Dubai International Academy, Emirates Hills

Dubai International Academy, Emirates Hills is one of the top schools in Dubai. Operating since 2005, this well-known school offers the popular International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum. It is located in Emirates Hills and currently has around 2,650 students belonging to over 80 nationalities. Dubai International Academy Al Barsha is the second branch that is also gaining popularity among parents.

Students as young as three can enrol in Kindergarten 1 (KG1) and continue studying in this IB school in Dubai until Year 13. There are 240 teachers at DIA belonging to 18 diverse nationalities, complementing the multicultural nature of the student population. The teacher-to-student ratio is 1:11.

The school is a member of the Innoventures Education Group. Established in 2004, Innoventures Education manages seven multi-curricular international schools and nurseries in Dubai.

• Location: Emirates Hills, Dubai
• School fees: AED 43,946 - AED 77,866
• Curriculum: International Baccalaureate (IB)
• Co-ed or segregate: Co-ed
• KHDA rating: Outstanding
• Years offered: KG1 - Year 13

The oldest Dubai International Academy is in Emirates Hills, an upscale community by Emaar Properties. Emirates Hills is one of the luxurious residential communities in Dubai with massive villas and some recreational opportunities. It also surrounds other nearby neighbourhoods, which are:

• The Springs
• The Greens
• The Lakes
• The Meadows

The closest residential area to the school is The Springs. Parents wanting to live close to DIA can consider these properties available for rent and sale.

• Villas for rent near DIA
• Villas for sale near DIA

DIA is one of Dubai’s most successful IB curriculum schools, with two state-of-the-art campuses. One campus of Dubai International Academy is in Emirates Hills and the other is in Al Barsha. The state-of-the-art Emirates Hills campus is built on a 350,000 sq. ft. plot and has the following facilities:

• Shaded outdoor basketball and tennis ball court
• Specialist rooms for performing arts including music, dance and drama
• Rooms dedicated to design and technology, art and language learning
• Sprung floored room for kindergarten
• Fully equipped science labs, computer labs and design technology labs
• Fully networked library
• Specialised exam halls
• Four multi-purpose climate-controlled halls suitable for sports
• Outdoor learning areas
• Two swimming pools
• A grassy outdoor playing field and shaded play areas
• Sky Garden and a cafeteria serving hot food

The school is located near the Montgomerie Golf Club in Emirates Hills, Dubai. Al Tellal Street connects the school to First Al Khail Street.

DIA Emirates Hills firmly believes in imparting a well-rounded education. DIA ensures that students fulfil their true potential and contribute as productive individuals. It offers the IB curriculum from KG1 to Grade 12 with a syllabus that has been developed by studying various international curricula and benchmarked against the Cambridge International Standards.

The school is an accredited member of several leading global educational bodies including The Council of International Schools, The New England Association of Schools and Colleges and MEIBA - the Middle East IB Association. It is also a part of the Eco-Schools programme, encouraging children to become environmentally conscious citizens. In addition to this, Dubai International Academy Emirates Hills is a part of the prestigious Hague International Model United Nations. The broad exposure, inclusive management and thorough curriculum delivery have led to the school’s popularity among parents and guardians.

DIA offers the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum from Foundation Stage to Year 13.

IB Primary Year Programme

The IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) curriculum is a framework for students aged 3 to 10 years. IBPYP makes sure your children develop enquiry skills through indoor and outdoor activities. It follows six transdisciplinary themes involving global significance, knowledge usage and skills.

The following skills are developed through the Primary Year Programme:

• Social Skills
• Communication Skills
• Self-Management Skills
• Thinking Skills
• Research Skills

The overall aim of PYP is to develop students who play a vital role in creating a better and more peaceful world.

IB Middle Year Programme

This programme meets the educational requirements of students aged 11 to 16 years. It is designed to offer students a traditional and broad prospectus while increasing their awareness of all subjects.

Students at this level are especially encouraged to inquire, question, critically evaluate and explore the links between subjects. Intercultural awareness and communication skills are considered essential to the MYP’s philosophy.

The objectives of each group are skill-based and are taught through a variety of learning and teaching approaches.

Students in the MYP are eligible for a detailed portfolio that showcases their achievements at school and involves their level of knowledge in each subject. During Year 11, students must submit a Personal Project, while Year 9 students have to submit a Community Project. It is also mandatory for students to finish Community and Service.

IB Diploma Programme

The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) is designed for students aged 16 to 18 who meet all educational requirements. It is a well-rounded and rigorous curriculum designed and devised to involve students in knowledge, attitudes and skills.

The subject groups are:

Group 1: Language A

Group 2: Language B

Group 3: Individuals and Societies

Group 4: Experimental Science

Group 5: Mathematics

Group 6: Electives

To become eligible, all Diploma candidates must:

• Have one subject from each group
• Attend three subjects at Higher Level (HL) and three at Standard Level (SL)
• Submit a 4000-word Extended Essay on a selected subject from the IBDP curriculum
• They must follow the Theory of Knowledge course
• Engage in CAS (Creativity, Activity and Service)

Those who don’t opt for the Diploma programme can take IB courses in five or six subjects where English and Maths are compulsory.

IB Career-Related Programme

The International Baccalaureate Career-Related Programme (IBCP) incorporates the vision and educational principles. It is a unique programme devised explicitly for students who have the aptitude to engage in career-related learning.

CP is a flexible educational framework allowing schools to meet the educational needs of students. Students who opt for CP engage in a rigorous course of study, which helps them gain practical and lifelong skills.

This programme is comprehensively devised and combines highly regarded and internationally acclaimed courses. The IB CP requires students to study core CP courses along with two DP courses and a career-related study.

The Knowledge and Human Development Authority inspects private schools in Dubai.

In the latest inspection by the KHDA, DIA was rated as “Outstanding”. You can view the 10-year history of the school below:

The academic year at DIA had two semesters until 2019. But from 2020, the format was changed to accommodate three terms.

One can view the academic calendar in detail on the school’s official website.

The admission process at DIA starts in August; however, the school accepts applications throughout the year, depending on the availability of seats.

DIA follows a 13-year system. Parents are requested to check the Year Group Equivalency as published on their website before making applications for admissions. The age is determined as of 31st August of the admission year as per the new KHDA’s policy.

Parents must submit a completed online application form. They are advised not to withhold any information as it might delay the process. Parents can get in touch with the school with any questions or concerns. The school will place your child’s name on a waiting list if there are no places available at the time of application.

The selection of a candidate is based on the following criteria:

• The CAT 4 entrance test performance is a primary deciding factor. Students are assessed for Kindergarten and Year 1 to see if they are ready to start school and are toilet trained.
• The results and the reports from the previous school are also checked.
• The school can decide to do a face-to-face interview if it is required. The interview is conducted by the Admissions Officer or the Principal or any other designated school staff member.
• Parents have to verify the child’s age against the grade before applying. If the child does not fit the allocated guidelines, the application will be rejected.
• Parents have to submit the Transfer Certificate from the past school as per the KHDA rules.
• Applicants who already have siblings in the school are given priority.
• The school will be accepting students needing ESL (English Second Language) support from Year 1 to Year 11. This is for students who never had English as the primary medium of instruction. The school admissions team will then decide whether the student needs further assessments or support based on the initial evaluation. Parents will be advised by the school accordingly.
• If the student is transferring from a different curriculum, the school will consider the limitations that may occur with transfer dates for local transfers as defined by the KHDA.

Applicants must also pay a fee of AED 525 (non-refundable) during the assessment process. Assessments for local candidates take place from Sunday to Thursday during school hours by appointment only. DIA also allows students outside the UAE to take assessments online under the supervision of a qualified teacher.

There is no personal assessment for KG1; instead, DIA will send a questionnaire to the parents. For KG2, Year 1 and Year 2, students will have an individual assessment in English where they can use many work and non-verbal clues. For Years 3 and above, CAT4 digital testing is conducted via an online platform (the fourth edition of the GL Cognitive Abilities Test).

Candidates may also undertake appropriate face-to-face interviews with the relevant school authority. The following documents are required at the time of assessment:

• One photocopy of the birth certificate, passport, visa and Emirates ID of the student
• Latest two year’s full school reports or transcripts
• Photocopy of immunisation records
• Two passport photos

At DIA, the admission process for a Dubai-based student is usually completed five days after the assessment. Parents/guardians should accept the offer within seven days to secure the place.

DIA school’s admission process is explained on the official website. However, parents must ensure that their child meets the following age cut-off criteria before initiating the admission process.

This is based on the age of the students on 31st August (for schools beginning in September). Source: KHDA

* This is to cater to students transferring from systems that admit students of a younger age)

Dubai International Academy Emirates Hills fee for new students for the current academic year is as follows:

Parents must note that:

• The entrance test fee is AED 525.
• Advance payment for existing students is 5% of the annual fee.
• Advance payment for new students is 10% of the annual fee.
• Students required to take ESL must pay a one-time payment of AED 4,500
• Siblings discount at 10% is valid from a fourth child onwards.

The school’s official website has detailed information regarding the fee structure of the existing students.

Here are some additional services that children or parents can avail.

The other charges are based on the info available in KHDA’s fee fact sheet.

Kalo Hospitality is the new catering provider for DIA school lunches. They offer a variety of options including live egg stations for breakfast, fresh smoothies, bakery products, salads, sandwiches and wholesome lunches with vegetarian and non-vegetarian choices. Additionally, primary students can order freshly prepared pre-packaged meal boxes delivered directly to their classrooms.

Arab Falcon Bus Rental, a renowned transportation company, is responsible for DIA Emirates Hills school transportation. The annual bus fee is AED 8,200 for two-way and AED 6,150 for one-way. Parents who wish to enrol their child for the bus service should fill out and submit the form available online. Parents can contact the following provided supervisor concerning bus schedules and routes.

For further information or clarification, you may drop an email to csr.diaeh@arabfalcondubai.ae.

For information regarding holiday camps in Dubai International Academy, Emirates Hills, parents are requested to contact the school administration.

Sports facilities at DIA include shaded outdoor tennis and basketball courts and four multi-purpose climate-controlled halls for various activities. This school also offers two swimming pools, learning areas, shaded play areas and outdoor fields.

DIA offers a wide variety of paid and unpaid co-curricular activities including art, drama, reading club, musical instruments, Karate, sports activities, science clubs, computer courses and photography.

DIA arranges frequent, age-appropriate educational field trips. Parents can check out the preplanned local trips on the official website and stay updated on upcoming events and schedules.

The after-school activities program is offered within the school for Kindergarten students at no additional cost. According to school policy, each student is entitled to participate in one after-school activity.

DIA employs a full-time doctor and three nurses at its well-equipped school clinic. This team is in charge of keeping meticulous student records and informing parents in case of emergencies. The clinic staff also accompanies students on weekend activities and any sporting events held in or out of school.

The clinic staff also conducts scheduled medical examinations and carries out immunisation programs.

DIAlogue

DIAlogue is a fortnightly newsletter for students and parents. This DIA newsletter provides information regarding school events as well as the achievements of students at DIA.

Parent Association of Dubai International Academy Emirates Hills (PADIA)

PADIA is a group of volunteer DIA parents who manage services and events for the school community. PADIA meets every Sunday after drop off and works towards enhancing community spirit in the school. It organises special events every month.

Parents can log in on the parents portal through the DIA official website.

• Phone number: +971-55-965-0494
• Email: info@diadubai.com

GENERAL INFORMATION

• DIA Website
• DIA Facebook
• DIA Instagram

Does the DIA school conduct after-school activities?

Dubai International Academy Emirates Hills offers after-school care to Kindergarten students.

How many grades/years are there in the Dubai International Academy, Emirates Hills?

The school offers educational support from FS1 to Year 13.

Does the school follow a co-education model?

Yes, the school follows a co-education model.

Can you please describe the academic calendar of Dubai International Academy, Emirates Hills School?

The academic year begins in the last week of August and ends in the last week of June or the first week of July.

Please mention the range of the tuition fee charged by the school.

Tuition fees charged by Dubai International Academy, Emirates Hills range from AED 43,946 to AED 77,866.

Note that the cover image belongs to Dubai International Academy, Emirates Hills.