Deira International School

The Deira International School campus is situated in Dubai Festival City, Al Badia, Dubai Festival City, United Arab Emirates. The postal address is P.O. Box 79043, Al Badia, Dubai Festival City. It is located near Al Badia Golf Resort and Al Badia Residence, about 3 kilometres from Dubai International Airport and a short drive from areas such as Mirdif and Al Warqa, with access via the Business Bay Crossing.

DIS serves students from Foundation Stage (FS1–FS2) through Key Stage 4 and into the IB pathways (IBDP or IBCP) in the final years, covering ages roughly 3 to 18.

DIS is a co-educational day school. It operates within a British-curriculum framework and offers IGCSEs in Year 11 and IB pathways in Years 12–13; the school does not indicate boarding facilities.

The school reports representation of over 90 nationalities among its students. The exact local-to-international ratio is not published by the school; independent listings note a diverse mix with Arab nationalities appearing prominently in some datasets.

DIS provides personalised learning and SEND support through a dedicated Pastoral and Personalised Learning Support Team, with early identification and targeted intervention. The school also supports learners whose first language is not English and offers Arabic as a First Language, AFL and Islamic Studies as part of its language and curriculum provisions.

The school follows the English National Curriculum and functions as a British international school, with formal affiliations to British-based organisations including British Schools in the Middle East (BSME), COBIS and British Schools Overseas (BSO).

DIS has no formal religious affiliation. Islamic Studies is offered to Muslim students as part of the curriculum where appropriate.

School day timings are: Foundation Stage 7:50–13:00, Primary 7:50–14:30, and Secondary 7:50–15:30 on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday; Tuesday 7:50–14:30 for all; Friday 7:50–12:00 for all students.

The school's transportation is provided by Maverick. Maverick employs certified drivers and bus assistants, with safety protocols and real-time tracking; contact details for routes are provided by the school. In 2024–2025, two-way route charges were listed as AED 4,700–9,300 depending on the route, with Maverick handling registrations and operations.

Deira International School delivers a British-inspired curriculum built on the National Curriculum for England and Wales, and is a Cambridge IGCSE centre while offering IB pathways (IBDP, IBCP, and IB Courses) for post-16 study. In Primary (Year 1–6), the curriculum is adapted from England's National Curriculum, designed to be cross-curricular and contextually relevant, with Year 1–2, Year 3–4 and Year 5–6 curriculum booklets; core subjects include English, Mathematics, Science, Social Science and Arabic B. In Key Stage 4 (Years 10–11), students study at least seven IGCSE/GCSE subjects, including English Language and English Literature, Mathematics (two pathways) and Science (two pathways), plus Core PE, National Studies (Social Studies and Moral Education), Islamic Education or Integrated Studies, and Arabic A or B, with a range of option subjects such as Spanish, French, Drama, Computer Science, Economics, Business Studies and Art/Design, and opportunities for Triple Science. In Key Stage 5 (Years 12–13), students may pursue the IB Diploma Programme, the IB Career-Related Programme or IB Courses; the IBDP comprises six subject groups across Languages, Humanities, Sciences, Mathematics and the Arts, with three core elements (Theory of Knowledge, Extended Essay and CAS) and a maximum of 45 points. The language of instruction is English, with Arabic (First Language and Foreign Language) and French offered; the school is accredited for Cambridge IGCSE and the IB programmes.

Deira International School places social and emotional learning (SEL) at the heart of its wellbeing approach. KHDA's 2024 inspection rated Wellbeing as Outstanding, reflecting strong SEL provision and student welfare. The Wellbeing Team and Wellbeing Counsellors provide individual and group counselling, classroom sessions, and support for exam stress and relationships, as well as mindfulness practices. They work with families and teachers to promote resilience, self‑regulation, and positive social skills across the school. Wellbeing data from BounceTogether (and related tools) informs planning and targeted interventions under the KHDA Wellbeing Framework. Staff in the Wellbeing Team include primary and secondary counsellors such as Megha Jootla and Alistair Dale, who deliver services across phases.

DIS delivers inclusive education through an Inclusion Support Team that oversees SEND provision. It is a mainstream school, not a specialist SEN institution, but provides structured supports for Students of Determination. There are three levels of support: Level 1 high‑quality inclusive teaching; Level 2 personal support with curriculum modification; Level 3 individualised programmes with 1:1 Learning Support Assistants. Students with SEND are identified early, with an Individual Education Plan (IEP) or pupil passport, and progress is tracked and reviewed with parents. The Inclusion Lead (Assistant Head – Whole School Inclusion) and Primary/Secondary SENDCo oversee the process, supported by the Inclusion Team Learning Support staff; external professionals (e.g., speech and language therapists or educational psychologists) may be engaged when required.

English is the language of instruction at DIS. Arabic is offered as a First Language and as a Foreign Language, and French is offered as well; Spanish is also available as a language option. EAL support is provided as part of the Inclusion framework for pupils whose first language is not English, rather than a stand‑alone EAL department. The school's Inclusion policies indicate support for pupils whose first language is not English and outline use of external professionals when needed to support language development.

The Mental Health and Wellbeing policy sets universal and targeted approaches to promote mental health and wellbeing for all students, staff, and families. The policy aims to promote positive mental health, raise awareness of issues, and provide targeted support for those in need, coordinating with safeguarding and welfare practices. The Wellbeing Team provides one‑to‑one or small‑group support, runs workshops for wellbeing and safeguarding, and helps families with related guidance; designated safeguarding leads and a School Doctor support the framework. Data from ePulse and BounceTogether informs planning, monitoring, and intervention at different year groups. The policy aligns with Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance and is complemented by a Parent's Guide to Mental Wellbeing.

Deira International School operates a Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy (dated August 12, 2025) that follows UAE law and local safeguarding frameworks. It establishes a Designated Safeguarding Lead pair (and deputies) and requires reporting of concerns to safeguarding leads or statutory authorities as needed. The policy provides quick reference contacts for safeguarding and outlines step‑by‑step procedures for concerns or disclosures, including the use of CPOMS and timelines for action. The Designated Safeguarding Leads (e.g., Emma Hannon, Gaynor Dale) are supported by a safeguarding team and senior leaders to promote a safe school environment. The policy emphasises multi‑agency collaboration and ongoing staff training, with annual reviews and public availability of safeguarding information.

Step 1 – Entry requirements and placement. Foundation Stage places are offered on application, and children attend a short play-based assessment. For Year 1 to Year 10, admission is confirmed after a review of the child's most recent school report. A CAT4 assessment is required from Year 4 to Year 10, while Year 1 to Year 3 use paper-based assessments. External IB Diploma Programme applicants are guided by recommended criteria and all applications are considered. Entry age guidelines apply to each class from Foundation Stage through IB.

Scholarships are offered by the Al-Futtaim Education Foundation at Deira International School in three categories: Emirati students (academic excellence) up to 100%; Talent and Sports up to 50%; and IBDP Academic Excellence up to 50%. IBDP scholarships are valid for two years; Emirati scholarships are valid for the duration of enrolment subject to performance and conduct; Sports and Talent scholarships require an annual portfolio and representation where applicable. Scholarship applications for the 2025–2026 academic year have now closed. Emirati scholarships may require a CAT4 test arranged through Admissions.

Waitlist. Most Primary Year Groups operate on a waitlist; Foundation Stage has limited availability.