Our History
Deira International School opened its doors in 2005 in Dubai Festival City with a clear ambition:
To deliver a high-quality British education for an increasingly international community. The school welcomed its first 240 students and 34 teachers, laying the foundations for what would become one of Dubai’s most trusted British international schools.
As Dubai grew into a global city, DIS grew with it. Over the years, the school expanded its campus, strengthened teaching and refined its academic pathways. Students progressed through the National Curriculum for England, completed I/GCSEs, and moved confidently into Sixth Form, supported by a culture that values both academic success and personal growth.
Students complete I/GCSEs in Year 11 before choosing between the IB Diploma Programme or the IB Career-related Programme, ensuring breadth, choice and strong preparation for life beyond school. Under the stewardship of the Al-Futtaim Education Foundation, all school surpluses are reinvested directly into student learning, teacher development and facilities. | Today, DIS offers a clear and flexible academic journey. |
This long-term commitment has strengthened the school’s focus on quality education, continuous improvement and community.
Years of high expectations and consistent progress have led to well-earned recognition.
DIS achieved an ‘Outstanding’ rating from the KHDA, and in 2025, this quality was further confirmed through the British Schools Overseas (BSO) inspection, which rated the school Outstanding in every category.
From its beginnings in 2005 to the vibrant, diverse school it is today, serving over 2,000 students from more than 80 nationalities, Deira International School has remained focused on what matters most: strong teaching, a supportive community and a commitment to helping every child succeed.
Our Mission, Vision & Values
Our dedicated educators provide opportunities for creativity, global awareness and lifelong learning through a holistic, nurturing curriculum.
We set high expectations, use innovative teaching approaches, celebrate cultural diversity, and build strong partnerships with students, parents, staff and the wider community to support our mission.
Our Vision is to create an outstanding, multi-cultural learning community that empowers students to achieve their potential, become life-long learners and responsible global citizens.
Our values are Respect, Excellence, Collaboration and Integrity - the values that guide how we work, learn and grow together.
DIS Motto: “Forever Learning, Forever Achieving” | Our History: “Twenty Years of Building Outstanding” |  |