Dubai English Speaking School. DESS. This non-profit, British curriculum school has been a place for irresistible learning for over 60 years – existing before the UAE was even founded. With hundreds of thousands of students passing through its doors, the DESS name and ethos has spread to all corners of the globe, with alumni sharing stories of the schools caring pastoral approach and strive for excellence in all levels of learning.

DESS has a reputation for putting their students first, with pupil wellbeing and welfare sitting at the core of their provision. Each student is encouraged to hit their own individual goals, with learning and resources tailored to suit.

The DESS Family: Growth in the UAE

Over the years, the DESS family has grown with the addition of DESS College in 2005, offering a pathway to higher education for students from Year 7 – Year 13. Based on a principle of inclusivity and with a focus on sports, music and performing arts as well as the traditional academic subjects, DESS College is a sought-after option for Year 6 students across Dubai, seeking  GCSE, A level and BTEC qualifications.

2025 is another exciting year for the DESS community, with a second primary school due to open in Academic City in September 2025, just across the road from DESS College. With DESS Primary Oud Metha’s stellar reputation, many current and potential parents are asking the question – Can a new shiny school really encompass the community, family-feel that exists at the established campus?

A Parent’s View: The New Campus

Lauren Savill is an ex-DESS student and current DESS parent with a true appreciation of why the school is so special. Lauren’s parents taught at DESS in the 1980s and 1990s, her husband also attended as a child, and now their daughters are flourishing in the familiar, trusted setting, that has formed such an important part of the family’s lives.

“DESS is a true constant in our family and being able to tell my children they went to the same school as their parents, aunties and uncles, but also where their grandparents taught, is something you don’t hear a lot in the UAE. Regardless of that, the girls have really embraced what DESS stands for, and their passion for individual growth across the entire curriculum, as well as personally, has set them apart in our eyes. Teachers are truly passionate about developing a child’s potential and the opportunities for participation are vast and varied.

Despite how at home we feel at DESS Primary Oud Metha, we will be moving to the new campus at Academic City when the school opens in September 2025. Logistically, it makes more sense for us, but the underlying factor is my trust in the DESS team to deliver a school based on the principes that they already do so well.

Having toured DESS College, it’s evident they’ve already achieved this, bringing the same values from Oud Metha into a secondary environment with the students at the College echoing the same respect, kindness and determination you’ll see from the primary children.

I have absolutely no doubt that DESS Primary Academic City will be another shining example of education in the UAE, offering pupils a chance to flourish both academically and personally, under the leadership of a passionate and enthusiastic headteacher. I look forward to benefiting from the new facilities at the new campus, knowing these are built on more than 60 years of an impeccable commitment to student growth and wellbeing.”

DESS Primary Academic City: The Future of Learning

The new DESS Primary Academic City is where the time-honoured traditions of the DESS legacy will meet the dynamic energy of a modern, forward-thinking environment. Every day will be an opportunity for students to grow, learn, and thrive within a community that celebrates both the richness of their past and the excitement of new possibilities. From the warm, supportive atmosphere that feels like home to the innovative experiences that push boundaries, DESS Primary Academic City will offer a unique blend of the familiar and the new, creating a vibrant and inspiring journey for every child.

For more information, to book a tour or to register for DESS Primary Academic City, please contact the admissions team on 04 377 1457, dess_reception@dessc.sch.ae or visit https://dess.sch.ae/. Take a look at the plans for the new school here.