Jumeirah English Speaking School – Arabian Ranches vs Nord Anglia International School Dubai

	J Jumeirah English Speaking School – Arabian Ranches Dubai, United Arab Emirates	N Nord Anglia International School Dubai Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year AED 54,129 - 104,544	Fees / year AED 69,625 - 105,288
Age range	Age range 3 - 18 years	Age range 3 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum British Curriculum, IB (DP), BTEC Qualification	Curriculum British Curriculum, IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP)
Pupils	Pupils —	Pupils —
Typical class size	Typical class size —	Typical class size —
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened 1976	Opened —
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service Yes
Essentials	Essentials
Location	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.	Location Nord Anglia International School Dubai is located in Al Barsha 3, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The campus sits in a central area just off Hessa Street, about five minutes from Sheikh Zayed Road, with easy access via E311. The school's Al Barsha address places it in a well‑connected residential and commercial neighbourhood, with on‑site parking available for arrivals.
Stages	Stages Ages 3 to 11: Early Years and Primary; Ages 11 to 18: Secondary and Sixth Form.	Stages NAS Dubai serves students from ages 3 to 18, from Early Years through Sixth Form. The school follows the English National Curriculum in the primary and secondary years, with Sixth Form options including the IB Diploma Programme or A‑Levels (and related pathways such as BTEC). The campus structure aligns with Early Years, Primary, Secondary and Sixth Form, as described in the school's overview.
School type	School type Co-educational day school.	School type NAS Dubai is a co‑educational, day international school. It operates as a UK/IB‑oriented, private day school within the Nord Anglia Education family, with no boarding facilities publicly indicated.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix Staff and students from over 70 countries.	Pupil nationality mix The school represents students from over 90 nationalities. NAS Dubai's own curriculum pages show nationalities numbered in the 90s across school phases (e.g., 91–95), while external reporting has cited enrollments around 2,300–3,000 with more than 90 nationalities and British as the largest group. The most common nationality is British.
Additional learning support	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.	Additional learning support The school emphasises wellbeing and safeguarding as core to its learning community, with Outstanding ratings in KHDA inspections and ongoing safeguarding initiatives. NAS Dubai offers inclusive education and wellbeing support through structured pastoral care and digital wellbeing tools; recent Nord Anglia/NGO‑level updates describe ongoing safeguarding and wellbeing programs.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation —	Country affiliation There is no formal country affiliation for NAS Dubai. It is part of Nord Anglia Education and teaches UK‑aligned curriculum components (UK/IB) rather than representing a single country.
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation —	Religious affiliation NAS Dubai has no explicit religious affiliation. The school operates as a UK/IB international school within Dubai's private education framework.
School day structure	School day structure —	School day structure The school day varies by year group but generally starts around 07:30 for Nursery, Reception and Primary, and around 07:45 for Secondary. End times range from about 15:00 to 16:00 depending on year group and activities, with Extended Academic Programs offered after school. Friday schedules follow a tutor/assembly rhythm with after‑school activities continuing where offered.
Bus service details	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.	Bus service details A school bus service is offered as an optional transport option with additional fees. Details, routes and sign‑up arrangements are handled through the admissions process.
Fees	Fees
Fee details	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.	Fee details Application and registration fees - Application fee (per child, non-refundable): AED 525 (inclusive of 5% VAT). - One-off registration / admission deposit to accept an offered place (new students): AED 5,000 (charged as an admission deposit and deducted from the total tuition for that academic year; non-transferable and non-refundable except in exceptional circumstances described by the school). - Re‑registration deposit for existing students: 5% of the school's tuition fees as a re‑registration deposit to confirm return for the new academic year; this deposit is non‑refundable and will be deducted from the total tuition for that academic year. Tuition fees by year group (2025–26 academic year, amounts in AED) - Foundation Stage 1 (FS1) - Annual fee: AED 69,625. Term 1: AED 27,851; Term 2: AED 20,887; Term 3: AED 20,887. - Foundation Stage 2 (FS2) - Annual fee: AED 69,625. Term 1: AED 27,851; Term 2: AED 20,887; Term 3: AED 20,887. - Year 1 - Annual fee: AED 81,228. Term 1: AED 32,492; Term 2: AED 24,368; Term 3: AED 24,368. - Year 2 - Annual fee: AED 81,228. Term 1: AED 32,492; Term 2: AED 24,368; Term 3: AED 24,368. - Year 3 - Annual fee: AED 87,030. Term 1: AED 34,812; Term 2: AED 26,109; Term 3: AED 26,109. - Year 4 - Annual fee: AED 87,030. Term 1: AED 34,812; Term 2: AED 26,109; Term 3: AED 26,109. - Year 5 - Annual fee: AED 87,030. Term 1: AED 34,812; Term 2: AED 26,109; Term 3: AED 26,109. - Year 6 - Annual fee: AED 87,030. Term 1: AED 34,812; Term 2: AED 26,109; Term 3: AED 26,109. - Year 7 - Annual fee: AED 92,832. Term 1: AED 37,134; Term 2: AED 27,849; Term 3: AED 27,849. - Year 8 - Annual fee: AED 92,832. Term 1: AED 37,134; Term 2: AED 27,849; Term 3: AED 27,849. - Year 9 - Annual fee: AED 92,832. Term 1: AED 37,134; Term 2: AED 27,849; Term 3: AED 27,849. - Year 10 - Annual fee: AED 99,794. Term 1: AED 39,918; Term 2: AED 29,938; Term 3: AED 29,938. - Year 11 - Annual fee: AED 99,794. Term 1: AED 39,918; Term 2: AED 29,938; Term 3: AED 29,938. - Year 12 - Annual fee: AED 105,288. Term 1: AED 42,116; Term 2: AED 31,586; Term 3: AED 31,586. - Year 13 - Annual fee: AED 105,288. Term 1: AED 42,116; Term 2: AED 31,586; Term 3: AED 31,586. Billing schedule and payment terms - Fees are presented on a termly basis (Term 1, Term 2 and Term 3). The school issues tuition invoices according to the academic terms and the termly figures above are the standard term invoices. - An annual payment option is available; paying the full year in one payment qualifies for a 3% discount where the full annual tuition is paid in full prior to Monday 18 August 2025 (deadline as stated for the 2025–26 academic year). - New‑student admission deposit (AED 5,000) is deducted from the total tuition for the academic year in which admission is being sought and is non‑refundable and valid only for that academic year. Existing students pay a 5% re‑registration deposit which is deducted from the total tuition for the returning academic year. - For the purposes of refunds and pro‑rations, the value of the fee per month is calculated by dividing the total tuition fee by ten. Specific deduction rules apply depending on the length of attendance in a term (for example: attendance of two weeks or less leads to deduction of one month's fee; attendance between two weeks and one month leads to two months' fees being deducted; attendance beyond one month leads to a full term's fee being deducted). Charges for books and uniforms are not refundable; the same refund rules apply to transportation fees provided by the school. Boarding fees - Boarding is not applicable: Nord Anglia International School Dubai operates as a day school (no boarding provision). Other costs and optional charges - Optional additional costs are charged separately and typically include school transport, school uniforms, enrichment / after‑school activities, examination fees (IGCSE/A‑Level/IB where applicable), trips (local and international), music tuition and other optional programme costs. Amounts vary by service and student. - Transport is charged as an optional service and third‑party summaries report typical transport ranges around 6,000– AED 12,000 per year depending on route and service. Uniform costs, enrichment and activity fees vary by item and programme; third‑party summaries and local retail sources indicate uniform items and occasional kit purchases are additional (examples: individual uniform items and optional specialist jackets). Refund information (summary) - Deposits (application deposit and registration/admission deposit or re‑registration deposit) are treated as non‑refundable in normal circumstances. The school may refund deposits only under special circumstances (for example, documented family relocation) and such cases may be submitted to the relevant regulatory authority for review. Refunds of tuition after a student has started are calculated according to the attendance-based deduction scale described above. Charges for books and uniforms are not refundable. Fee payment options - Tuition payments are processed through the school's payments system. The NAS Dubai parent app supports tuition payments and is used for payment handling, lunch pre‑orders and activity sign‑ups; the school's published information indicates electronic payment processing through that system. Specific accepted payment instruments (for example, bank transfer or card) are handled through the school's payment platform and local payment arrangements.
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements —	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement —	Uniform requirement —
Food options	Food options —	Food options —
House system	House system —	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership —	Governance and ownership —
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	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.	Curriculum details NAS Dubai follows an internationally enhanced English National Curriculum from Early Years through Year 11, with IGCSE examinations at the end of Year 11. In Early Years, learning is organized around the UK Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework with play-based, enquiry-led activities across seven areas of learning. From Year 1 to Year 11, the curriculum is English-medium and prepares pupils for IGCSE assessments. In the Sixth Form (Years 12–13), NAS Dubai offers two pathways: the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) or A-Levels, with the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) available for A-Level students. The IB Diploma Programme comprises six subject groups (three HL and three SL) plus Theory of Knowledge, the Extended Essay and Creativity, Activity and Service. NAS Dubai also provides BTEC pathways as part of its broader curriculum, and a Languages Programme offering French, German, Mandarin and Spanish across the school.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	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 DD*D on historical summaries.	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression JESS graduates are admitted to universities around the world.	Higher education progression —
Gifted and talented	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.	Gifted and talented —
Academic calendar	Academic calendar —	Academic calendar —
Wellbeing & support	Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning	Social & emotional learning —	Social & emotional learning —
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) —	Special educational needs (SEN) —
English as an additional language	English as an additional language —	English as an additional language —
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing —	Mental wellbeing —
Safeguarding	Safeguarding —	Safeguarding —
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview —	Facilities overview —
Sports facilities	Sports facilities —	Sports facilities —
Academic facilities	Academic facilities —	Academic facilities —
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities —	Extra curricular facilities —
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History —	History —
Community	Community —	Community —
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association —	Parent teacher association —
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual —	Academic & intellectual —
Arts & creative	Arts & creative —	Arts & creative —
Cultural & language	Cultural & language —	Cultural & language —
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies —	Social & hobbies —
Community & service	Community & service —	Community & service —
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional —	Leadership & professional —
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing —	Lifestyle & wellbeing —
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision —	Language provision —
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching —	Bilingual teaching —
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations —	Accreditations —
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	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.	Admissions 1. Make an enquiry: The admissions process begins by submitting an online enquiry form, sending an email, or calling the admissions staff. This initial contact allows parents to discuss their family's specific needs and provide basic background information about their child. The team uses this step to establish direct communication and explain the timeline for expected entry. 2. Visit us: Parents are prompted to schedule a virtual tour and a discovery meeting based on their availability. During this session, the admissions staff outlines the daily routines and structural setup of the school. This serves as a dedicated time for parents to ask specific questions about how the school aligns with their child's educational requirements. 3. Make your application: To formally apply, families must submit an online application form alongside the required supporting documents, such as previous school reports and identification. At this stage, a non-refundable application fee of AED 525 is collected to process the file. Following submission, parents are also invited to schedule an in-person campus tour to view the physical classrooms and facilities. 4. Assessment and offer: The school will arrange a time for the student to complete an online admissions assessment, or provide video evidence for younger students. Results from this assessment are typically communicated within one week, giving parents a few days to make their decision. Upon receiving an offer, parents secure their child's place by accepting the enrolment terms and paying an enrolment fee of AED 5,000.
Scholarships	Scholarships —	Scholarships —
Waitlist	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.	Waitlist Nord Anglia International School Dubai operates a rolling waiting list system for year groups that are currently at full capacity. If a student successfully passes the required admissions assessment but a seat is not immediately available, they are moved onto this waitlist. Applications remain on the list continuously until a place opens up, meaning parents do not need to submit a new application or pay additional assessment fees for the following term while waiting for an available spot.
	View full profile →	View full profile →