Dubai International Academy

Private school in Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Dubai International Academy

Location

Dubai

United Arab Emirates

Coordinates| 25°4′40″N 55°10′44″E﻿ / ﻿25.07778°N 55.17889°E﻿ / 25.07778; 55.17889
Information
Other name| DIA
Type| Private
Motto| Dream, Inspire, Achieve
Established| September 10, 2005
Status| Open
Sister school| Dubai International Academy, Al Barsha
Authority| KHDA
Principal| Hitesh Bhagat
Grades| KG1 – Year 13
Gender| Co-educational
Enrolment| 2000+
Education system| International Baccalaureate
Color(s)| Red, Green and Black
Tuition| AED 43,946 – 77,866
Website| www.diadubai.com

Dubai International Academy (DIA) is an international private school located in the Emirates Hills area of Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The school is operated by the Innoventures Education group and offers the complete International Baccalaureate (IB) continuum, serving students from KG1 through Year 13.[1]

## History

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Dubai International Academy was founded in 2005 with an inaugural cohort of 500 students from 55 nationalities. By 2012, it had grown to 1,800 students from 78 nationalities, supported by a faculty of 250 staff.[2] The school became the first in the UAE to offer the full IB continuum: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), Diploma Programme (DP), and Career-related Programme (CP).[3]

A second campus, Dubai International Academy – Al Barsha, opened in 2018 to meet growing demand.[4]

## Curriculum

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DIA offers the full IB continuum:

* Primary Years Programme (PYP)
* Middle Years Programme (MYP)
* Diploma Programme (DP)
* Career-related Programme (CP)

English, mathematics, and science are compulsory throughout all levels. Language acquisition options include French, Spanish, and self-taught languages in the Diploma Programme.[5]

The school supports mother-tongue language instruction as an alternative to Islamic Studies for non-Muslim students. Languages include Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Spanish, Swedish, and Mandarin.[6]

## Extracurricular Activities

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### Model United Nations

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DIA hosts the annual Dubai International Academy Model United Nations (DIAMUN), affiliated with THIMUN. The conference is considered one of the largest in the region and was the first to adopt a fully paperless format.[7][8]

### Politics@DIA

[edit]

Politics@DIA is a student-led club promoting civic awareness and hosts debates, panel discussions, and guest speaker sessions.[9]

### Water for Life

[edit]

This club partners with organizations like UNICEF to raise awareness and fund water infrastructure in developing countries.[10]

### Sustainability Initiatives

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DIA was named a top 3 finalist for the World's Best School Prize for Environmental Action 2024.[11]

### Duke of Edinburgh International Award

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DIA offers the Bronze, Silver, and Gold levels of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, with students participating in local and international expeditions.[12]

### Sports

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The school supports competitive teams in football, basketball, swimming, netball, and more under the name "DIA Wolves", with participation across U12, U14, U16, and U18 categories.[13]

## KHDA Rating

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The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) evaluates schools annually. DIA received its first "Outstanding" rating in 2015 and has consistently retained this status in subsequent years.[14]

## See also

[edit]

* Education in the United Arab Emirates
* List of universities and colleges in the United Arab Emirates

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Dubai school a finalist for world's best school prize". Gulf News. 2024-09-19. Retrieved 2025-05-01.
2. ^ "Dubai's Top 10 Schools". Gulf Business. 2013-03-05. Retrieved 2025-05-01.
3. ^ "Dubai International Academy rated 'Outstanding' by KHDA again". Khaleej Times. 2019-04-16. Retrieved 2025-05-01.
4. ^ "Dubai International Academy opens second branch in Al Barsha". Khaleej Times. 2018-09-02. Retrieved 2025-05-01.
5. ^ "Dubai International Academy in Emirates Hills". TimeOut Dubai. 2020-08-24. Retrieved 2025-05-01.
6. ^ "Dubai school offers mother tongue programmes to preserve cultural identity". Khaleej Times. 2021-02-21. Retrieved 2025-05-01.
7. ^ "UAE: DIAMUN 2023 student conference receives record registration". Khaleej Times. 2023-03-07. Retrieved 2025-05-01.
8. ^ "Dubai students create app to make conferences paper-free". Gulf News. 24 November 2019. Retrieved 2025-05-01.
9. ^ "UAE schools enhancing political awareness through student-led initiatives". Arabian Business. 2021-10-12. Retrieved 2025-05-01.
10. ^ "Dubai students fighting global water scarcity through innovative campaigns". The National. 2019-03-22. Retrieved 2025-05-01.
11. ^ "Dubai school a finalist for world's best school prize". Gulf News. 2024-09-19. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
12. ^ "UAE schools embrace Duke of Edinburgh Award to build student character". Khaleej Times. 2021-11-08. Retrieved 2025-05-01.
13. ^ "School Sports Teams Making Waves in Dubai Competitions". Sports UAE. 2022-11-12. Retrieved 2025-05-01.
14. ^ "Dubai school ratings revealed: 16 ranked 'outstanding'". Khaleej Times. 2016-05-09. Retrieved 2025-05-01.

* v
* t
* e

International schools in the United Arab Emirates

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Dubai|

* Al Mawakeb Schools
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* Delhi Private School, Dubai
* DPS Academy
* Dubai American Academy
* Dubai British School
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* Dubai College
* Dubai International Academy
* Dubai International School
* Dubai Japanese School
* Emirates International School
* GEMS Modern Academy
* GEMS School of Research and Innovation
* GEMS Wellington International School
* German International School Dubai
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* Lycée Français International de Dubaï
* Lycée Français International Georges Pompidou
* The Indian High School, Dubai
* Nord Anglia International School Dubai
* Our Own English High School
* Repton School Dubai
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* Sharjah American International School (Dubai campus)
* Sunmarke School
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Sharjah|

* Delhi Private School, Sharjah
* German International School Sharjah
* Lycée Français International Georges Pompidou
* Sharjah American International School
* Sharjah English School
* Sharjah Indian School

Authority control databases |

* ISNI

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