Dubai International Academy Emirates Hills

The campus is located in the Emirates Hills neighbourhood of Dubai, on First Al Khail Street near the Montgomerie Golf Course. It is accessible by major roads and sits among upscale residential areas. Dubai International Academy Emirates Hills is the longest established IB continuum school in Dubai.

The school offers the International Baccalaureate continuum (PYP, MYP, DP, and CP) from KG to Year 13. This includes the full IB pathway for primary through senior years.

Co-educational, day school.

The student body represents over 90 nationalities; the school states it welcomes students of all nationalities and religions. The largest nationality group is not officially published.

Learning support comprises inclusion provision, English as an Additional Language (EAL), and targeted interventions. The school provides Individual Education Plans (IEPs/ALPs), counselling, and partnerships with specialists such as speech therapists, educational psychologists, and occupational therapists to support students with special needs or gifts and talents.

No formal country affiliation. The school accepts students from any nationality and operates as part of Innoventures Education with a diverse international community.

No religious affiliation; the school welcomes students of all religions.

School day timings vary by year group. KG1–KG2 run Mon–Thu with a start around 7:00–7:40 and early finish; Fridays are half-days (end around 12:00). Year 1–Year 6 run Mon–Thu from about 7:40–3:00 with a lunch break, and CCAs run after school; Fridays end around 12:00.

Arab Falcon Bus Rental LLC provides the school's bus service. Buses are GPS-tracked with CCTV on board; seat allocation depends on route availability. For the 2024–2025 academic year, transport fees are around AED 8,200 per year, with a one-way option available at AED 6,150.

Dubai International Academy Emirates Hills offers the International Baccalaureate continuum, including the Primary Years Programme (PYP) for ages 3–12, the Middle Years Programme (MYP) for ages 11–16, the Diploma Programme (DP) for ages 16–18/19, and the Career-related Programme (CP). In the Diploma Programme, Year 12–13 students may pursue the IB Diploma or IB Courses; the Diploma requires six subjects (one from each Group 1–6), with three HL and three SL, plus the Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge, and CAS. The MYP (Years 7–11) supports inquiry-based learning and includes a Year 11 Personal Project and a Year 9 Community Project, with a focus on intercultural awareness and service. The PYP (ages 3–12) centers on six transdisciplinary themes and six subject areas, providing a coherent frame that leads into the MYP. Arabic is compulsory KG1–Year 9 with Arabic A for native speakers and Arabic B for non-natives; Modern Foreign Languages (French or Spanish) are offered from primary Year 3 and again in secondary from Year 7, with a Mother Tongue program for multiple languages. English is the language of instruction for most subjects, with English Language and Literature available at HL/SL in DP, and additional language options including Arabic, French and Spanish, plus a Mother Tongue program.

DIA Emirates Hills supports Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) through its Learning Support Program, which includes emotional support and school counselling delivered by a team of dedicated specialists, counsellors and advisors who monitor student progress. The program develops individual life plans for identified students, addressing four areas: inside the classroom, after-school activities, clubs/teams/events, and external activities, with plans created and regularly reviewed with input from students, parents, teachers and counsellors. There is a strong emphasis on differentiation in the classroom to meet diverse needs and on providing an inclusive learning environment. The Inclusion provisions purposefully support Students of Determination and Gifted and Talented learners alongside general education. Mentoring for At-Risk students and college counselling are integrated to support wellbeing and future pathways.

In DIA Emirates Hills, inclusion is supported by a holistic Inclusion framework that provides appropriate provision, resources and curricular options for identified students. Students receive Individual Education Plans (IEP) or Advanced Learning Plans (ALP) with targeted strategies, and progress is tracked through regular meetings with teachers and administration, as well as informal assessments and intervention classes delivered by qualified specialists. There are exam access arrangements and partnerships with external specialists such as speech therapists, educational psychologists and occupational therapists to support assessment and provision. The SENDCo roles (Kindergarten & Primary SENDCo and Secondary School SENDCo) coordinate and guide teachers, parents and external professionals, with support from the ALPHA coordinators for Gifted and Talented learners. The Dubai Inclusive Education Policy Framework 2017 informs inclusion practice and KHDA guidance on inclusion is cited in the school's materials.

English as an Additional Language (EAL) support starts in Year 1 for non-English speakers and continues in the Secondary School from Year 7 to Year 11. EAL teaching staff work with small composite groups in designated EAL classrooms or join homeroom classes to support learners, depending on needs. The programme aims to strengthen fluency in English for school and wider community use, with focus on expanding vocabulary, oral and written skills, listening and comprehension, and building confidence. The EAL provision is designed to enable students to progress toward full engagement with the Language A Programme after about a year in many cases. EAL is closely linked with mainstream programmes to support academic progress, identity, and self-worth.

Mental wellbeing is supported through emotional support and school counselling as part of the DIA Emirates Hills Learning Support Program. A holistic approach underpins wellbeing, with the Inclusion Team aiming to ensure access to high-quality education for every student and to foster personal growth, confidence and happiness. Wellbeing support is delivered by the same multidisciplinary team that monitors student progress and coordinates targeted interventions. The program emphasizes inclusivity and differentiated support to nurture resilience and social-emotional development for Students of Determination and Gifted and Talented learners. This framework aligns wellbeing with academic progress and broader development goals.

The DIA Emirates Hills page for Student Support does not publicly disclose safeguarding or child-protection policies. Dubai Inclusive Education Policy Framework 2017 provides the regulatory context for inclusive practice in Dubai, and KHDA guidance informs inclusion practices in the emirate, but specific school-level safeguarding procedures are not described on the page. If safeguarding details are required, inquiries should be directed to the school's inclusion or admissions contacts. The Dubai Inclusive Education Policy Framework and KHDA resources offer broader context for safeguarding-related considerations in Dubai's private schools.