Key takeaways
Self-paced learning starts at $149 a month. One-on-one tutoring runs closer to $1,340. Between those two numbers sits a live group classroom, a hybrid schedule, and a decision most expat parents in the UAE only get to make once. Here's what actually changes the price – and what stays the same no matter which plan a family picks.
- Four learning formats – Self-Paced, Group Live Part-Time, Group Live Full-Time, and One-on-One – all lead to the same diploma from a WASC-accredited school
- A one-time enrollment fee applies: $299 for the first child, $199 for each additional sibling
- Legacy is a WASC-accredited, FLDOE-registered private online school – not licensed by the UAE Ministry of Education, KHDA, or ADEK
Contents
We are a US-accredited international online school that coexists with local schooling. Families are responsible for ensuring compliance with any local education requirements applicable to their situation.
Why Families in the UAE Look at Online School Differently
A family relocates to Dubai for an 18-month contract. Or Abu Dhabi, for good. Either way, the school question doesn’t wait for the visa to clear. Legacy serves expat families across the UAE and more than 30 countries, and the appeal isn’t really “online” – it’s that the diploma travels when the family does.
Four Programs, One Accredited Diploma
Every plan runs the same WASC-accredited curriculum. What changes is structure.
Self-Paced Independent has no fixed timetable. Two check-ins a month, on-demand teacher grading, and the flexibility to study across time zones without rearranging a household. Good for a self-driven learner. Not good for a child who needs a bell schedule to function.
Group Live – Part-Time blends the two: six to ten live, teacher-led classes a week, the rest self-paced.
Group Live – Full-Time is a full school day, live, 10 AM–3 PM Eastern Time – which lands mid-afternoon to evening across most of the UAE. Twelve to twenty teacher-led classes weekly.
One-on-One is a personalized learning option on a fully customizable schedule. No fixed group pace. Built around one student.
Tuition in USD and AED
| Plan (High School, 9–12) | Monthly | Yearly (save 20%) |
| Self-Paced | $320 / AED 1,175 | $2,560 / AED 9,402 |
| Group Live Part-Time | $299 / AED 1,098 | $2,390 / AED 8,777 |
| Group Live Full-Time | $449 / AED 1,649 | $3,590 / AED 13,184 |
| One-on-One (10 classes/wk) | $665 / AED 2,442 | $6,650 / AED 24,422 |
Elementary and middle school pricing runs lower across every plan. AED figures use the official peg (1 USD ≈ 3.6725 AED) and are for reference only.
The Part Families Often Miss: the Enrollment Fee
Tuition isn’t the only line item. A one-time enrollment fee – $299 for the first child, $199 for each sibling after – covers onboarding and learner support. It’s separate from tuition and paid once, not annually.
How Enrollment Actually Works
Submit an application. The UAE admissions team responds within 24 hours. Documents needed: student ID, birth certificate or passport, and a current transcript – kept deliberately minimal. Pick a program and a billing cycle. Sign the enrollment agreement, pay tuition plus the one-time fee. Then onboarding, platform access, and a first class. Most families complete the whole process within a week.
“WASC advances and validates quality ongoing school improvement.”
That accreditation is also what universities check for when a diploma crosses a border. On the admissions side specifically, College Board is direct about the numbers.
“AP credits are accepted by over 500 Universities in over 75 countries, including the U.K., Canada and Australia.”
– College Board, international recognition page
Real Families, Real Results
The Haddad family, Dubai Marina. Two kids, one relocation, one school year cut short by a mid-year move. They enrolled both children in Group Live Full-Time. Previous private school in their home country: roughly $4,200/year per child. Legacy, High School Full-Time: $3,590/year for the elder, plus a $199 sibling enrollment fee for the younger instead of $299. Total first-year saving across both children: just over $1,000.
The Novak family, Abu Dhabi. One teenager, a father on a two-year posting, a mother who works irregular hours. Self-Paced Independent was the fit – no fixed class times, two teacher check-ins a month. Cost: $320/month, $2,560 for the full year. The deciding factor wasn’t price. It was that nobody in the household had to be home at a set hour for school to happen.
Top Tips from Maya Robinson, College Prep Advisor
- Match the plan to the child’s routine first, budget second – a self-driven learner overpays for structure they don’t need, and a routine-dependent one underperforms without it
- Ask about the sibling enrollment fee early if more than one child is enrolling
- Keep transcripts and ID documents ready before applying; it’s the single biggest delay families report
- Don’t confuse “not KHDA-licensed” with “not accredited” – they’re unrelated statuses, and Legacy holds the second one
This article provides general information about Legacy Online School’s programs and pricing. Tuition figures are subject to change – confirm current rates before enrolling. Families should verify local schooling and visa requirements with a qualified professional.
