Dubai — Traveler Information American Location: Academy Welcome to . Thank you for your interest in our school. As Dubai has no official

street addresses, we would like to share our map location for easy reference. We are located: Counseling Office:  Amy Carey

 Scott Lassey

 Justin Kurass

 Jan Evans (Assistant)  Beside Lulu Hypermarket Phone: 971 04 347 9222  Near Mall of the Emirates

Fun Facts About Dubai:

Average annual rainfall in Dubai is only 13 cm. Tempera- tures can reach 50 degrees C (122 F) in peak summer months.

Mall of the Emirates in Dubai is featured with an indoor ski resort named Ski Dubai Snow Park.

You can find the world’s larg- est horses in Dubai. Also the world’s richest horse race. Proximity to other schools: 80% of Dubai’s residents are foreigners.

Name of School How far from DAA Web Address Burj Khalifa is the tallest building and tallest manmade GEMS World Academy 20 min www.gemsworldacademy-dubai.com structure in the world. It also 10 min www.asdubai.org boasts the fastest lift in the Wellington International School 15 min www.wellingtoninternationalschool.com world. Universal American School 30-40 min www.uasdubai.ae Population: Over one million. Dubai International Academy 20 min www.diadubai.com

Getting Here

Some Helpful Websites: Dubai American Academy  UAE Visa Information: Dubai International Airport (DXB) http://www.uaeinteract.com/ travel/visas.asp Dubai International Airport (DXB) may be confiscated and/or the Hours of operation are 6am to is the busiest airport in the world traveler may be taken to jail or 11pm everyday except Friday, when  Taxi Information: for international travelers. Set in deported. To ensure compliance they run between 1pm and mid- http://dtc.dubai.ae/en/ the district, 2.5 miles with local laws, please refer to night. OurFares/Pages/Airport- east of Dubai, the Dubai Airport is this link, and the link to the left, taxi.aspx Taxis are also readily available as the home base for Dubai’s inter- which lists banned items before  Permitted Items: a means to get to and from the national airlines– Emirates, Fly arrival at DXB: airport. To catch a taxi, simply www.dubaicustoms.gov.ae/en/ Dubai, and Emirates Sky Cargo. http://www.dubai.ae/en/Lists/ follow the signs clearly labeled eServices/ The airport consists of three ter- ServicesForTravellers/ HowToGuide/DispForm.aspx?ID=6 throughout the baggage claim minals; Terminal 3 is exclusive to CustomsDuties/Pages/ area. PermittedItems.aspx Emirates and Qantas airlines. Once through the airport, there are many ways to reach your Car rental is available as well, and Dubai has a very strict policy re- destination. operates can be found after leaving the Some Helpful Numbers: garding drugs, alcohol, weapons, 2 lines in or near the airport. The baggage claim area. Customers and other banned items. Passen- Police = 999 red line has a station at Terminal must show passport and valid gers, and luggage, are screened Ambulance = 998/999 3 and Terminal 1. The green line driver’s license. carefully upon arrival at DXB. If has a station near the Airport American Hospital = 04-336 travelers are found with illegal Additionally, most hotels offer Free Zone, from which passen- -7777 substances or banned items, they transport for their guests. gers can connect to Terminal 2.

Visas Citizens of the following countries can get a free visit visa, valid for 30 days, on arrival in Dubai: Andorra ▪ Australia▪Austria ▪ Belgium ▪ Brunei ▪ Bulgaria ▪ Canada ▪ Croatia ▪ Cyprus ▪ Czech Republic ▪ Denmark ▪ Estonia ▪ Finland ▪ France ▪ Germany ▪ Greece ▪ Hong Kong ▪ Hungary ▪ Iceland ▪ Ireland ▪ Italy ▪ Japan ▪ Latvia ▪ Liechtenstein ▪ Lithuania ▪ Luxembourg ▪ Malaysia ▪ Malta ▪ Monaco ▪ Netherlands ▪ New Zealand ▪ Norway ▪ Poland ▪ Portugal ▪ Romania ▪ San Marino ▪ Singa- pore ▪ Slovakia ▪ Slovenia ▪ South Korea ▪ Spain ▪ Sweden ▪ Switzerland ▪ United Kingdom ▪ United States of America ▪ Vatican City

Citizens from countries not listed above must obtain a visa prior to travel. Citizens of other GCC countries—Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar– do not require a visa to visit the UAE.

Dubai Life

Code of Conduct Dubai is a very modern and progressive emirate; however, it is also part of an Islamic country. Therefore, visitors and expats must remember to dress, act, and speak in conservative ways that respect the local culture. See below for more details. Dress code Alcohol Please dress modestly in public. This applies to both men and Drinking alcohol is only permitted in places which have a license women. Avoid exposing the knees, shoulders, cleavage, and stom- to do so– usually hotel restaurants and bars. Once there, you can ach. Avoid tight, revealing clothing. Swimwear is acceptable at drink freely, but public drunkenness outside of bars and restau- pools and beaches, but be sure to cover up elsewhere. rants is not tolerated. So make sure you can easily access a taxi or other ride home. Visitors can also purchase alcohol from Duty Public Displays of Affection Free shops at Dubai International Airport. Refrain from showing too much affection towards a person of the opposite sex in public. Passionate kissing, hugging, touching, etc. Drugs are illegal in public and could get you thrown in jail. Recreational drugs are illegal in the UAE. Use of recreational drugs such as heroin, ecstasy, and marijuana could get you up to Swearing/Indecent Gestures 4 years in jail. Many prescription drugs are also illegal in Dubai. It is forbidden to swear at or direct an indecent gesture towards For example, Codeine, Fentanyl, any opium-based substances, another person in the UAE. Exercise caution when angry, and do poppy seeds, and qat are all illegal. Check with the Ministry of not raise your middle finger, stick out your tongue, or exhibit any Health or the UAE consulate for up-to-date information regarding other rude or indecent gesture towards another person. banned drugs. If you do decide to travel with a prescription medi-

Business Hours Currency The work week in Dubai generally The official currency of the UAE runs from Sunday to Thursday. is the Dirham. The exchange However, most malls and retail rate of UAE dirham to US dollar shops remain open seven days is approximately 3.67 dirhams per week. Some stores are closed for every 1 US dollar. on Fridays for the Muslim holy Dirhams can be traded for dol- day. lars or other currencies at the Business hours are generally Dubai International Airport, from 8am to 6pm. DAA staff are various currency exchange usually on campus from 7:30am branches (usually easy to find to 3:30pm. in the malls), and banks. It is also possible to get cash in the During Ramadan, the work day is form of dirhams from any ATM usually shortened by 2-3 hours. machine.

Getting Around Dubai

Taxis Buses Taxis are fairly plentiful in Dubai. You can easily catch a taxi from The Dubai bus system is the most affordable way to get around the airport, hotels, malls, and most tourist destinations. However, town. The average fare is around Dh. 2.12. Public buses serve during rush hour– between 8am-10am and 4pm-7pm, many taxis many areas of Dubai, with over 70 bus routes and 2700 different are full, resulting in longer wait times. In such cases, you can book bus stops. To ride, you must purchase a NOL card at the bus sta- a taxi by calling 04-2080808. tion before boarding. All bus stops and stations provide infor- mation related to bus timings, routes, and schedules. You can The starting meter charge when taking a taxi from the airport is also find out more at www.rta.ae. Dh. 20. When picking up a taxi from the road outside of the air- port, the starting meter charge is Dh. 3. Booking through the dis- Limousines/Hired Cars patch center results in a starting fare of Dh. 6. The charge is then Chauffeured and/or luxury cars can be purchased for anywhere Dh. 1.60 for every kilometer thereafter. from Dh. 1,000 to Dh. 6,000 per day. Limos can also be purchased by the hour for an average of Dh. 400/Hour. Airport transfers Metro can be booked through www.limo-uae.com; fares start around Dh. The Dubai Metro is the world’s longest fully-automated metro 170. system. It runs through most parts of Dubai and is a more afford- able way to travel than taxi. Pricing, station, and ticket information Abra/Water Taxis can be found at www.dubaimetro.eu. Train operating times run Abras (or water taxis) are an affordable way to travel between from 6am through 11pm Saturday-Thursday and 2pm-midnight on ports in . The fare to cross the creek is Dh. 1. Abras Fridays. Passengers must purchase a NOL ticket at the nearest depart every few minutes and are a nice way to get to the souks metro station prior to riding. in Old Dubai from Bur Dubai.

Traffic

Driving in the UAE is on the right hand side. Dubai’s main roads are generally well-maintained, and traffic signs are written both in English and Arabic. Despite road maintenance, driving standards are erratic and car accidents are the leading cause of death in the UAE. Some drivers drive at particularly high speeds, merge lanes frequently, and cut in front of other drivers. Exercise caution if driv- ing in Dubai, especially on main thoroughfares such as Sheikh Zayed Road and Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Road. Sightseeing Whether you’re looking for modern feats, extravagant luxury, or historical and cultural sites, Dubai has it all! Make the most of your stay in Dubai by checking out the following:

Dubai Creek Burj Al Arab Dubai Creek separates Deira and Bur Dubai. Take an Abra from A Dubai landmark, this sail-shaped hotel was deemed ‘the world’s Bur Dubai to reach the souks in Deira. only 7-star hotel’ from 1999 through 2008. In order to visit the inside of the hotel, you need a reservation at one of the hotel Deira Souks bars or restaurants, or stay at the hotel itself. Come prepared to haggle! Merchants operate small stores in close quarters– often down small alleyways— and often give the Palm Island “hard sell” to tourists. Be sure to check out the gold souk, spice This manmade island, heralded as the 8th wonder of the world, souk, textile souk, and perfume souk. Find out more at features exquisite hotels, villas, apartment buildings, beaches, www.dubaisouks.net. marinas, restaurants, bars, and a variety of retail outlets. The most popular hotel on the Palm is the Atlantis. Go there to check Bastakiya and Dubai Museum out the aquarium, water park, and swim with dolphins. The Bastakiya quarter is a picturesque neighborhood filled with art galleries, cafes, and boutique hotels. Dubai Museum is a short Desert Safari walk away and houses many local artifacts and dioramas of life in Desert safari tours are one of the most beloved activities of Du- the emirate before the advent of oil. Dubai Museum is the oldest bai tourists. Experienced drivers pick you up in Land Cruisers or existing building in Dubai. Hummers and drive you to the heart desert to go dune bashing. After dune bashing, the tours usually take you to the site of a Burj Khalifa “traditional village” set-up, complete with belly-dancing, buffet Located in Downtown Dubai, the Burj Khalifa is the tallest building dinner, shisha, henna tattoos, camel rides, and sand boarding. in the world. At over 160 stories, it houses offices, a hotel, resi- dences, restaurants, bars, and more! Book tickets at Dubai Mall to visit the observation deck on level 124. A large urban development with many great restaurants, bars, cafes, retail shops, and beach access. Dubai Hotels Hotels Near DAA

Hotel Name Website Free Wifi Fitness Room Kitchenette Swimming Pool Auris Plaza Hotel www.auris-hotels.com X √ √ √ Centro Barsha www.rotana.com/centrobarsha X √ X √ Citymax Hotel www.citymaxhotels.com √ √ X √ City Stay Hotel Apartment www.citystaydubai.com √ √ √ √ Ibis MOE www.ibis.com X X X X Ivory Grand Hotel Apartments www.ivorygrandhotels.com √ √ √ √ Kempinski Hotel MOE www.kempinski.com X √ X √ Sheraton Dubai MOE www.sheratondubaimalloftheemirates.com √ √ √* √

*Applies to some suites

Hotels in Other Parts of Dubai

Hotel Name Website Free Wifi Fitness Room Kitchenette Swimming Pool Arabian Park Hotel www.arabianparkhotel.com √ √ X √ Desert Palm Resort & Spa www.desertpalm.peraquum.com √ √ √ √ Pearl Marina Hotel Apartments www.pearlmarinahotel.com √ √ X √ Premiere Inn Dubai Silicon Oasis www.global.premierinn.com √ √ X √

Hotel Name Website Free Wifi Fitness Room Kitchenette Swimming Pool Al Manzil Hotel www.almanzilhotel.com √ √ X √ JA Beach Hotel www.jaresortshotels.com √ √ √ √ Sofitel Dubai the Palm Resort & Spa www.sofitel.com √ √ X √ Towers Rotana Dubai www.global.premierinn.com X √ X √

Hotel Name Website Free Wifi Fitness Room Kitchenette Swimming Pool Al Qasr at Madinat www.jumeirah.com √ √ X √ Grosvenor House Dubai www.grosvenorhouse-dubai.com √ √ X √ Jumeirah Beach Hotel www.jumeirah.com √ √ X √ Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort & Spa www.leroyalmeridien-dubai.com √ √ X √ Education All levels of education are represented in Dubai– including preschool, primary, secondary, and collegiate. Due to a diverse cultural and ethnic population, Dubai schools cater to many different nationalities and linguistic groups. Dubai schools generally fall into 1 of 2 categories: public and private.

Public Schools Public education is available at the primary and secondary levels for Emirati students only. Tuition is free, and classes are mainly taught in Arabic, with emphasis on English as a second language. KG and primary classes may be co-ed or segregated, while second- ary schools are gender segregated. Approximately 57% of Emirati students attend a public school while 43% attend a private school.

Private Schools As of 2013, there are 153 private schools in Dubai offering 15 different curriculums, including: American, British, French, German, Indian, Pakistani, Iranian, Russian, Filipino, and International Baccalaureate (IB). American, British, and IB curriculum are taught in English. Students in private schools are required to take Arabic language classes, which are classified as being either for native speakers or non-native speakers. Muslim and Arab students must also take Islamic Studies classes.

Dubai schools are governed by The Ministry of Education of the and the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA). The KHDA is Dubai’s regulatory authority responsible for ensuring private education and learning in Dubai are up to high standards. It assesses Dubai schools to determine areas in which they are strong as well as areas for needed growth. Each school is then given a school inspection report which includes detailed information complied during the assessment as well as an overall rating—Unsatisfactory through Outstanding. DAA’s most recent rating, for the 2013-2014 school year, was ‘outstanding.’ This is the third year in a row which DAA has received an ‘outstanding’ rating from KHDA. All school inspection reports can be found at www.khda.gov.ae.

Useful Contact Information

Knowledge and Human Development Authority Ministry of Education—Dubai Block 8, Academic City Al Qusais 2 Dubai, UAE Dubai, UAE Tel: +971-4-3640000 Tel: +971-4-2176666-04 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]

Top Dubai Private Schools (English-Speaking Only) American Curriculum

School Name Website Telephone Number Size (2013-14 SY) Al Mizhar American Academy School www.americanacademy.ae +971-4-288-7250 671 Students American School of Dubai www.asdubai.org +971-4-395-0005 1600 Students Bradenton Preparatory Academy www.bradentonprepdubai.com +971-4-818-3600 200 Students Collegiate American School www.casdubai.com +971-4-427-1400 946 Students Dubai American Academy* www.gemsaa-dubai.com +971-4-347-9222 2285 Students Dubai National School www.dnsalbarsha.com +971-4-347-4555 2770 Students Universal American School* www.uasdubai.ae +971-4-232-5222 1419 Students

*Also offers IB curriculum

IB Curriculum

School Name Website Telephone Number Size (2013-14 SY) Dar Al Marefa School www.daralmarefa.ae +971-4-288-5782 456 Students Deira International School* www.disdubai.ae +971-4-232-5552 1492 Students Dubai International Academy www.diadubai.com +971-4-368-4111 1946 Students Emirates International School www.eischools.ae +971-4-362-9009 1606 Students Gems World Academy www.gemsworldacademy-dubai.com +971-4-373-6373 1853 Students Gems Wellington International School* www.wellingtoninternatrionalschool.com +971-4-348-4999 2376 Students Greenfield Community School www.gcschool.ae +971-4-885-6600 1116 Students Jumeirah Baccalaureate School* www.jbschool.ae +971-4-344-6931 850 Students Jumeirah English Speaking School (Br)* www.jess.sch.ae +971-4-361-9019 1378 Students Raffles World Academy* www.rafflesis.com +971-4-427-1351 1931 Students * www.reptondubai.org +971-4-426-9393 2322 Students www.uptownschool.ae +971-4-251-5001 1052 Students

*Also offers UK curriculum Dubai American Academy– Student Profile

DAA students are high-achievers, both academically and personally. Most students enroll in the full IB diploma program and go on to earn outstanding IB results. Many DAA students are also involved in a wide array of extra-curricular activities, including clubs, sports programs, philanthropic organizations, and fine arts activities. Although DAA is an American curriculum school, its students come from a wide array of backgrounds and nationalities. US nationals make up the highest percentage of the student body; however, there are 82 different nationalities represented at DAA. Thus, DAA is truly an international school where students benefit from an enriched cultural understanding. DAA students go on to attend the top colleges and universities in the world. Top scoring student college matriculations from 2010- 2014 include: Cornell University, Columbia University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of California at Berkeley, University of Toronto, McGill University, University of Edinburgh, London School of Economics, and Northeastern University. See below for more detailed information regarding DAA students’ academic performance and university matriculations by region.

Dubai American Academy and the IB Diploma Program 2004‐2014 Total # of Seniors in IB % of Seniors in IB Di‐ Worldwide Mean DAA Mean Total Class Of Total # of Seniors Diploma Program ploma Program Total IB Points IB Points 2014 142 2013 138 95 69% 29.81 32 2012 134 94 70% 29.76 32 2011 124 91 73% 29.61 33 2010 134 87 65% 29.55 31 2009 128 78 61% 29.51 33 2008 122 70 57% 29.57 31 2007 102 57 56% 29.56 31 2006 78 34 44% 29.89 33 2005 38 11 29% 30.09 27.7 2004 28 7 25% 30.41 32.1

SAT Results ‐ DAA Class of 2014 DAA University Matriculaons By Region 2010‐2014 # of Students From Class of 2014 Taking SAT……………...90 USA…………………………………………………………………...45% Mean Crical Reading Score…………………………………..…542 Canada………………………………………………………………20% Crical Reading Middle 50%...... 480‐610 UK……………………………………………………………………..14% Mean Math Score………………………………………………….…572 UAE……………………………………………………………………7% Math Middle 50%...... 500‐660 Europe……………………………………………………………….9% Average Wring Score………………………………………...……561 Other Regions/Gap Year…………………………………...5% Wring Middle 50%...... 490‐630

Notes