Swiss International Scientific School in Dubai

The Swiss International Scientific School in Dubai, known as SISD, sits in Dubai Healthcare City, Al Jaddaf, and is part of Nord Anglia Education. KHDA's directory dates it from 2015, while Wikipedia gives 2012. It teaches English plus either French or German depending on the pathway, with bilingual PYP beginnings, and is a through-school offering the IB Diploma and Career-related programmes later on. KHDA rated it Acceptable in 2017-18, Good in 2018-19 and 2022-23, and Very Good in 2023-24, with Very Good for wellbeing and inclusion. The report records 2,192 pupils, 225 teachers and 62 teaching assistants. In the PYP, curriculum design is Outstanding and personal development is Outstanding, while teaching, assessment and care and support are Very Good. Inspectors highlighted improved Arabic learning, the bilingual provision, health and safety, improved inclusion and effective leadership. Wellbeing is Very Good, with ambassadors in every phase and a charming detail: Grade 5 pupils run online wellbeing contacts with children in KG. SchoolsCompared.com calls it a benchmark for languages and STEAM with facilities second to none, but says it does not yet challenge for the top IB scores and gives a parent rating of 63. The school day is published for every phase. Primary pupils arrive from 7.30am, the national anthem is at 7.45am, registration at 8.00am and the last session ends at 3.30pm from Monday to Thursday, with a 25-minute break, a 30-minute lunch and a further 30-minute break. On Fridays the primary day ends at 12.05pm. That gives Monday to Thursday about seven and a half hours of school. Fees are high: KHDA's 2026-27 directory shows AED 68,868 for pre-primary, AED 76,903 for KG1 and KG2, AED 91,823 for Grades 1 to 4 and AED 94,693 for Grade 5. That is AED 36,710 more than Dubai International Academy in Emirates Hills charges for Year 6. Choose SISD for the languages and facilities, not for value.