St. Mary's Catholic High School vs The Apple International Community School

	S St. Mary's Catholic High School Dubai, United Arab Emirates	T The Apple International Community School Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year AED 9,895 - 19,221	Fees / year AED 15,850 - 20,955
Age range	Age range 5 - 18 years	Age range 3 - 16 years
Type	Type Co-educational, Day School	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum British Curriculum, Catholic Curriculum	Curriculum EYFS (Early years foundation stage), British Curriculum
Pupils	Pupils 1,996	Pupils —
Typical class size	Typical class size 14	Typical class size 25
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened 1968	Opened —
Bus service	Bus service Yes	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location St. Mary's Catholic High School is located in Dubai's Umm Hurair 2 district along Oud Metha Road. The commonly listed street address is 247 Oud Metha Road, Umm Hurair 2, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and the P.O. Box is 52232. The campus is accessible by the Dubai Metro (Oud Metha Metro Station) and is served by multiple RTA bus routes in the Oud Metha area.	Location 29A Street, Behind Karama Centre Near Karama Park, Al Karama Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The school is located in the Al Karama district of Dubai. Contact: +971 4 379 7732; info@applecommunityschool.ae.
Stages	Stages The school operates a two-tier structure: Primary (Year 1–Year 6) and Senior School (Year 7–Year 13). Arabic is compulsory from Grade 1 to Grade 10, and French is offered from Junior 5. In the Senior School, students prepare for GCSE/IGCSE under Edexcel, and there is a two-year A-Level program.	Stages FS1 to Year 11
School type	School type Private, co-educational. The school functions as a private, mixed-gender institution.	School type —
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix The school maintains a highly international student body. The largest nationality group is Indian, and UAE local students form a very small share; international students represent the vast majority. The Muhaisnah campus is described as hosting around 50 nationalities, with India commonly identified as the largest group.	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support Additional Learning Needs (SEN) support is available through the SEND department and a dedicated Student Support Service. The SEND contact is samantha-smchs@smgeducation.org, and the Student Support Service is listed among the school's wellbeing and support provisions.	Additional learning support Inclusion policy and provisions led by the inclusion team support diverse learning needs.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation The school is located in the United Arab Emirates and follows UK-derived examination frameworks (GCSE/IGCSE and A-Levels) for secondary progression, indicating a UK curriculum orientation rather than a country-specific affiliation.	Country affiliation United Arab Emirates
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation Catholic. The school is explicitly Catholic and operates within a UAE context as St. Mary's Catholic High School Dubai.	Religious affiliation —
School day structure	School day structure School day typically starts around 7:10 AM. On Mondays to Thursdays, the day runs until about 1:50 PM, with a shorter schedule on Fridays (ending around 11:15 AM). Details are published in the school timings sections.	School day structure School hours are Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM–3:00 PM, with a Friday prayer break from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM; Saturday sessions run 8:00 AM to 12:30 PM.
Bus service details	Bus service details The school does not operate its own buses and instead contracts with STS (School Transport Services) to provide student transport. Enquiries should be directed to STS, with contacts including sde-sms@sts-group.com and Jean Arango (+971 55 22 074 79). STS registration links for new admissions (Academic Year 2025–2026) are provided by the school.	Bus service details —
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application and enrolment fees - Application fee for new students: AED 500 (assessment fee included). - Enrolment fee for new students: up to 10% of the tuition fee; this enrolment fee is non‑refundable and is deductible from the first term fees. - Re‑enrolment fee for existing students: up to 5% of the tuition fee or AED 500 (whichever is higher); this fee is non‑refundable and is deductible from the first term fees. Tuition fees by year (per term) (The school presents the tuition and mandatory charges on the KHDA fact sheet. The figures below are the tuition amount shown and the mandatory add‑ons that produce the total fee listed on the fact sheet.) - Year 1 — Tuition: AED 7,361; Mandatory fee components: Examination/activities/stationery/photocopy/library/medical AED 1,912; SIMS learning portal AED 120; Computer & lab AED 133; Books AED 369; Total fees shown: AED 9,895. - Year 2 — Tuition: AED 7,361; Mandatory fee components: Examination/activities/stationery/photocopy/library/medical AED 1,912; SIMS learning portal AED 120; Computer & lab AED 133; Books AED 430; Total fees shown: AED 9,956. - Year 3 — Tuition: AED 8,195; Mandatory fee components: Examination/activities/stationery/photocopy/library/medical AED 1,912; SIMS learning portal AED 120; Computer & lab AED 133; Books AED 491; Total fees shown: AED 10,851. - Year 4 — Tuition: AED 8,195; Mandatory fee components: Examination/activities/stationery/photocopy/library/medical AED 1,912; SIMS learning portal AED 120; Computer & lab AED 133; Books AED 553; Total fees shown: AED 10,913. - Year 5 — Tuition: AED 9,030; Mandatory fee components: Examination/activities/stationery/photocopy/library/medical AED 1,723; SIMS learning portal AED 120; Computer & lab AED 133; Student materials AED 149; Total fees shown: AED 11,155. - Year 6 — Tuition: AED 9,030; Mandatory fee components: Examination/activities/stationery/photocopy/library/medical AED 1,723; SIMS learning portal AED 120; Computer & lab AED 133; Student materials AED 149; Total fees shown: AED 11,155. - Year 7 — Tuition: AED 9,815; Mandatory fee components: Examination/activities/stationery/photocopy/library/medical AED 1,689; SIMS learning portal AED 120; Computer & lab AED 133; Student materials AED 149; Total fees shown: AED 11,906. - Year 8 — Tuition: AED 9,815; Mandatory fee components: Examination/activities/stationery/photocopy/library/medical AED 1,719; SIMS learning portal AED 120; Computer & lab AED 133; Student materials AED 149; Total fees shown: AED 11,936. - Year 9 — Tuition: AED 11,042; Mandatory fee components: Examination/activities/stationery/photocopy/library/medical AED 1,800; SIMS learning portal AED 120; Computer & lab AED 457; Student materials AED 149; Total fees shown: AED 13,568. - Year 10 — Tuition: AED 12,679; Mandatory fee components: Examination/activities/stationery/photocopy/library/medical AED 1,771; SIMS learning portal AED 120; Computer & lab AED 889; Student materials AED 149; Total fees shown: AED 15,608. - Year 11 — Tuition: AED 12,679; Mandatory fee components: Examination/activities/stationery/photocopy/library/medical AED 1,771; SIMS learning portal AED 120; Computer & lab AED 889; Student materials AED 149; Total fees shown: AED 15,608. - Year 12 — Tuition: AED 15,812; Mandatory fee components: Examination/activities/stationery/photocopy/library/medical AED 1,890; SIMS learning portal AED 120; Computer & lab AED 1,250; Student materials AED 149; Total fees shown: AED 19,221. - Year 13 — Tuition: AED 15,812; Mandatory fee components: Examination/activities/stationery/photocopy/library/medical AED 1,890; SIMS learning portal AED 120; Computer & lab AED 1,250; Student materials AED 149; Total fees shown: AED 19,221. Optional services and other costs - Transport: AED 4,300 to AED 6,850 (arranged through a contracted transport provider; transport fees are listed as optional services). - Extracurricular activities: AED 30 to AED 40 per activity (where listed). - Educational local trip: AED 100 to AED 300; educational overseas trip / international excursion: AED 10,000 to AED 20,000 (where applicable). - Learning support assistants (where required): AED 1,700 to AED 3,400. - National/benchmark tests and related fees (where applicable): AED 100 to AED 350; Arabic benchmark tests AED 35 to AED 50. - Required education supplies and consumables: uniform range AED 50 to AED 150; school ID card replacement AED 20 to AED 25; books or course materials as listed under each year. - Board examination charges: charged by the examination board itself and shown separately as required. Billing schedule and payment terms - Payment windows for the academic year listed on the school notices: First term fees payment window and Second term fees payment window are specified; for the 2025–2026 academic year the school set the First term payment window as 15 August – 5 September 2025 and the Second term payment window as 1 December 2025 – 5 January 2026. Timely payment within the stated windows is required. - The school notes that re‑enrolment or enrolment fees are deductible from the first term fees at registration. Re‑enrolment and enrolment fees are non‑refundable. Refund information (applicable items) - Enrolment fees and re‑enrolment fees are explicitly listed as non‑refundable and are deductible from the first term fees. No other specific tuition refund rules are detailed on the school's KHDA fact sheet; parents should note the stated non‑refundable enrolment/re‑enrolment policy. Accepted payment methods and practical payment instructions - Accepted payment methods include the Skiply mobile payment gateway (school payment app), company cheques and manager's cheques in favour of ST MARYS CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL DUBAI, and direct bank transfer to the school account. The school's guidance explicitly states that personal cheques will not be accepted and that cash deposits or cheque deposits should not be made directly to the school bank account. Payment via the Skiply app is the primary method specified for term fee payment. - Bank transfer details provided for payments: Account Name: St Marys Catholic High School Dubai; Account No.: 0183378610001; IBAN: AE490400000183378610001; Bank: The National Bank of Ras Al‑Khaimah; SWIFT: NRAKAEAKXXX. After bank transfer, parents are asked to share transaction details, student name, year & section and the student's DC ID number by email to the school finance address for validation. - Finance contact emails for payments and invoicing: fee‑smchs@smgeducation.org for payment confirmations and finance‑smchs@smgeducation.org for invoices/accounts reconciliation and pro‑forma invoice requests. The school requests that parents include transaction details and required SUBJECT headers to expedite validation. Notes - The published fee fact sheet indicates a tuition fees increase applied under the KHDA framework for the academic year shown. Specific discounts (corporate or school employee) are listed where applicable on the fact sheet. Mandatory and optional fee components are shown separately on the KHDA fact sheet for each Year group.	Fee details Application and registration fees - Application fee (new students): AED 500 + VAT. - Registration deposit (seat confirmation) for new students: 10% of the annual tuition fee. This deposit is deductible from the tuition fee but is subject to the school's refund conditions (see Refund information). The registration deposit must be paid within seven days of the offer. - Re-registration / re-enrolment deposit for existing students: AED 500 (deductible from first term fees). Annual tuition fees and term breakdown (Academic Year 2026–27) Tuition is shown as the discounted annual fee (total payable in normal circumstances) and the three-term instalment amounts (Term 1 = 40%, Term 2 = 30%, Term 3 = 30%). All amounts are in AED. - FS1 — Annual tuition: AED 15,850. Term 1: AED 6,340; Term 2: AED 4,755; Term 3: AED 4,755. - FS2 — Annual tuition: AED 15,850. Term 1: AED 6,340; Term 2: AED 4,755; Term 3: AED 4,755. - Year 1 — Annual tuition: AED 16,980. Term 1: AED 6,792; Term 2: AED 5,094; Term 3: AED 5,094. - Year 2 — Annual tuition: AED 16,980. Term 1: AED 6,792; Term 2: AED 5,094; Term 3: AED 5,094. - Year 3 — Annual tuition: AED 17,980. Term 1: AED 7,192; Term 2: AED 5,394; Term 3: AED 5,394. - Year 4 — Annual tuition: AED 17,980. Term 1: AED 7,192; Term 2: AED 5,394; Term 3: AED 5,394. - Year 5 — Annual tuition: AED 18,500. Term 1: AED 7,400; Term 2: AED 5,550; Term 3: AED 5,550. - Year 6 — Annual tuition: AED 18,500. Term 1: AED 7,400; Term 2: AED 5,550; Term 3: AED 5,550. - Year 7 — Annual tuition: AED 19,130. Term 1: AED 7,652; Term 2: AED 5,739; Term 3: AED 5,739. - Year 8 — Annual tuition: AED 19,130. Term 1: AED 7,652; Term 2: AED 5,739; Term 3: AED 5,739. - Year 9 — Annual tuition: AED 19,550. Term 1: AED 7,820; Term 2: AED 5,865; Term 3: AED 5,865. - Year 10 — Annual tuition: AED 20,100. Term 1: AED 8,040; Term 2: AED 6,030; Term 3: AED 6,030. - Year 11 — Annual tuition: AED 20,955. Term 1: AED 8,382; Term 2: AED 6,286.50; Term 3: AED 6,286.50. Billing schedule and payment terms - Standard tuition instalment schedule: three termly instalments charged at 40% / 30% / 30% of the annual tuition. Term payment due dates for AY 2026–27: Term I due 25 August 2026; Term II due 25 December 2026; Term III due 25 March 2027. - Registration deposit must be paid within seven days of the offer to hold a place. Re-enrolment deposit is payable to secure a place for the following academic year and is deducted from the first term fee. Instalment payments typically require the first-term amount up front; post-dated cheques or the school's accepted payment channels are used for later instalments. - One-time full payment discount: a 2.5% discount on the annual tuition is available for families who pay the full annual fee in one payment on or before 30 August 2026. Boarding fees - Boarding is not applicable. The school operates as a day school and does not list boarding provision or boarding fees. Other mandatory and optional costs - The annual tuition includes: workbooks and textbooks, one set of regular uniform plus PE uniform (accessories, blazer and cardigan excluded), e-learning resources and online apps, computer and lab resources, external examinations, basic medical resources, and robotics provision. Special-size uniform carries a separate small charge (AED 30). - Typical ranges for required education supplies (per KHDA fact sheets for the school, by grade): - Uniform: AED 600 to AED 1,000. - Books: AED 400 to AED 1,300. - Stationery and ID replacement: Stationery AED 300–400; ID replacement AED 25–50. - Typical optional service fees and activity ranges (per KHDA fact sheets): - Transport: AED 5,500 to AED 9,950 (termly/annual arrangements vary; transport is charged termly). - Extracurricular / club activities: AED 500 to AED 1,800. - Canteen / school food: AED 100 to AED 2,000 (annual, depending on consumption). - Overnight camps, school trips and educational overseas trips: ranges vary (local trips AED 100–2,500; overseas trips AED 5,000–18,000 for older year groups). - Additional enrichment, skill-development and competition fees: generally range from AED 100 up to AED 2,000 depending on activity. Refund information and withdrawal terms - Application fee (AED 500 + VAT) is generally non-refundable; it is refundable only if the student is not offered a place or if the school collected the fee without informing parents that no place was available. - Registration (seat-confirmation) deposit refund rules: refundable if a parent formally notifies the school of cancellation at least 60 calendar days prior to the school's start date; non-refundable if cancellation is within 60 days of the school start date or if enrolment occurs during the academic year. - Tuition refunds are calculated on a term-by-term basis using the withdrawal date recorded on the official Withdrawal Request. Specific commonly applied rules include: - If enrolled in the term for two weeks or less: one month's fees deducted. - If enrolled between two weeks and one month: two months' fees deducted. - If enrolled more than one month into a term: the full term's fees are deducted. - Tuition fees paid prior to the academic year start are refundable subject to the above registration/re-registration conditions. - Other mandatory/optional service fees follow similar charge/refund rules tied to the withdrawal date; optional service fees already committed to third-party providers may be non-refundable. Transport refunds, where applicable, are handled per the school transport policy (termly charge and one month's notice required for discontinuation; approved refunds settled within 15 working days). The school may withhold Transfer or Withdrawal Certificates until outstanding fees are cleared. Fee payment options and practical details - Online payments: the school uses the Zenda mobile app (School Code: AICSDXB) for online fee payments and authentication via registered email/phone. - School fee counter: cash, card and cheque payments are accepted at the school fee counter (cheques payable to The Apple International Community School); counter operating hours are published by the school. Cheque policies: dishonoured cheques can affect future cheque acceptance and re-enrolment. - Bank transfer: bank transfers are accepted only in exceptional cases; transfer slips should be shared to accounts@applecommunityschool.ae. Bank details are maintained by the school and provided for authorised transfers. Discounts and scholarships - Sibling discounts: first sibling receives 20% on annual tuition; additional siblings receive 25% (applied per the school's published discount scheme). - Non-academic (sports) scholarships: available for certain national and international achievements (schemes include up to 15% for international champions and up to 10% for national champions). Other scholarship and discount schemes are applied according to eligibility criteria. (End of fees overview.)
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 St. Mary's Catholic High School Dubai follows the UK National Curriculum. Primary students are prepared for Edexcel London Board examinations at the end of Grade 6, while Secondary students sit GCSE/IGCSE/GCE examinations at the end of Grade 11 and Grade 12. Arabic is compulsory from Grade 1 to Grade 10; French is offered from Junior 5; religious studies (Qur'an or Bible) are studied according to faith, with GCSE examinations available in these subjects. In the Senior School, pupils begin preparation for GCSE/IGCSE across a broad range of subjects, and the Long Term Plan lists English Language, English Literature, PSHE, Geography, UAE Social Studies, Citizenship, Psychology, plus GCSE options in Business Studies, Accounting, Economics, Psychology, Computing, History, Religious Studies, and ICT. Students may select a concentration in Science, Art/Commerce, or a combination from Senior 3, with the choice made at the end of Senior 2 and subject to approval. Advanced Level studies are available through Edexcel, including Physics, Chemistry and Biology.	Curriculum details Foundation Stage follows the Early Years Foundation Stage framework as part of an enriched version of the New National Curriculum for England. The primary curriculum complies with the English National Programme and with the Ministry of Education standards for Arabic, Islamic Studies, Moral Education and UAE Social Studies to provide a broad and balanced education. The programme provides opportunities to develop creativity, expression and well-being and includes extended learning opportunities, field visits and cross-curricular links with other subjects. Learning outside the classroom is an integral element of education, with a sports curriculum designed to support holistic development of skills such as agility, speed, strength, endurance and balance. The school is inclusive and reviews provisions for students of determination to ensure effective interventions and tailored support. The school seeks to encourage and develop gifts and talents amongst its students, including artistic, creative and sporting excellence.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression —	Higher education progression —
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented —	Gifted and talented The school seeks to encourage and develop gifts and talents amongst its students. Along with high academic standards, the school encourages artistic, creative and sporting excellence.
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 The school offers admission to Year Eleven into a two-year A-Level GCE programme. The application fee for new students is AED 500. New students pay Enrolment Fees up to 10% of the tuition fees, non-refundable and deductible from the first term fees. The 2025-2026 fee structure follows KHDA guidelines with a 6% increase. The payment windows for term fees are 15 August–5 September 2025 for the first term and 1 December 2025–5 January 2026 for the second term. Fee payments are to The National Bank of Ras Al-Khaimah, with IBAN AE490400000183378610001 and SWIFT NRAKAEAKXXX. The curriculum is delivered in English; Arabic is compulsory from Grade 1–10, and French will be offered from Junior 5. English is the medium of instruction according to the English Department page. In the Senior School, pupils prepare for the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE/IGCSE) in subjects including English, Mathematics, Science and more, with Edexcel as the examination framework. The school was founded in 1968 by Fr. Eusebius Daveri. The school is located in Dubai, P.O. Box 52232.	Admissions 1. Online Application. To begin the admission process, fill the online enquiry form from the home page and complete the Online Student Enquiry & Registration. After submission, an acknowledgement with an online reference number is issued and guidance on the next steps is provided. 2. Registration and Payment. Pay an Application Fee of AED 525 (inclusive of VAT) online or in person to initiate registration. The fee is refundable if the school does not offer a place and non-refundable if a place is offered but not taken, and it is not deductible from tuition. Required documents are uploaded online and include copies of passports for child and parents, Emirates ID copies when available, birth certificate translated to English if needed, a recent photograph of the child, and the last two years' school reports (for certain year levels) along with a transfer certificate and DHA forms as applicable. 3. Assessment. The School Registrar invites the child for an assessment or an interview as appropriate. CAT4/written assessments are used when required and the previous school reports are reviewed. Results are communicated by email or by phone, and alternatives to an on-campus visit can be arranged as a 1-on-1 virtual meeting with Admissions staff. 4. Admission Confirmation. The Admissions Officer sends confirmation letters to successful applicants, subject to seat availability. A registration deposit equal to 10% of total tuition is required (non-refundable and non-transferable) and is deductible from tuition. A seat confirmation fee is payable after an offer is accepted, and the first term tuition plus annual fees are due within 10 working days of confirmation; non-payment may move the place to the waiting list. Admission is subject to KHDA approval after required document checks.
Scholarships	Scholarships Discount schemes include Corporate 50% and School Employees 50%.	Scholarships —
Waitlist	Waitlist —	Waitlist If a seat is confirmed but the first term payment is not made within 10 working days, the admission will be moved to the waiting list and may be offered by turn.
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