Dubai International Academy Emirates Hills (DIA)
Key Stats
Annual Fees: US$12K – US$22K
Curriculum: IB
Age Range: 3–18
Students: 1,800
Location: Emirates Hills, Dubai
Updated February 2026
In Brief
Dubai International Academy Emirates Hills is Dubai's pioneering IB continuum school, serving 2,760 students from 85+ nationalities since 2005. With KHDA Outstanding rating and strong university placements including Ivy League acceptances, it maintains its position among Dubai's top international schools despite some teacher concerns about workload and pay compression.
As Dubai's first school to offer all four IB programmes (PYP, MYP, DP, and CP), DIA Emirates Hills has established itself as the benchmark for IB education in the UAE. The school serves nearly 2,760 students on a purpose-built campus featuring specialized STEM hubs, competition-level sports facilities, and arts spaces. Under the Innoventures Education group led by founder Poonam Bhojani, the school has maintained consistent academic excellence with graduates securing places at top global universities including Columbia, University of Pennsylvania, Cambridge, and Oxford.
The school's KHDA Outstanding rating in 2023-24 makes it the only IB continuum school in Dubai with this distinction, recognized particularly for teaching quality, pastoral care, and educational innovation. Teacher feedback reveals a mixed employment picture - while educators appreciate the high academic standards and diverse student body, some note that salary packages have become less competitive compared to other Dubai schools. Parent discussions highlight the school's strong academic reputation and effective systems, though securing admission can be challenging with waiting lists requiring persistent follow-up.
What parents value
- –Dubai's first and most established IB continuum school offering all four IB programmes
- –KHDA Outstanding rating - the only IB continuum school in Dubai with this distinction
- –Strong university placement record with Ivy League and Oxbridge acceptances
- –Large, diverse student body of 2,760 students from 85+ nationalities
- –Purpose-built facilities including specialized STEM and design hubs
- –Experienced leadership under Innoventures Education group
- –Good student behavior and academic engagement according to teacher reports
Points of consideration
- –Teacher reports suggest salaries have become less competitive compared to other Dubai schools
- –Difficult admission process with waiting lists requiring frequent follow-up
- –Some teacher feedback indicates increased focus on compliance and ratings over staff support
- –Heavy workload expectations typical of schools pursuing high KHDA ratings
- –Primarily Indian nationality mix may not suit all families seeking diversity
- –Limited recent detailed information about specific academic results and fee structure
Annual Fees
| Year Group | Age | USDTotal Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|
| KG1 | 3 | 12,248 |
| KG2 | 4 | 13,812 |
| Year 1 | 5 | 13,942 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 15,788 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 15,788 |
| Year 4 | 8 | 15,788 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 15,788 |
| Year 6 | 10 | 15,788 |
| Year 7 | 11 | 17,760 |
| Year 8 | 12 | 17,760 |
| Year 9 | 13 | 17,760 |
| Year 10 | 14 | 19,736 |
| Year 11 | 15 | 19,736 |
| Year 12 | 16 | 21,701 |
| Year 13 | 17 | 21,701 |
Fees converted from AED. For the most up to date and accurate figures please double check with the school.
Additional Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Entrance Test Fee | 143 |
Photos
Academic Results
Dubai International Academy (DIA) Emirates Hills is rated 'Outstanding' by the KHDA (KHDA). Academic results for the IB Diploma Programme (May 2024) include a 100% pass rate at DIA (compared to 80.1% worldwide), with an average point score of 35.25 and a highest total score of 45 (DIA IBDP Results). University destinations include prestigious institutions such as Brown University, Stanford University, University of Pennsylvania, UC Berkeley, NYU, Georgia Institute of Technology, Imperial College London, LSE, King’s College London, UCL, and McGill University (DIA Career Counselling).
Extra Curriculars
The school offers over 23 competitive sports, including swimming, athletics, football, cricket, basketball, netball, rugby, and tennis (DIA Sports). Arts and clubs include a school musical, upper school choir, Model United Nations (MUN), TEDx Youth, debating, World Scholars Cup, and various community initiatives (DIA Co-Curricular). Competitive teams participate in the DASSA leagues, with 90% in Division 1 (DIA Sports).
The campus is built on 350,000 square feet of land (DIA Facilities) (noted elsewhere as 482,000 sq. ft. (DIA Homepage)).
Inspections & Accreditations
Inspection
No published inspection details are currently available.
Accreditations
Accreditation details are not publicly listed.
Memberships
Membership details are not publicly listed.
Student Body
The school enrolls 2,700+ students (DIA Homepage) from over 80 nationalities (Innoventures Education). The age range is 3 to 18 years, covering KG1 to Year 13 (DIA Admissions). Specific class sizes are Not published.
Leadership
Sylvain Lunetta - Proviseur
Sylvain Lunetta is the current Proviseur (Head of School) of Lycée Français International de l'AFLEC in Dubai, a position he has held since August 2022, leading the only French school rated 'Outstanding' from nursery to high school by KHDA.