumeirah English Speaking School – Arabian Ranches, which puts Jumeirah English Speaking School – Arabian Ranches roughly 40% higher. Dubai British School Jumeira takes pupils from 2 to 18, and Jumeirah English Speaking School – Arabian Ranches from 3 to 18.
Located in Al Wasl, Dubai, Dubai British School - Jumeira sits along the Dubai Canal on a large 22,227 square metre campus. The site is positioned to serve families in the Jumeira/Al Wasl area and is part of Taaleem's Dubai British School network. The campus is designed to integrate with the canal-side community and central Dubai transport routes.
Location
Two campuses in Dubai: JESS Jumeirah and JESS Arabian Ranches. The Arabian Ranches campus is the largest site, housing Primary, Secondary and Sixth Form. Bus routes connect JESS Jumeirah and Arabian Ranches with routes including Al Wasl Road, Springs, Meadows, Lakes, Meydan Heights and Meydan South, operated by STS Group.
Stages
Stages
The school will initially educate students aged 3 to 11 (Foundation Stage 1 to Year 6). It will later expand to include older year groups, ultimately serving up to Year 13.
Stages
Ages 3 to 11: Early Years and Primary; Ages 11 to 18: Secondary and Sixth Form.
School type
School type
Co-educational (mixed gender).
School type
Co-educational day school.
Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
Publicly available data on pupil nationalities is not published.
Pupil nationality mix
Staff and students from over 70 countries.
Additional learning support
Additional learning support
SEN provision is supported by a dedicated team of SEN professionals across Taaleem's Dubai British School network, enabling inclusive education and targeted support as needed.
Additional learning support
Inclusion and wellbeing supports in place; The Oasis Learning Support department coordinates in-class support, personalised learning programmes and, where needed, external specialist services; Counselling is provided by a dedicated team.
Country affiliation
Country affiliation
National Curriculum for England (UK curriculum) is followed.
Country affiliation
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Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation is not listed or specified.
Religious affiliation
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School day structure
School day structure
The school day typically starts around 7:15–8:15 and ends around 3:15–3:45, with a shorter Friday day finishing around early afternoon; a mid-day break is included.
School day structure
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Bus service details
Bus service details
A school bus service is available to support commuting families.
Bus service details
JESS offers bus transport to secondary students only. Bus routes include Route 1 JESS Jumeirah, Route 2 Al Wasl Road, Route 3 Springs, Meadows, Lakes, Route 4 Meydan Heights, Meydan South. STS Group is the transport provider; buses feature CCTV, GPS tracking and other safety measures. For more information contact Shawn David (STS) at STS@jess.sch.ae or 056-3693149.
Fees
Fees
Fee details
Fee details
Tuition fees (KHDA approved, Academic Year 2025/26)
- Rising 3s: Term 1 AED 17,400; Term 2 AED 13,050; Term 3 AED 13,050; Annual AED 43,500. - Foundation Stage (FS1 – FS2): Term 1 AED 20,591; Term 2 AED 15,443; Term 3 AED 15,443; Annual AED 51,477. - Year 1 – Year 2: Term 1 AED 20,591; Term 2 AED 15,443; Term 3 AED 15,443; Annual AED 51,477. - Year 3 – Year 6: Term 1 AED 23,534; Term 2 AED 17,651; Term 3 AED 17,651; Annual AED 58,836. - Year 7 – Year 8: Term 1 AED 27,949; Term 2 AED 20,962; Term 3 AED 20,961; Annual AED 69,872. - Year 9 – Year 11: Annual AED 69,872 (these year groups will be added in future academic years). - Year 12 – Year 13: Annual AED 77,217 (these year groups will be added in future academic years).
Application and registration fees
- Application fee: one-time, non-refundable, non-transferable AED 525 (includes 5% VAT). Applies to new students only. - Registration fee: AED 4,000 payable by new students to secure a place; this amount is credited against the joining term fees. The registration fee is non-refundable. The deadline for Term 1 fee and registration arrangements is 2nd August (academic year deadlines are specified in the payment terms).
KHDA charges and ancillary official tariffs
- KHDA administration fee for transfers within Dubai: AED 120 per student (collected on behalf of KHDA). - Other KHDA-specified tariffs (examples): Education Continuation Certificate for visa renewal AED 120; student leaving form AED 120; student transfer within stipulated timeframe AED 120; student transfer after stipulated timeframe AED 520; attestation of student certificate/report card AED 120; ‘To whomsoever it may concern' certificates AED 120; student exam grade amendment AED 120. These fees are payable to the school accounts office when the service is requested.
Billing schedule and payment terms
- Termly billing: tuition is charged by term. A student may not start the academic year unless the first term fee has been paid in full. - Due dates for Academic Year 2025/26: Term 1 payable by 1 August 2025; Term 2 payable by 1 December 2025; Term 3 payable by 1 March 2026. - The registration fee (AED 4,000) reserves the seat until full tuition payment is made and is deductible against the first term tuition fees. - The school reserves the right to withhold school reports, final results, and transfer certificates until all fees are settled in line with Ministry of Education regulations.
Payment options and procedures
- Accepted payment methods: cash, credit card (MasterCard and Visa only), bank transfer, or cheque. - Credit card payments: MasterCard and Visa accepted; card payments are made using the payment link contained in the invoice. - Bank transfers: account details available from the school accountant (Mr Keith Villodres). All bank charges are the responsibility of the remitter; include student name and grade on transfer and confirm with the school. Contact: +971 4 612 1444 ext 2. - Cheque policy: company cheques preferred. Personal cheques for Term 1 are not accepted if presented within five working days of the academic year start; when paid by personal cheque the school requires payment at least three working days prior to the invoice due date. A returned/dishonoured cheque fee of AED 500 applies. Post-dated cheques for Term 2 may be lodged in advance.
Boarding
- Boarding facilities are not offered; school transport is available via an external RTA-approved provider (Arab Falcon). Transport arrangements, bookings and billing are handled directly by the transport provider.
Other costs and typical additional charges
- Uniforms: the school's uniform is supplied through the chosen provider Magrudy's. Specific uniform prices are set by the supplier. - Catering: the school's catering provider is Leela's Lunches; meal purchasing and pricing are arranged through that provider. - Transport: bus services are provided by Arab Falcon; parents deal directly with Arab Falcon for reservations and will be billed by the transport provider. Transport payment dates (example schedule) are: first payment due by 1 September for the September–January term and second payment due by 1 February for the February–June term (transport billing handled by the provider). - External examination fees: there may be additional charges for external examinations in secondary school; the school will notify families in advance of such charges. - Returned cheques: AED 500 charge for any returned or dishonoured cheque.
Tuition refund and withdrawal policy (summary)
- Registration/re-registration deposit is not refundable except in extenuating circumstances (examples: family/student relocation to another country/emirate or similar). Such cases may be submitted to KHDA for review. - Refund calculations (as applied by the school): - Tuition fees paid prior to the beginning of the academic year are refundable, minus the registration/re-registration fees. - If the student was enrolled for two weeks or less, one month's fees will be deducted. - If the student was enrolled for more than two weeks but less than one month, two months' fees will be deducted. - If the student was enrolled for more than one month, the full term's fees will be deducted. - Refunds are calculated from the start of the term and the date of the official written withdrawal request, not from the date of absence. Book fees are refundable if the student leaves prior to the beginning of the academic year. Registration or re-registration deposits may be refundable if a school quality rating drops and families choose to move, consistent with KHDA rules.
Contact for accounts and clarification
- School accounts e-mail: accounts@dubaibritishschooljumeira.ae; Finance contact telephone: +971 4 612 1444 Ext 2 (school accountant contact for bank details and payment confirmation).
Notes
- Exam, extracurricular, transport, uniform and catering providers may charge separately and set their own prices; these additional optional or third-party charges are billed or arranged outside the term tuition described above.
Fee details
Application fee
- A non-refundable application fee of AED 500 is charged at the time of application.
Tuition fees by year group (per term and per year)
- Foundation 1 (FS1): AED 18,043 per term / AED 54,129 per year. - Primary (Foundation 2 / FS2 through Year 6): AED 21,699 per term / AED 65,097 per year. - Secondary (Years 7–11): AED 30,641 per term / AED 91,923 per year. - Sixth Form (Years 12–13): AED 34,848 per term / AED 104,544 per year.
Billing schedule and payment terms
- Fees are published as per-term amounts alongside the annual total and are presented on a three-term academic-year basis. Exact invoice dates, payment deadlines and any registration or deposit timings are issued with the formal offer and invoice. - When a Personal Debenture place is offered the school deposit must be paid within five days of the offer and the Personal Debenture amount is payable in full prior to the child starting. If less than the required one term's notice of withdrawal is given, the Personal Debenture will not be refunded until the end of the following term.
Debentures / deposits
- A Personal Debenture of AED 20,000 is required when a personal-debenture place is offered; it is payable within the timeframe specified in the offer, remains with the child while enrolled and is refunded when the child leaves subject to the school's debenture rules. Corporate debentures exist under separate rules.
Boarding fees
- Boarding is not applicable. The school operates as a day school and does not charge boarding fees.
Other costs and optional charges
- Uniform and uniform kit costs: charged separately when applicable; parents should budget for standard uniform purchases. - Co-curricular and extracurricular clubs: membership or activity fees may apply and are billed separately. - Educational visits and local/international trips: charges vary by trip and are billed separately. - Devices / laptop charges: where a device is required, costs or device-lease arrangements may apply. - Canteen / meal costs, photographs and optional school services: charged as incurred or via separate invoices. - School transport (bus) service: transport is provided (noting routes and availability vary and a separate transport charge applies for users of the service); the bus service is operated to specified year groups and routes.
Refund information
- The application fee is non-refundable. Registration and re-registration deposit treatment and any tuition refunds after the start of the academic year follow the applicable KHDA Schools Registration and Refund Policy; registration/re-registration deposits are deductible from tuition up to the allowable amounts and refunds after the academic year begins are processed in line with the KHDA refund schedule. Personal Debentures are refunded when the child leaves in accordance with the school's debenture rules (subject to notice provisions).
Fee payment options (methods and details)
- Bank transfer: bank name, account number, IBAN and SWIFT details are supplied for bank payments; a copy of payment confirmation should be sent to accounts@jess.sch.ae and the account reference, invoice number and child's name must be included on payment documentation. - Cheque: cheques should be made payable as instructed (payable to Jumeirah English Speaking School Br) with the required reference details written on the back; payment procedures for cheque submission are specified by the school accounts team. - Other accepted methods: schools typically accept electronic bank transfer and cheque; any additional accepted methods (for example card payments) are confirmed by the school accounts team in payment instructions.
Practical notes for planning
- Expect tuition to be invoiced on the three-term structure shown above; additional optional services are invoiced separately. Plan for the Personal Debenture (AED 20,000) and any registration/re-registration deposits that may be required when an offer is made.
Diving deeper
Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements
Boarding arrangements
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Boarding arrangements
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Uniform requirement
Uniform requirement
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Uniform requirement
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Food options
Food options
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Food options
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House system
House system
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House system
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Governance and ownership
Governance and ownership
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Governance and ownership
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Academics
Academics
Curriculum details
Curriculum details
Dubai British School Jumeira (DBS Jumeira) is part of the Dubai British Schools group (Taaleem) and opened in September 2024 to offer a British curriculum from EYFS through Year 13. The curriculum is grounded in the National Curriculum for England, with English as the language of instruction. It provides the Early Years Foundation Stage and Primary through Year 6, followed by secondary through Year 13. Examinations offered include UK IGCSEs in Year 11 and A-Levels in Years 12-13. The DBS group describes its campuses as offering GCSEs and A-Levels as part of their UK curriculum pathways.
Curriculum details
The secondary curriculum is the National Curriculum for England. The Arabian Ranches campus houses the three schools—primary, secondary and sixth form—on one site. GCSE examinations are taken at the end of Year 11 as part of a two-year study programme. In Sixth Form, students choose between the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme or the BTEC Plus programme. The curriculum is complemented by a broad range of extracurricular activities, leadership opportunities, sport, music and performing arts programmes. Individual learning is a focus within this framework.
Student teacher ratio
Student teacher ratio
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Student teacher ratio
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Exam results
Exam results
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Exam results
GCSE results show a high proportion of top grades with A*/Grade 9-8 ranging from 40.6% (2019) to 41% (2024), A*/A/Grade 9-7 between 64% and 70.9%, and A*-C/Grade 9-4 between 98% and 100%. IB results show average points around 37-39 across years. BTEC results indicate attainment described as D*D*D on historical summaries.
Higher education progression
Higher education progression
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Higher education progression
JESS graduates are admitted to universities around the world.
Gifted and talented
Gifted and talented
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Gifted and talented
A Gifted and Talented programme exists for primary and secondary students, with enrichment opportunities, targeted extension activities and competitions; teachers identify gifted or talented learners and tailor the learning and beyond-the-classroom experiences to stretch their abilities.
Academic calendar
Academic calendar
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Academic calendar
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Wellbeing & support
Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning
Social & emotional learning
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Social & emotional learning
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Special educational needs (SEN)
Special educational needs (SEN)
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Special educational needs (SEN)
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English as an additional language
English as an additional language
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English as an additional language
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Mental wellbeing
Mental wellbeing
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Mental wellbeing
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Safeguarding
Safeguarding
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Safeguarding
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Safeguarding policy
Safeguarding policy
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Safeguarding policy
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Facilities
Facilities
Facilities overview
Facilities overview
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Facilities overview
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Sports facilities
Sports facilities
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Sports facilities
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Academic facilities
Academic facilities
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Academic facilities
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Extra curricular facilities
Extra curricular facilities
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Extra curricular facilities
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Parent experience
Parent experience
History
History
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History
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Community
Community
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Community
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Parent teacher association
Parent teacher association
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Parent teacher association
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Extra-curricular
Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual
Academic & intellectual
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Academic & intellectual
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Arts & creative
Arts & creative
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Arts & creative
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Cultural & language
Cultural & language
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Cultural & language
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Social & hobbies
Social & hobbies
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Social & hobbies
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Community & service
Community & service
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Community & service
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Leadership & professional
Leadership & professional
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Leadership & professional
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Lifestyle & wellbeing
Lifestyle & wellbeing
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Lifestyle & wellbeing
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Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
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Language provision
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Bilingual teaching
Bilingual teaching
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Bilingual teaching
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Immersion programs
Immersion programs
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Immersion programs
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Reputation
Reputation
Awards
Awards
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Awards
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Accreditations
Accreditations
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Accreditations
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Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
Step 1. Submit your application online through the Online Admissions Portal and check Admissions Availability to ensure the year group you are applying for is open. Prepare and upload all required documentation as part of the online application. Step 2. Pay the AED 525 application fee; the fee is non-refundable and non-transferable. Payment can be made by bank transfer using the bank details provided by the admissions team. Step 3. Book an assessment with the Admissions Team. FS1 & FS2 use a Stay and Play assessment; Years 1 & 2 use a 1-on-1 assessment; Years 3 to 12 use a CAT4 assessment plus a written English assessment; overseas applicants may have alternative steps arranged. Additional assessments may be requested if learning support is considered beneficial. Step 4. The Academic Team reviews the assessment; if a place is offered, you receive an offer letter and an invoice for the joining term's non-refundable registration fee. Parents have five working days to return acceptance paperwork and pay the registration fee. If a place is not available, applicants may be placed on the waiting list. Step 5. KHDA registration is required for joining. A Transfer Certificate from the current school is required, and KHDA guidelines may require Emirates IDs and related attestations; the school coordinates transfer certificates through the admissions process.
Admissions
Step 1. Complete the Online Application Form for the child's current year group. JESS Dubai operates waiting lists in most year groups, and FS1 and Year 7 are the main entry points into the school; other year groups may have occasional vacancies only when a current student leaves. Apply for the year group your child is currently in to ensure the correct waiting list placement. Step 2. You will receive an email with details on how to pay the Application Fee (AED 500 – non-refundable). After payment is received, the child is placed on the waiting list. The school notes that demand is high and waiting lists are in operation, particularly for 2025–26. Step 3. Open Entry is a route for candidates who meet specific criteria. If eligible, apply to openentry@jess.sch.ae; applicants meeting criteria may be invited to assessments, performances and interviews. Step 4. If a place is offered, follow the offer procedure outlined in the offer letter andAdmissions Policy. Registration and admission require the Transfer Certificate (TC); attendance cannot proceed without the TC.
Scholarships
Scholarships
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Scholarships
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Waitlist
Waitlist
The admissions definitions include Closed, Open, Waiting List and Limited Spaces. Closed means waiting lists are not open; Open means a waiting list exists but place availability is not guaranteed; Waiting List means applications are on the pool and offers may follow if spaces become available; Limited Spaces means a small number of seats are available and initial offers may be placed on a waiting list. For 2025/2026, year-group availability and waiting lists are shown to indicate current capacity and potential wait times.
Waitlist
JESS Dubai uses waiting lists for most year groups. The school is currently full for 2025-26 with over-subscribed waiting lists. Main entry points into JESS Dubai are FS1 and Year 7, and occasional seats may become available in other year groups only if a current student leaves; overall movement depends on departures. After completing the online application and paying the AED 500 fee, applicants are placed on the waiting list for the relevant year group.