Dubai English Speaking College

DESS operates across three Dubai campuses. DESS Oud Metha hosts the primary school (ages 3–11) on Oud Metha Road. DESS College provides secondary and sixth form (ages 11–18) at Academic City. DESS Primary Academic City opened in September 2025 at Academic City, opposite DESS College. The Oud Metha campus is centrally located near the Oud Metha Metro on the Green Line, while the Academic City campuses sit in Dubai's educational hub.

DESS Oud Metha serves Foundation Stage to Year 6 (ages ~3–11). DESS College offers secondary and sixth form (Year 7–Year 13, ages 11–18). DESS Primary Academic City is the latest primary campus (opening 2025), joining the two existing primary and college sites to form a continuous path from age 3 to 18.

Co-educational day school; the DESS group operates on a not-for-profit basis. The college and schools are described as mixed/gender-balanced in KHDA references. There are no boarding facilities advertised.

The student body represents 114 nationalities. The most common nationality and the local-to-international ratio are not published by the school.

DESS provides inclusive education with access to external specialists as needed. If applicable, reports from outside agencies (Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Educational Psychologist, etc.) may be used to inform provision.

Affiliation to the United Kingdom in practice through use of the English National Curriculum for Year 7–13; the schools are British-curriculum (UK) oriented and part of the Dubai English Speaking Schools family.

No formal religious affiliation; the schools are non-denominational and emphasise inclusive, diverse education.

School days for the secondary campus start around 07:30 (Academic City) and finish around 15:30; Oud Metha also runs a similar day length (approximately 07:25–15:30). Specific timetables may vary by campus and year group.

A school bus service is provided for DESS Academic City by Maverick, a private, specialist provider. The service is door-to-door and available from Foundation Stage 1 upwards, with GPS tracking, seat belts, and a dedicated bus coordinator in time. Routes cover wide areas, including far reaches of Dubai's residential zones.

DESS College follows the National Curriculum of England and Wales for students aged 11–18, with three key stages: Key Stage 3 (Year 7–9), Key Stage 4 (Year 10–11), and Key Stage 5 Sixth Form (Year 12–13). Key Stage 3 offers Arabic A/B, English, Mathematics, Science, languages (French and Spanish), Art and Design, Design and Technology, Drama, ICT, Physical Education, Geography, History, Moral Education, Social Studies, Islamic Education for Muslim students, and Getting Ready for the Outside World. In Key Stage 4, students study core GCSE subjects—English Language and English Literature, Mathematics, Science (Double Award or Separate Sciences), and Arabic—plus three elective subjects from a broad suite; a Vocational Pathway was introduced for 2026. Key Stage 5 provides AS and A Level qualifications and BTEC diplomas, with a wide range of A Level subjects across sciences, humanities, languages, and the arts. Examinations are delivered through Edexcel, AQA, OCR and Cambridge Assessment International Education, and the school uses Go4Schools for live progress tracking alongside a Box & Bubble marking system, with three annual Progress Reports and dedicated Careers support via Unifrog.

DESS Oud Metha uses a House System (Jaguar, Leopard, Lynx, Panther) to foster belonging and peer support, complemented by DESS 360 Care which prioritises balanced academic and emotional growth with dedicated staff, parent engagement, and collaboration with external agencies.

The Dubai Inclusion Education Policy Framework guides practice; the Learning Zone provides inclusive support including tailored one-to-one programmes, boosters and focus groups, and in-class support, and the school welcomes students with all sorts of learning needs with admission assessed individually.

A standalone EAL programme is not publicly described; language support is described within inclusive education via the Learning Zone's tailored support and inclusion policies rather than as a separate EAL department.

Mental wellbeing is central to DESS through the 360 Care focus on emotional growth, a nurturing environment, and parent involvement, complemented by character development (The 6Cs) and mindfulness/emotional-regulation initiatives; KHDA confirms an outstanding wellbeing provision.

KHDA inspection notes safeguarding and health and safety arrangements as outstanding; safeguarding and welfare are supported by measures such as a safe bus service with safety features and an on-site medical team of nurses and a doctor.

1. DESS operates three campuses: DESS Oud Metha (Primary 3–11), DESS Academic City (Primary 3–11), and DESS College (Secondary and Sixth Form, 11–18). The Oud Metha and Academic City Primary campuses sit in Dubai, and DESS College is located at Academic City. Families can book a tour to visit and learn more, and the Admissions Team provides guidance throughout the process.

2. The curriculum for the primary campuses follows the English National Curriculum, with a focus on Mathematics, Literacy, and Science. Early years use Continuous Provision in Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1, and from Year 2 there is a blend of Continuous Provision and Invent, Explore, Inspire (I.E.I.). The 6Cs Developing Character program focuses on collaboration, communication, critical thinking and related skills to prepare for life-long learning. The College follows Cambridge assessment routes (IGCSE and AS/A Levels) for secondary education.

3. Applications are invited for Foundation Stage (FS1), Years 1–6, Years 7–10, and Sixth Form. In 2025, Year 7 and Year 6 applications are closed due to full capacity, and Year 7 2026 applications closed on 5 December 2025. The Admissions Team guides applicants through the process.

4. The Admissions Office is located at DESS College, Academic City (Security Gate 2, Parent Services Reception). Book a Tour or a Virtual Tour to learn more, and the Admissions Team is available to answer questions.

5. Supporting documents include Birth Certificate (in English), Passport Copy, Recent Passport Photo, End of Year and Term/Mid-Year Academic Reports, CAT 4 (within last 12 months, if available), Emirates ID (if available), UAE Visa (if available), and external reports (Speech/Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Educational Psychologist, etc.). For overseas applicants, a reference from the current school may be requested.

6. Fees are published by campus and year group for 2025–26. Example: FS1 fees at Oud Metha are listed with separate term payments; Foundation Stage 2 and Years 1–6 have separate schedules; Academic City has higher base fees with a 15% discount for 2025–26 and 2026–27. Acceptance fees apply when a place is offered, and siblings receive tiered discounts. Payments can be made via the SKIPLY app or by bank transfer; bank details and invoicing guidance are provided by the Finance Team. Tours, match with a place, and other admissions steps are detailed in the Admissions section.

There is a waiting list for some year groups where capacity has been reached. For 2025, Year 7 and Year 6 applications are closed due to full capacity, and Year 7 2026 applications closed on 5 December 2025, indicating ongoing waitlist activity for affected cohorts.