With roughly 32 schools following Indian curricula, Dubai has one of the largest Indian school ecosystems outside India. Most follow CBSE, with a handful offering ICSE. Here is what the data shows.
By the Numbers
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Indian schools | 32 |
| Average annual fee | AED 17,136 |
| Lowest fee | AED 3,986 |
| Highest fee | AED 52,429 |
| Outstanding rated | 1 |
| Very Good rated | 10 |
CBSE vs ICSE
Most Indian schools in Dubai follow CBSE because it is the most widely recognised board and aligns well with competitive exam preparation (JEE, NEET). ICSE schools are fewer but tend to emphasise English and broader subject exposure.
If your child is likely to study in India for university, CBSE is the safer choice. If you want a curriculum that balances Indian structure with slightly broader assessment, ICSE is worth considering.
Fee Advantage
Indian schools are significantly more affordable than their British or IB counterparts. The average Indian school fee is AED 17,136 compared to AED 46,006 for British and AED 68,039 for IB. For families with multiple children, this difference adds up to tens of thousands of dirhams annually.
What to Watch For
Class sizes at Indian schools tend to be larger — sometimes 30+ students. This is partly why fees are lower, but it does mean less individual attention. Ask specifically about class sizes when you visit.
Browse all Indian curriculum schools and compare them on DubaiSchools.ai.