Universal American School

Universal American School (UAS) is a globally accredited, not-for-profit, American school in Dubai that provides high-quality education. One of the top American schools in Dubai, this institute also provides the globally-renowned International Baccalaureate curriculum, which is being increasingly preferred by parents looking to secure admissions in Ivy League universities across the world.

Located in Dubai Festival City, UAS is accredited by the Middle States Association of School and Colleges (MSA), the Council of International Schools (CIS) and the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO). This IB school in Dubai offers Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP) and IB Diploma for grades 11 and 12.

The main objective of the foundation is to support the Government and KHDA’s vision of creating a globally competitive, knowledge-based economy through its non-profit schools. UAS has become a not-for-profit school which means any surplus generated by the school fees is invested back into the school in the form of work placements, scholarships and infrastructure upgrades.

Students are served by 124 teachers and a team of 19 teaching assistants and 7 guidance counsellors. There were 70 students with Special Educational Needs (SEND) in the previous academic year. The teacher to student ratio is 1:8 which provides students with a good deal of individual attention.

• Location: Dubai Festival City
• School fees: AED 29,864 - AED 76,668
• Curriculum: American | IB
• Co-ed or segregate: Co-ed
• KHDA rating: Very Good
• Years Offered: Pre-KG - Grade 12

The school is the most convenient option for the residents of Dubai Festival City but there are other residential districts at a short distance including the likes of:

• Bur Dubai
• Al Rashidiya
• Al Garhoud

Popular residential options for people looking for residential units near Universal Americal School are:

• Apartments for rent near Universal American School
• Apartments for sale near Universal American School
• Villas for sale near Universal American School

UAS provides very good facilities and is built on a large plot at the heart of Dubai Festival City with spacious outdoor and indoor amenities. Facilities include:

• Expansive science and ICT labs
• Fully equipped athletic field and track
• Natural grass football pitch
• Multi-sport gymnasium
• Extensive indoor and outdoor covered play areas
• Multi-purpose hall
• Two large fully equipped art studios
• Language specialist rooms
• Separate elementary and secondary school library
• Medical clinic

UAS is located within the family-friendly neighbourhood of Dubai Festival City. The campus of UAS is also near Al Badia residences and is easily accessible for those living in neighbouring areas such as Deira, Al Qusais, Al Jaddaf and more.

UAS offers both the American as well as the IB curriculum. This means parents can expose their children to multiple personalised learning pathways. UAS empowers students to be caring, critical thinkers and responsible global citizens. The type of curriculum is one of the key deciding factors when choosing a school and UAS has been able to successfully deliver an accredited curriculum well.

Academically, in 2018-19 UAS achieved an average score of 30.43 points, well above the global score of 29.62. A new school record of 44 out of 45 points was achieved and there was an 8% increase in the percentage of students who achieved 35 points and above. The results of the Measure of Academic Progress (MAP) for students of Universal American School in Dubai have also increased.

UAS provides students with quality global education combining the strengths of different cultures. A whole program called Week Without Walls is one such initiative where students get to expand their knowledge beyond the classroom. The core attributes of the program include life skills, service, personal growth, cultural understanding and curriculum enrichment.

Members of the faculty are highly skilled and trained individuals who are fully committed to the growth and development of the pupil. There is a strong sense of community which is also supplemented by the creation of the following two groups: the Parent Teacher Student Organization (PTSO) and the Fine Arts Booster Club (FABC). Both these groups help to strengthen the UAS community academically, socially and culturally.

UAS hosts a number of events providing ample opportunities for every child to showcase their skills and abilities. A few of the noteworthy achievements include the Fringe Festival, four annual school productions, over 30 sports teams, Model United Nations, and the Emirati committee or the National Honor Society.

UAS has recently become a non-profit school under the Al Futtaim Education Foundation and have a lot of exciting projects planned for the betterment of the school in the future.

UAS classes are divided into four sections.

UAS provides its students with a quality educational program designed according to the fundamental values of the school.

In KG and Elementary school a combination of the US-Creative Curriculum resources and the ideology of the IB-Primary Years Programme (PYP) is implemented at this school. In Middle and Junior High school, a variety of courses aligned to US AERO standards are offered. Senior High School students are given the choice of either choosing the American or IB curriculums.

The Creative Curriculum is a comprehensive research-based curricula whereas the IB PYP features learning through exploration and discovery. The combination of these two curricula in KG and elementary school helps children to develop confidence, creativity and critical thinking skills. Specialist classes such as Music, PE, Art and Arabic start right from Pre KG.

The middle school students are encouraged to act upon their own innovative ideas and find their own ways, following which they can achieve their goals. It is clear that most of the concepts from Grade 6-10 prepare the students for the tough IB Diploma Program in Grade 11 and 12.

The high school graduates of UAS get admissions in top universities of the world. Moreover, their percentage of IB scores is much higher than average.

The faculty of the school consists of highly educated and experienced professionals. The students are provided with a variety of course choices for both the programs. Arabic is one of the subjects that are taught from KG- 12th Grade and French and Spanish are offered from 6th Grade to 12th Grade.

Assessments

At UAS, the teachers keep track of student progress and basic skills through Measure of Academic Progress (MAP) tests, which starts right from elementary school. The MAP is a computerised adaptive test that uses the student’s response to ask the next question. If the student gets the question right then the next question would be a harder question, likewise, if the student gets the question wrong the next question would be an easy question. UAS provides MAP tests in Reading and Mathematics from KG2-Grade 1. Tests from Grade 2- 10 also include Language abilities.

In Middle School, the student performance is determined by assessments in the quarter and semester grades. Assessments at UAS are well planned and carried out systematically and there is an assessment calendar set up to make things easy for students and parents.

A specific due date is published for each major assessment in the first two weeks of the quarter. Teachers may also assign smaller assessments to determine learning ability. These assessments need not be published in the assessment calendar. Students can request an extension of assessment and should agree with the teacher regarding the terms and level of support required. Any missed assessment due to illness must be completed in 24-48 hours. Such absences also need to be corroborated with a doctor’s certificate.

Students who do not submit an assessment will be placed in the Student Work in Progress (SWIP) program. The teachers will follow the protocols and support the student to complete the assessment. UAS uses both formative and summative assessments.

In High School, there are two assessment calendars depending on the curriculum chosen. Teachers choose the most recent and consistent performance to determine the grade of the course. Semester grades are used to calculate the cumulative grade point average (GPA).

Final exams will be administered for grade 9 through 11 students. Students enrolled in Year 2 IB or AP courses will usually sit for their final exams in May. Registration is required for students enrolled in AP and Year 2 IB courses to sit their exams.

When it comes to education, Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) is the quality assurance body in Dubai. KHDA supervises private sector education in Dubai from childhood education centres, high school educational platforms, schools and training institutes. KHDA is also responsible for quality/ growth of these private educational platforms in Dubai.

KHDA inspects the performance of private schools in Dubai with judgments that are made on a six-point scale: Outstanding, Very Good, Good, Acceptable, Weak and Very Weak. KHDA focuses on maintaining high standards of education along with the well-being and happiness of educators and students.

In 2018-19, KHDA has rated UAS as “Very Good” for the second time in a row after eight consecutive years of being rated as “Good”. The key findings in the report are:

• The student achievements are more visible in KG and elementary school.
• Teaching is good across the school, there are appropriate processes and procedures in place for the collection of internal assessment data.
• The school provides a safe supportive and caring environment.

Universal American School Dubai academic calendar starts in August and ends in the first week of July

When applying to UAS Dubai, parents of students are required to submit their application online. There is no application fee when applying to UAS. The admission policy at UAS does not discriminate against any family or student.

Admission to UAS is based on the application form filled by the student, previous records of the school, interactions with teacher-principal and confidential recommendations of the counsellor. This is followed by standardised assessments if required.

The admission process is quite simple:

• Fill out the online application form.
• An acknowledgement is sent containing the procedure of registration.
• Students are required to submit supporting documents by either uploading them on the application form or emailing them to admissions@uasdubai.ae.

When a student is offered a place, an acceptance letter is issued along with joining information. For the purpose of securing the student’s place, a non-refundable deposit of 3,000 AED is required to be paid within seven days of receipt of acceptance. This amount is subsequently deducted from the tuition fees of the first semester. You are also asked to pay AED 500 application fee (nonrefundable).

Documents required to be submitted with the application:

• Student’s Passport
• Parents’ Passports
• Student’s recent report card for the past 2 years in English
• Recent Standardized Test Scores (e.g.: MAP, CAT4, ITBS, Cambridge Exam)
• Language Background Survey
• For applicants with school experience, the current school must complete the UAS Confidential Report and directly email it to us on admissions@uasdubai.ae prior to setting the assessment date.

Documents to be submitted upon acceptance:

• Birth certificate of the student
• Visa of the student
• Emirates ID of student
• Residency visa of Parents
• Emirates ID of Parents
• Photo of students (Passport Size)
• Photo of Parents (Passport Size)
• Photocopy of final report card
• Photocopy of vaccination record of the student

To read further about the admission process at Universal American School, one can visit their official website.

Before initiating the admission process, parents should be aware of the age placement guidelines for each class.

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)

Universal American School fees from Pre-KG to Grade 12 is provided as follows:

The discounted fee is subjected to terms and conditions. Fees can be paid in cash, cheque, online or by bank transfer. Additional KHDA fees will also need to be paid.

• Request for student education continuation certificate – Attested (AED 120)
• Request for students transferring between private school- Student transfer (AED 120)
• Request for student transfer among private schools- Student transfer (AED 520)
• Request for student attestation of student Certificate or report card (AED 120)

Soma additional charges include:

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

The Al Futtaim Education Foundation offers a generous scholarship scheme to support the parent community. The scholarships are made available on an annual basis and cover a percentage of the tuition fees up to a maximum of 100% for Emirati scholarships and up to 50% of the tuition fees for academic and talent scholarships.

The three categories of scholarships are:

• Emirati students (academic excellence): up to 100% discount on tuition fees
• Talent and Sports: up to 50% discount om tuition fees
• Academic Excellence: up to 50% discount on tuition fees

Please note that:

• Awards for Academic Scholarships are valid for two years (Grade 11 and Grade 12). It is expected that awardees maintain a level of attendance, academic performance, and behavioral standards in line with the Schools’ and AFEF’s expectations.
• Awards for Emirati Student Scholarships are valid for the duration that the student is enrolled at UAS/DIS subject to their maintaining appropriate levels of academic performance, attendance, and behavior.
• Awards for Sports and Talent Scholarship are valid for the duration that the student is enrolled at UAS/DIS subject to their maintaining appropriate levels of academic performance, attendance, and behavior, and to representing UAS/DIS at local, regional, and international events, when applicable. A portfolio of evidence is required to be submitted annually and received before the end of May.

Emirati Scholarships requiring a CAT4 test will be contacted, and testing will be arranged through Admissions. The closing date for all categories is 15th May 2023.

 Applications can be made via the form on the school website. Only applications made through the website will be accepted.

In direct partnership with Abela and Co., UAS is committed to providing nutritious snacks and high-quality lunches to its community on a regular basis.

Students enroled in Pre-KG to Grade 3 can have their parent/guardian purchase hot meals from the cafeteria. However, students from Grade 4 to 12 may go to the cafeteria and purchase a variety of healthy snacks and set meals that include a main course, side of grilled vegetables, or salad and fruit. Students are offered a variety of freshly prepared grilled meat and poultry dishes, fish, rice, and pasta.

The transport services have been outsourced to Maverick Passenger Transport LLC. The bus routes are categorized under 4 area codes and the annual transport fees are determined on the distance from the school.

Along with highly skilled and competent teachers, UAS also provides various extra-curricular opportunities. The management of UAS believes that a student should be challenged both academically and athletically in order to reach his / her full potential. Co-curricular programs available to students in UAS includes activities such as various visual and performing arts, under-14 varsity athletics, community service and Model United Nations.

There are a number of local day activities included:

The management of UAS thinks that an organised athletic program should always be an integral part of the student’s academic journey. These programs are designed to encourage student-athletes to pursue good sportsmanship.

UAS believe that taking part in sports helps students become responsible, team players with a keen sense of adaptability. Students who participate in sports are positive, disciplined, punctual and competitive in a healthy manner. Such opportunities are available to students who illustrate responsibility and are achieving their potential academically. Universal American School has basketball, swimming, soccer, volleyball, tennis, golf, badminton, track and field sports for young sports enthusiasts to hone their skills.

Students at UAS go on a variety of curriculum-related field trips arranged by the management. A whole programme called ‘Week Without Walls’ has been introduced and running successfully for the past six years. The main objective of this program is to provide a life-changing learning experience where students get a chance to extend their knowledge beyond the classroom. This program is offered to students from Grade 6-11, it also mandatory that they attend either a local or international activity. The following shows the list of destinations students can choose from for their respective grades.

INTERNATIONAL OPTIONS:- Sri Lanka, Nepal, Kenya, Borneo, Cambodia, Tanzania, North Thailand, Exploring Nepal, UK London, Belgium Space Camp.

LOCAL CAMP OPTIONS:- High Seas Adventure Camp, Extreme Environments Camp, Wilderness Camp, Wadi Experience Camp.

The after-school programs in UAS provide students with opportunities to explore their interests outside the classroom. ASA programs range from sports to creative writing and imaginary play. There is also an ASA program for academic enrichment for students who need extra attention.

Most of these after-school activities are often free; however, some are organised in collaboration with external service providers for which a student has to pay an additional fee. 

Late transportation is provided for students who choose to take part in such activities.

The management of Universal American School, Dubai attaches a high degree of importance to the safety and health of students. Skilled nurses along with a full-time medical doctor handle the school clinic at UAS. All medical staff members are licensed and registered with the Dubai Health Authority (DHA).

If a student feels unwell during school hours, clinic staff will take care of them until a guardian shows up. The clinic staff handles everything from providing first aid to treating sick and injured children during and after school activity hours.

The clinic is located near the school elevator on the ground floor. The clinic also has an electric defibrillator (automated) and a nebulizer along with all types of oxygen apparatus. UAS also participates in various health-related campaigns involving the school medical staff to create awareness and to promote healthy living among students.

If a child does require emergency treatment, parents would be contacted. However, if no contact is established, the school doctor would focus on administering relevant emergency treatment. If required, an ambulance may be called to transfer the child to the hospital.

UAS has developed multiple modes of communication between parents and students, right from elementary school. Teachers communicate through the Teachers Blog, weekly newsletters, and emails.

The Principal also communicates through the Principals Blog which is updated weekly. A Whatsapp group is also made for easy and smooth conversation between parents and the school. Parents have to contact the school administration for joining the Whatsapp group.

UAS has also established a Parent-teacher student organisation (PTSO). The aim of PTSO is to improve the academic and social experience of staff and students at UAS. It focuses on supplementing communication efforts between school, parents, students and the community. Universal Americal School Web Portal can also be accessed.

• Telephone: ++971-4-524-0444
• E-mail: Info@uasdubai.ae
• Admissions/Registration: Registrar@uasdubai.ae

GENERAL INFORMATION

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What are the timings of your school?

• In Pre-KG and KG1 students start at 07.45 am and end at 12.45 pm. The school also offer option for an extended day until 03.15 pm.
• From KG2 to Grade 5 students start at 07.45 am and end at 03.15 pm.
• From Grade 6 to Grade 12 students start at 07.45 am and end at 03.20 pm.

Do you conduct after-school activities?

Universal American School offers several activities after school hours. Also, transport facility is available to students participating in these activities.

How many grades are there in your school?

Universal American School offers grades from Pre-KG to Grade 12.

Does your school follow a co-education model?

Yes, the school follow a co-education model.

How many students are currently studying in your school?

Currently, there are over 1,000 students enroled at the school.

Can you please describe the academic calendar of your school?

The academic calendar runs from late August to early July.

Can you please mention the range of the tuition fee charged by your school?

Tuition fee ranges from AED 29,864 to AED 76,668.

Do you offer scholarship programmes to needy and deserving students?

UAS Dubai Festival City offers scholarships to students performing outstandingly in Academics and sports. To know more about financial assistance, you can contact the school.

How do you communicate with parents?

There are multiple ways of communicating with parent, including a parent portal, newsletter, WhatsApp group, school events and much more.

Do you have a cafeteria or a canteen on campus?

Yes, there's a canteen available on the school premise offering hot and fresh meals to students.

How many teachers are currently teaching in your school?

As of now, there are 124 teachers and 19 teaching assistants in the school.