Dubai English Speaking College
- British
- A Level
- BTEC
Per yearabout USD 23K–24.7K
AED 84.3K–90.6K · 2026-27 school year · Source: official government data (checked 2026-11-02)
About
DESS College is a not-for-profit, inclusive college for ages 11-18 in Dubai. It follows the English National Curriculum, offering GCSE, A Level and BTEC courses, and has a House system for pastoral care.
Key facts
Source: Read from the school's website
Curriculum
British · A Level · BTEC
Ages
Ages 11–18
Language
English
Type
International school
Fee level
- Nationalities
- 70
- Founded
- 2005
- Ownership
- Non-profit
- Selectivity
- Open entry
Fees
Source: Read from the school's websiteOfficial records
2026-27 school year
Age on the first day of the school year (usually 1 September). Cut-off dates differ by school.
| Grade | Per year |
|---|---|
| Year 7 | AED 84,325≈ USD 23K |
| Year 8 | AED 84,325≈ USD 23K |
| Year 9 | AED 84,325≈ USD 23K |
| Year 10 | AED 84,325≈ USD 23K |
| Year 11 | AED 84,325≈ USD 23K |
| Year 12 | AED 90,633≈ USD 24.7K |
| Year 13 | AED 90,633≈ USD 24.7K |
Show fee charts
| per year | |
|---|---|
| Year 7 | AED 84,325 (about USD 23K) |
| Year 8 | AED 84,325 (about USD 23K) |
| Year 9 | AED 84,325 (about USD 23K) |
| Year 10 | AED 84,325 (about USD 23K) |
| Year 11 | AED 84,325 (about USD 23K) |
| Year 12 | AED 90,633 (about USD 24.7K) |
| Year 13 | AED 90,633 (about USD 24.7K) |
Source: school website (web.khda.gov.ae) · checked 2026-11-02 · Reference rate (2026-11-06)
| min | max | |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai English Speaking College (this school) | AED 84,325 (about USD 23K) | AED 90,633 (about USD 24.7K) |
| The Winchester School Jebel Ali | AED 14,950 (about USD 4.07K) | AED 33,352 (about USD 9.08K) |
| Arcadia British School | AED 67,687 (about USD 18.4K) | AED 96,209 (about USD 26.2K) |
| Al Diyafah High School | AED 9,506 (about USD 2.59K) | AED 20,475 (about USD 5.58K) |
| Dubai British School Emirates Hills | AED 53,027 (about USD 14.4K) | AED 79,541 (about USD 21.7K) |
| GEMS International School - Al Khail | AED 46,500 (about USD 12.7K) | AED 79,488 (about USD 21.6K) |
Source: school website (web.khda.gov.ae) · checked 2026-11-02 · Reference rate (2026-11-06)
One-off costs
- Application fee
- AED 525
- Enrolment fee
- AED 5,000
As published by the school. Amounts change with the school year and exchange rates; please confirm with the school before applying. Converted amounts use the reference rate of the date shown. Reference rate (2026-11-06). Source: official government data (checked 2026-11-02)
Admissions
Source: Read from the school's website
- Entry process
- Interview
- Open days
- 2026-11-05
- Sibling discount
- 5% for third sibling; 10% for fourth sibling plus 5% for second-youngest of four; additional 10% for each child after the fourth. Applied on the Term 2 invoice.
Curriculum and academics
Source: Read from the school's website
Curricula, explainedBritish curriculum · A Level · BTEC
British curriculum
Early years to sixth form · Ages 3–18
Follows the English National Curriculum; pupils usually take IGCSEs around age 16 and A Levels in the last two years.
A Level
Last 2 years of school · Ages 16–18
The British university-entrance qualification: usually 3–4 subjects studied in depth for two years; UK universities make offers on these grades.
BTEC
Secondary, career-focused · Ages 14–19
Pearson's career-focused qualification in fields such as business, IT or sport, assessed mainly through assignments; taken instead of or alongside A Levels.
Ages are the usual bands; schools can differ.Curriculum basics guide
Strengths
- Academics
- Sport
- Performing arts
Exam results
- A Level · Top grades
- 32.4%
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Accreditation and memberships
Source: Read from the school's website
- Accreditations
- BSO
- Memberships
- COBIS
- Inspection
- DSIB and BSO · Outstanding
More details
Source: Read from the school's website
Diving deeper
House system
A House system provides daily pastoral care, helping students develop character and social skills.
School website · Checked 2026-11-06
Governance and ownership
DESS College is a not-for-profit school with no owners, governed by a Board of Trustees. It states that income is reinvested in the college.
School website · Checked 2026-11-06
Academics
Curriculum
The college follows the English National Curriculum: a broad curriculum in Years 7-9, GCSE in Years 10-11, and A Level and BTEC in Sixth Form.
- GCSE
- A Level
- BTEC
- Arabic
- Islamic Education
- Rockschool London
School website · Checked 2026-11-06
Exam results
The college published 2026 GCSE, A Level and BTEC results, emphasising value-added progress and sustained improvement over recent years.
School website · Checked 2026-11-06
Wellbeing
Mental wellbeing
Student wellbeing and welfare are central to the college, with guidance at key transition points in students' education.
School website · Checked 2026-11-06
Parent experience
Community
The college describes itself as an international community with students from over seventy countries.
School website · Checked 2026-11-06
Languages
Language provision
Arabic is taught at A and B levels, with French and Spanish also offered as subjects and GCSE options.
- Arabic
- French
- Spanish
School website · Checked 2026-11-06
Reputation
Accreditations
The college reports an Outstanding rating from the Dubai Schools Inspection Bureau (DSIB) and British Schools Overseas (BSO) inspections.
School website · Checked 2026-11-06
Admissions
Admissions
The college uses an inclusive admissions approach and does not select students purely on academic attainment. It invites families to book a tour.
School website · Checked 2026-11-06
Location
Source: Read from the school's website
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Schools in the same city with a similar curriculum and fee level. Not a ranking.
More in this city · DubaiUpdated 2026-11-06
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