New Dubai school to offer more 'affordable' curriculums

The Ambassador International Academy could save parents up to 80 per cent on fees

James Lynch, principal of Ambassador International Academy in Dubai

A new school in Dubai is to offer more affordable International Baccalaureate (IB) and British Cambridge curriculums for the first time.

The Ambassador International Academy (AIA) in Al Khail will save parents up to 80 per cent on fees from September.

Run by the Ambassador Schools Group, the school has been set up with the aim of providing two, world-class academic curriculums within one campus.

The group said tuition fees at IB schools in the emirate currently average around Dh52,800 per year for Kindergarten places and Dh65,600 for primary level pupils.

AIA will offer the same programmes for Dh30,400 and Dh35,800 respectively, saving parents more than Dh20,000 a year.

“We wanted to bring international education to the city, while keeping in mind affordability,” said Kamal Kalwani, a co-founder of AIA.

“Not only quality education, but affordable education with global standards is important in today’s scenario.”

According to a report by HSBC bank, Dubai was the second most expensive city in the world for education in 2017, beaten only by Hong Kong.

Figures showed total fees from primary school to university in the emirate cost $99,378 (Dh365,000), compared with $132,161 (Dh485,000) in Hong Kong.

Since then, tuition fees in Dubai have fallen significantly, with some schools reducing rates by as much as 15 per cent last year.

The reduction is in part due to an ultra-competitive market but also due to some firms revising the education packages they offer to employees from abroad.

The new Al Khail campus is the fourth Ambassador School to open in the UAE. It sits between Meydan Road and Umm Suqeim Street, making it easily accessible for residents across the emirate.

In addition to its academic programmes, the school will also offer extensive extra-curricular activities in sport, chess, robotics and music.

“Choosing the right school for your children is a critical decision for every parent,” said James Lynch, principal of AIA.

“Students at AIA will be provided with personalised attention; with every class having an experienced teacher of 10.9 years along with a qualified teaching assistant.”