Think your child might be the next Van Gogh, Picasso, Monet or even Banksy? At DIS, creativity is noticed, developed and taken seriously.

Art students here are taught to think like artists, to study the greats, to experiment with style and technique, and to develop work that reflects their own voice and ideas.

Art lessons focus on:

• Developing technique across drawing, painting and mixed media
• Understanding artistic intent and context
• Taking creative risks and refining ideas
• Learning how to talk about and reflect on creative work

DIS regularly organises student art exhibitions, where selected works are curated and presented in a gallery-style setting. These exhibitions give students the opportunity to see their work displayed professionally and, in some cases, offered for sale, helping them understand the real-world value of creative work. Students are also given exposure beyond the school gates. 

The school has participated in Art Dubai’s Children’s Programme, allowing students to engage with artists, creative workshops and large-scale cultural events that place their work within Dubai’s wider arts landscape.
 

Not many schools can say this. DIS has its own student resident band!

Live music is part of the rhythm of life, giving young musicians space to perform, collaborate and experiment beyond the classroom. Music here is practical and performance-led. Students rehearse, compose, perform and refine their work in settings that feel real and purposeful.

Across the year groups, students develop musical skills through:

• Instrumental performance
• Vocal and ensemble work
• Composition and creative production
• Listening and musical analysis

Students work with a range of instruments commonly taught within British and IB music programmes, including:

• Piano and keyboard
• Guitar & ukelele
• Drums and percussion
• Voice
• Orchestral instruments introduced through ensemble learning

For students who wish to pursue music further, the curriculum supports progression into IGCSE and IB Music, where performance, composition and analysis are developed in depth.
 

Creativity at DIS extends into engineering thinking, digital making, immersive design and real-world innovation.

This is hands-on, problem-solving learning that mirrors the way engineers, designers and innovators actually work.

In the earlier years, students begin by understanding how everyday objects are designed, assembled and improved. Practical projects include IKEA-style DIY builds, where students work from real instructions, learn about structure, accuracy, sequencing and tools, and experience first-hand how good design relies on clarity and precision. As students progress, Design & Technology becomes more ambitious. 

DIS students have worked on the design and construction of Formula 1–style prototype cars as part of engineering-focused projects, combining principles of aerodynamics, materials, mechanics and performance.
 

Engineering beyond the classroom: the NASA Rover Challenge

One of the clearest examples of advanced design thinking at DIS is the school’s participation in the NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge. Secondary STEM students have designed and built a fully functional rover, competing at an international level alongside universities and technical colleges.

Students worked through the full engineering cycle:

• Concept design and planning
• Structural and mechanical construction
• Testing, modification and troubleshooting
• Presenting and defending design decisions

The rover was built with guidance from engineering professionals within Al-Futtaim Automotive, giving students exposure to industry-level expectations and processes.

This project alone shows what Design & Technology looks like when it is done properly: ambitious, technical, collaborative and demanding.