Dunecrest American School

Dunecrest American School is located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in the Al Barari / Living Legends area of Dubailand, just off Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road (E311). The 8‑acre campus features naturally lit classrooms, modern facilities and athletic spaces designed for collaborative, project‑based learning and wellness. It is accessible from residential communities such as Arabian Ranches and Motor City, and many families use the school's point‑to‑point bus services. The campus address is near Al Barari, Wadi Al Safa 3 (next to Al Barari).

Dunecrest offers a standards‑based American curriculum from Pre‑Kindergarten through Grade 12, with the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme available in Grades 11 and 12. The program is organized into Early Childhood (Pre‑KG, KG1, KG2), Elementary (G1–G5), Middle School (G6–G8) and High School (G9–G12).

Dunecrest is co‑educational and operates as a day school. There are no boarding facilities offered.

The Inclusion Program uses a multi‑tiered RTI framework (Tier 1 universal instruction, Tier 2 targeted interventions and Tier 3 intensive interventions) to support students with additional learning needs. Independent Learning Support Assistants (ILSA) support Students of Determination within mainstream classrooms, and an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or an Accommodation Plan is developed for included students. The school reports a capacity limit of 10% of a grade's cohort for Inclusion services and engages in regular monitoring and collaboration with parents.

American international school; accredited by the Middle States Association and an IB World School offering the IB Diploma Programme in Grades 11–12.

No formal religious affiliation; the school states it accepts students regardless of religion.

The school day is typically from around 7:45 a.m. to about 3:15 p.m. on most days. Administration hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday to Thursday, and 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Fridays. Fridays feature early dismissal for younger divisions (11:50 a.m. for Early Childhood & Elementary; 12:00 p.m. for Middle & High School). Lunch is provided by the school cafeteria, with a daily menu available to view.

A point‑to‑point bus service is available, used by many families; transportation details are managed by the school and inquiries should be directed to transport@dunecrest.ae. The school's contact page lists the Transportation department and phone number, and the 360 Virtual Tour notes bus services as common in the area.

Dunecrest offers a K-12 American curriculum with the option to pursue the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme in Grades 11–12. Early Childhood (Pre-KG, KG1, KG2) follows the Creative Curriculum®, a US-based framework, with the KG-12 program then aligned to AERO/Common Core Plus standards through Grade 10. From Grade 1 through Grade 10, the program uses AERO Plus Common Core Plus standards for Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies, with World Languages, Music and Art; Physical Education follows SHAPE, and technology follows ISTE standards. In Grades 11-12, students may follow the American High School Diploma pathway or the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. English is the primary language of instruction; additional languages include Arabic, with French and Spanish offered from Grade 4. The school is fully accredited by the Middle States Association and is an IB World School offering the IB Diploma Programme in Grades 11-12.

Dunecrest American School has a Wellbeing Policy that places student wellbeing at the center of its approach to learning. It implements a comprehensive counseling program offering individual and group counseling for students, staff, and parents, and provides professional development opportunities for staff on mental health and wellbeing. Social-emotional learning is promoted through established programs and workshops, and a peer support system helps students seek help from peers. Wellbeing is integrated into daily routines and timetables, including advisory/moral education and the Second Step Program alongside UAE Moral Education. Data on wellbeing are regularly collected and reviewed using the Komodo platform, student surveys with a wellbeing component, and targeted interventions based on results. The school also runs wellbeing awareness events and collaborates with mental health professionals outside the school to support students.

Dunecrest's Inclusion Program emphasizes inclusive mainstream education, with a philosophy that all students are valued and able to learn in integrated settings. The program uses data to plan and influence learning outcomes, with a focus on narrowing attainment gaps and providing support across the curriculum through collaboration with specialists. Categories of need recognised in practice include communication/interaction (e.g., Autistic spectrum conditions such as Autistic and Asperger's), and specific learning difficulties (e.g., dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia), among others; Additional Language Needs (ALN) are not included within Inclusion. There is an Inclusion Capacity limit of roughly 10% of each grade's cohort, determined by the number of qualified learning support teachers and available hours. The school is not a specialist SEN institution; Inclusion services are delivered within mainstream settings, with planning led by the Student Support Team and coordinated with the IB program when applicable.

Dunecrest provides an English Language Learners (ELL) program designed to support non-native English speakers as they acquire and refine the language skills necessary for academic success. The school describes its language policy as promoting inclusive education and multilingualism, with language diversity viewed as an instructional resource. ELL support is integrated to help students access the curriculum and participate fully in classes from Pre-KG through Grade 12. The program is positioned within the broader language and inclusion framework to facilitate continued language development alongside subject learning. The school explicitly states it admits students with varying language backgrounds and treats language diversity as a strength of the community.

Mental wellbeing at Dunecrest is guided by the Wellbeing Policy, which outlines a focus on mental and emotional health through multiple channels. A comprehensive counseling program provides individualized support, and staff professional development enhances understanding of mental health and wellbeing. Social-emotional learning is reinforced through planned programs and workshops, alongside a peer support system to encourage help-seeking. Wellbeing initiatives include classroom-level supports via advisory sessions and the UAE Moral Education curriculum, as well as school-wide awareness events and wellness activities. The school uses data (including Komodo wellbeing data, PASS results, and wellbeing surveys) to identify needs and guide interventions, with involvement from school counselors and a wellbeing committee. External mental health professionals are engaged as needed to support the school community.

Dunecrest maintains a Safeguarding & Child Protection Policy to ensure a child-safe environment for all students. Safeguarding aligns with UAE Federal Law No. 3 of 2016 (Wadeema's Law) and is designed to prevent abuse, neglect, exploitation, and harassment. The policy outlines protective aims to safeguard at-risk children and provide appropriate support to those involved in safeguarding situations. It establishes procedures for reporting concerns and responding to safeguarding issues in a timely and appropriate manner. The policy is part of the school's formal commitments to safeguarding across staff and students.

Dunecrest American School offers education from Pre-KG to Grade 12 with a standards-based US curriculum and IB Diploma options in Grades 11 and 12. The admissions process starts with an online application (Apply Now) that takes about 2–3 minutes to complete. After submission, the admissions team aims to respond within 48 hours for completed applications. Applicants upload documents listed in the Documents Checklist, including the student's passport, report cards from the previous three years in English, and any available recent standardized test scores (MAP or CAT4). Upon acceptance, additional documents are required: birth certificate; parents' passports; student and parents' photos; the final report card; and UAE residency documents (Residence Visa and Emirates ID) for residents; if visa documents are not yet available, they may be submitted later but before the start of the school year. Admissions decisions are final and consider the student's ability to succeed in the programs, as well as social, emotional, and educational needs.