Horizon International School

Name

Horizon International School

Legal name

Horizon International School

Website

https://hisdubai.ae

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private International K-12 School

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

International/Global Curriculum Schools (IB, Cambridge, etc.) (EDAJABAG)

Keywords

• British international education
• K-12 British curriculum
• IGCSE A-Level programmes
• Private international schooling
• Gifted and talented education

Headquarters

HQ city

Dubai

HQ country

United Arab Emirates

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees: The primary revenue stream is term-based tuition fees paid by families. Fees are structured across grade bands (FS1-FS2, Y1-Y2, Y3-Y4, Y5-Y6, Y7-Y9, Y10-Y11, Y12-Y13), with three payment installments per academic year (Term 1, Term 2, Term 3). No additional cost for extended Foundation Stage hours from Academic Year 2024-25.
2. Ancillary Fees: Additional fees charged for specific services including registration deposits, transfer certificate fees, summer exam fees, Duke of Edinburgh award fees, and application/assessment fees. These are one-time or per-event charges collected via the school's online payment portal.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Horizon International School delivers a full British curriculum education programme for students aged 3–18, spanning Foundation Stage 1 through Year 13 (Post-16). The school combines the English National Curriculum with UAE educational standards, leading to IGCSE/GCSE and A-Level qualifications, and supplements the core academic offering with enrichment programmes including EVOLV3 (gifted and talented), ENRICH ME, F1 in Schools STEM, Music & Performing Arts with LAMDA, Duke of Edinburgh, and an Inclusive Education programme.

Product overview

Horizon International School offers a comprehensive British education programme for students aged 3-18, delivered through a single unified school offering. The core product is the British curriculum programme spanning Foundation Stage through to A-Levels, supported by enrichment modules including EVOLV3 (for gifted students), ENRICH ME, F1 in Schools, Music & Performing Arts (with LAMDA qualifications), Duke of Edinburgh Award, counselling services, and a wide range of extra-curricular activities. The school operates as a Cognita family member school, integrating additional enrichment opportunities across its global network of 100+ schools.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• EVOLV3: Enrichment programme designed exclusively for most able, gifted, and talented students from Years 4 to 13, featuring specialized weekend sessions
• ENRICH ME
• F1 in Schools
• LAMDA

Products and services

• British Education Programme (FS1 to Year 13)

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% A-Level pass rate in 2023/24 with 54% of students awarded A-B grades and all students securing places at their first-choice universities.
• +3 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Cognita Middle East PE and Sport ConferenceminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 May 2025Cognita Middle East hosted its inaugural PE and Sport Conference bringing together over 70 physical education teachers from 8 Cognita UAE schools including Royal Grammar School Guildford Dubai, Repton Family of Schools, Horizon English School, Horizon International School, Ranches Primary School, and Al Ain English Speaking School. Olympic legend Sir Mo Farah attended as special guest. The conference explored modern trends in youth athletic development and the role of sport in building confidence, teamwork, and leadership.
• CognitacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHorizon International School is a member of the Cognita family of schools, which comprises 100+ global schools dedicated to fostering self-belief and academic excellence in over 85,000 students. Cognita provides shared resources, professional development, global enrichment programmes like ENRICH ME, events such as the annual Global Be Well Day, and a unified educational approach. The school's governance is overseen by Cognita Middle East Head Office at Level 26, Media One Hotel, Dubai, UAE.
• KHDA (Knowledge and Human Development Authority)coreOthersThe school operates under regulatory oversight by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) in Dubai. The school received a 'Very Good' rating from KHDA for 2023/24. KHDA also publishes school fee fact sheets for transparency.
• British Schools of the Middle East (BSME)minorOthersHorizon International School is an accredited member of BSME, the British Schools of the Middle East association, demonstrating adherence to British educational standards in the region.
• NACE (National Association for Able Children in Education)minorOthersNACE awarded Horizon International School the NACE Challenge Award, recognising high-quality provision for more able learners. Horizon is one of only two schools in the UAE with this accreditation.
• British Schools Overseas (BSO)minorOthersThe school underwent a BSO inspection and received an 'Outstanding' rating across all categories, benchmarked against defined UK standards and expectations.
• LAMDA (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art)minorOthersHorizon International School offers LAMDA qualifications to students, providing immersive music and drama education with internationally recognised credentials.
• Duke of Edinburgh's International AwardminorOthersThe school offers the Duke of Edinburgh Award programme (including Mini, Junior Dukes, and the full Award) for character development and outdoor skills.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Dubai College: Long-established premium British-curriculum secondary school in Barsha Heights with a strong sixth form and university placement reputation. Direct competitor for Horizon's post-16/A-Level segment and high-achieving families.
• Jumeirah English Speaking School (JESS): Premium non-profit British-curriculum school in Jumeirah serving ages 3-18 (JESS Primary and JESS Arabian Ranches). Comparable academic calibre, overlapping catchment area, and similar aspirational positioning to Horizon.
• English College Dubai: Mid-premium British-curriculum school in Al Safa serving ages 3-18. Comparable programme structure (IGCSE/A-Level) and pricing tier, providing a slightly more affordable alternative for British-curriculum Dubai families.
• Ranches Primary School: Cognita-sibling premium primary school serving the Arabian Ranches community on a British curriculum model. Cognita network competitor that could absorb expanding Dubai expatriate families away from Horizon.
• Kings' School Dubai: Flagship premium British international school in Umm Suqeim/Jumeirah, serving ages 3-18 with a UK-premium fee structure. Most direct head-to-head competitor for Horizon in Dubai's Jumeirah catchment among British-curriculum families.
• South View School Dubai: Cognita-sibling British-curriculum school in Remraam serving FS1–Year 13. Another in-network Cognita competitor targeting the same broad expatriate British-curriculum demand in Dubai.
• Repton School Dubai: Premium British independent school in Dubai and a sister Cognita school, serving FS1–Year 13 on a similarly premium fee model. Same parent group, overlapping cohort pool, and joint participation in Cognita enrichment programmes make it the closest functional peer.
• Royal Grammar School Guildford Dubai: Cognita-sibling British-curriculum school in Dubai targeting the same expatriate premium segment. Shares Horizon's enrichment programming (ENRICH ME, Cognita-wide events) and competes head-to-head for the same family demographic in Dubai.

Regional players

• Deira International School: British-curriculum school in Deira serving a different Dubai catchment with similar FS-Year 13 structure and fee tier. Comparable academic model and KHDA-regulated operations, providing geographic coverage comparison.

Broad incumbents

• GEMS Wellington International School: Large incumbent Dubai premium school operator offering multiple curricula (British, IB) across a wider portfolio. Broader geographic and academic footprint; competes with Horizon for the same aspirational expatriate families via its British pathway.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/HISDubai
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/horizon-international-school

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Horizon International School