At a glance
- Regulator
- KHDA
- IB schools (2024-25)
- 16 IB, 6 UK/IB, 2 US/IB
- IB students
- 27,467 in IB schools, 16,677 in UK/IB schools
- Diploma exams
- May session, results in early July
- Diploma score
- Maximum 45 points
What IB looks like in Dubai
In KHDA's 2024-25 data the IB was the fourth largest curriculum in Dubai by students, behind the UK, Indian and American curricula, and it lost one school in the year (from 17 to 16), while enrolment in the remaining schools rose from 25,992 to 27,467. Most Dubai IB schools are all-through: a child can start in the Primary Years Programme, move into the Middle Years Programme at around 11, and finish with the Diploma Programme or, at a few schools, the Career-related Programme.
The other route is a British school that switches to the IB Diploma for Years 12 and 13 after IGCSEs. KHDA lists these as UK/IB, and students there arrive in the Diploma without MYP experience of criterion-based assessment, internal assessments or Theory of Knowledge style questions. That transition is one of the most common reasons Dubai families look for an IB tutor in the autumn of Year 12.
Dubai IB schools: six examples
Curriculum and area as listed in the KHDA directory, with the latest KHDA overall rating shown there (2023-24).
| School | Area | Grades | Latest KHDA rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai International Academy, Emirates Hills | Emirates Hills | KG1 to Grade 13 | Outstanding |
| GEMS World Academy | Al Barsha | Pre-primary to Grade 12 | Very good |
| Uptown International School | Mirdif | Early childhood to Grade 12 | Very good |
| Jumeira Baccalaureate School | Jumeira | Pre-primary to Grade 12 | Very good |
| Swiss International Scientific School | Dubai Healthcare City | Pre-primary to Grade 12 | Very good |
| North London Collegiate School Dubai | Meydan | Pre-primary to Grade 12 | Very good |
Other IB schools in the KHDA directory include Raffles World Academy, Dwight School Dubai and Dubai International Academy Al Barsha. Check each school's programme list on its own site.
IB Diploma assessment at a glance
| Element | What it is | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Six subjects | Three at Higher Level and three at Standard Level, usually, each graded 1 to 7 | Up to 42 |
| Internal assessments | Coursework in each subject, marked by teachers and moderated by the IB | Part of each subject grade |
| Extended Essay and TOK | A 4,000-word research essay and the Theory of Knowledge course | Up to 3 combined |
| Final exams | Dubai schools enter the May session | Results in early July |
The Diploma is scored out of 45. Universities often set offers by total points and by grades in named HL subjects.
Fitting IB work into the Dubai week
IB students carry more independent work than most: internal assessments in every subject, the Extended Essay, TOK, and CAS activities, most of it due between October of Grade 11 and March of Grade 12. Dubai schools teach Monday to Thursday and, since January 2026, finish by 11:30am on Fridays; KHDA also lets schools teach part of Friday remotely for older students with approval. IB families tend to use the short Friday for a longer lesson on an IA or essay draft, and keep a fixed weekday slot at 6pm or 7pm for the hardest HL subject.
Internal deadlines cluster before the winter break (14 December 2026 to 3 January 2027) and before the spring break (5 to 11 April 2027), so it helps to book extra lessons in late November and March rather than in exam week.
What an IB tutor does in lessons
For HL Maths, Physics, Chemistry and Biology, the tutor works through the syllabus alongside the school and then through past papers and markschemes, paying attention to command terms, because IB markschemes reward precise method and explanation. For internal assessments and the Extended Essay, the tutor helps the student choose a workable research question, plan the method and understand the assessment criteria, and gives feedback on structure and reasoning. The writing stays the student's own, in line with the IB's academic integrity rules.
MYP students usually need something different: help reading criterion-based rubrics, organising projects, and building the algebra and essay skills that the Diploma will assume.
Common questions
How many IB schools are there in Dubai?
KHDA's 2024-25 data lists 16 IB schools, 6 UK/IB schools that offer the Diploma alongside A Levels, and 2 US/IB schools. Several more British and American schools add the Diploma in the final two years, so check each school's own programme list.
Can a tutor write or edit my child's Extended Essay or IA?
No. A tutor can help with topic choice, method, the assessment criteria and feedback on drafts, but the work must be the student's own under IB academic integrity rules, and schools check this.
When do Dubai IB students get their Diploma results?
Dubai schools sit the May session, and the IB releases May results in early July. Check the IB's published date each year.
How much is an IB tutor in Dubai with LiveTutor?
$15 a lesson for every IB subject, HL or SL, MYP or Diploma. Plans run from 1 to 5 lessons a week billed monthly, and the first lesson is a free trial.
Is it worth starting in Grade 11 or waiting until Grade 12?
Grade 11 is better for most students. Topics in HL sciences and Maths build on each other, and internal assessment and Extended Essay deadlines arrive early in Grade 12.
Sources
Dates and figures on this page come from these official and published sources. Always confirm deadlines on the official page before acting on them.