Al-Bayan International School vs American International School of Kuwait

	A Al-Bayan International School Kuwait City, Kuwait	A American International School of Kuwait Kuwait City, Kuwait
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year KWD 2,434 - 5,273	Fees / year KWD 2,650 - 4,531
Age range	Age range 3 - 18 years	Age range 4 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum American Curriculum	Curriculum American Curriculum, IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP)
Pupils	Pupils 436	Pupils 2,100
Typical class size	Typical class size 15	Typical class size 22
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened —	Opened 1991
Bus service	Bus service Yes	Bus service Yes
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location —	Location Located in Salmiya, Kuwait (PO Box 3267, 22033). Mailing address: American International School Kuwait, Salmiya 22033. Courier address: American International School, Hamood Al-Naser Street, Medan Hawalli, Kuwait.
Stages	Stages —	Stages Kindergarten through Grade 12, organized into Early Childhood, Elementary School, Middle School, and High School.
School type	School type —	School type Private, independent, co-educational day school offering an IB Continuum and an American curriculum.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support —	Additional learning support —
Country affiliation	Country affiliation —	Country affiliation No formal country affiliation; based in Kuwait.
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation —	Religious affiliation —
School day structure	School day structure —	School day structure AIS Kuwait uses division-based schedules across EC, ES, MS and HS. EC and ES gates open around 6:45 AM; EC dismissal around 1:12 PM and ES around 2:00 PM; MS/HS bus gate operations and regular dismissal around 2:25 PM (bus) or 3:00 PM depending on division. Elementary starts at 7:20 AM; High School starts around 7:40 AM.
Bus service details	Bus service details —	Bus service details AIS provides bus transportation. Families register with the Transportation Supervisor. Buses are staffed by licensed drivers. AIS maintains a Bus Procedure Manual and Transportation Maintenance Manual.
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application and registration fees - Application / assessment: an admissions assessment and interview are required as part of the enrolment process; a registration fee of KWD 100 is required with the application. Tuition fees by year group (annual and calculated per-term) The published annual tuition for the 2025/2026 academic year is shown below (amounts in Kuwaiti Dinars). Per-term figures in parentheses are calculated by dividing the published annual fee by three (Annual ÷ 3) because a term-by-term breakdown was not published. The per-term numbers are presented for convenience and are calculated values, not an official school breakdown. - Kindergarten 2 (K2 / age 4): KWD 2,434 (per term: KWD 811.33). - Kindergarten 3 (K3 / age 5): KWD 2,650 (per term: KWD 883.33). - Grade 1: KWD 4,086 (per term: KWD 1,362.00). - Grade 2: KWD 4,086 (per term: KWD 1,362.00). - Grade 3: KWD 4,086 (per term: KWD 1,362.00). - Grade 4: KWD 4,086 (per term: KWD 1,362.00). - Grade 5: KWD 4,086 (per term: KWD 1,362.00). - Grade 6: KWD 4,770 (per term: KWD 1,590.00). - Grade 7: KWD 4,770 (per term: KWD 1,590.00). - Grade 8: KWD 4,770 (per term: KWD 1,590.00). - Grade 9: KWD 5,273 (per term: KWD 1,757.67). - Grade 10: KWD 5,273 (per term: KWD 1,757.67). - Grade 11: KWD 5,273 (per term: KWD 1,757.67). - Grade 12: KWD 5,273 (per term: KWD 1,757.67). Billing schedule and payment terms - Parents are required to pay tuition fees on or before the due date indicated on the school invoice. - The school's published figures are shown as annual tuition totals; a three‑installment structure (September, January and April) is commonly used across American-curriculum schools in Kuwait and is the basis for the per-term calculations above (per-term = annual ÷ 3). Those per-term amounts are calculated values for reference and are not a published BIS schedule. Boarding fees - Al‑Bayan International School operates as a day school; there is no boarding provision. Other costs and mandatory charges - Uniform: student uniform is mandatory from KG1 through Grade 12. No published uniform price was available. - Additional costs that families should expect (amounts not published): textbooks and book packs, exam fees (external assessment / university‑entrance testing where applicable), school trips, after‑school activities, and optional or route‑based transportation. These items are commonly charged separately to tuition. Refund information - A specific, school‑published refund policy for tuition, registration or other fees was not published in the available fee material. The school requires the registration fee with application; schools in Kuwait commonly treat some application/registration payments as non‑refundable. Where other schools publish explicit deposit/refund rules those vary by school and by timing of withdrawal. The per-term figures above are calculated values and not a statement of refund terms. Fee payment options - No detailed, school‑published list of accepted payment methods (credit card, bank transfer, cheque, etc.) was found in the published fee material reviewed. Schools in Kuwait commonly accept bank transfer, cheque and/or card payments. Cheque payment instructions are used by other Kuwaiti international schools.	Fee details —
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements —	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement —	Uniform requirement The school has an on-site Uniform Store on the school grounds; uniforms are required and the Uniform Store operates Sunday–Thursday from 7:30 AM to 3:00 PM; the AIS uniform is designed to be respectful, well-groomed and modest.
Food options	Food options —	Food options The school has a canteen offering international and local food choices; Blimpies, Lo Fat and D & D Pizza are provided, a brick oven serves fatayer and other local bread products; beverages, pastas, saj and small snacks are offered; food service is contracted with local establishments and monitored by the Health and Safety Committee.
House system	House system —	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership —	Governance and ownership —
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details —	Curriculum details The school offers an International Baccalaureate (IB) Continuum with the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), and Diploma Programme (DP). English is the language of instruction. Languages offered include English, Arabic (Language and Literature), Arabic as a Foreign Language (AFL), and French for language acquisition. The curriculum is standards-based and aligned with Kuwait's Ministry of Education requirements; Arabic is studied through Grade 9 and Muslim students study Islamic Studies. Science follows the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and IB DP alignment; Mathematics aligns with CCSS; Physical Education follows The Ontario Curriculum Health and Physical Education. AIS emphasizes university preparation and provides pathways to leading universities around the globe.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression —	Higher education progression Many AIS graduates attend top universities worldwide, with pathways to leading universities around the globe.
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented —	Gifted and talented —
Academic calendar	Academic calendar —	Academic calendar —
Wellbeing & support	Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning	Social & emotional learning —	Social & emotional learning The school supports social and emotional development through the IB programmes and a pastoral care program; the Student Services team includes divisional counselors and assistant principals to support student wellbeing.
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) —	Special educational needs (SEN) The school provides English Language Learner (ELL) support and is equipped to support students who do not require a modified program.
English as an additional language	English as an additional language —	English as an additional language The school provides English Language Learner (ELL) support.
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing —	Mental wellbeing The IB programmes support the social and emotional development of each child, complemented by a pastoral care program.
Safeguarding	Safeguarding —	Safeguarding The school has a safeguarding policy to protect students and staff; background checks are required for staff; a child protection framework is in place.
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview —	Facilities overview AIS campus in Salmiya, Block 11, is three to four acres in area. The space provides essential facilities and services for an inviting and welcoming learning environment. Our facilities include Dr. Kamil AlRayes Auditorium (seats 1,270), a Black Box Theatre, Gyms (2), Tennis Courts (2), Soccer fields (2), and a Kindergarten play area. Additional facilities include an Aerobics room, Weight room, Science Labs, Learning Common, Genius Bar, Canteen, Security, Music Rooms, Clinic, Art Rooms, and Computer Labs.
Sports facilities	Sports facilities —	Sports facilities The school has two gyms, two tennis courts, and two soccer fields.
Academic facilities	Academic facilities —	Academic facilities The school has science labs. It has computer labs. A Learning Common and a Genius Bar support collaborative learning and technology use. There are music rooms and art rooms. A clinic provides health services on campus.
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities —	Extra curricular facilities AIS offers a broad extracurricular program through AIS Activities. Activities include Model United Nations (MUN), the Student Leadership Council (SLC), and the National Honor Society (NHS). Athletic options include varsity and junior varsity teams, as well as U14 teams. Visual Arts and Performing Arts are supported with dedicated programs. After School Clubs and Lunch Clubs provide additional enrichment opportunities.
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History —	History Founded in 1991, AIS Kuwait was established after the liberation of Kuwait to provide Kuwaiti and international students with a high-quality American education. Under founder Dr. Kamil Al Rayes, the school aimed to provide access to a world-class education and pathways to leading universities. In its first year, AIS Kuwait welcomed 300 students and 25 teachers, despite shortages of textbooks, library facilities, and other learning resources. By October 1994, the school achieved full accreditation and relocated from Surra to Salmiya to support growth. After Dr. Kamil Al Rayes passed away in 1995, his daughter, Mrs. Samera Al Rayes, MA.Ed., became Director, with the family continuing to serve on the governing Board; today the school serves more than 2,200 students with more than 350 staff and remains an accredited international school with an open, welcoming culture and strong sense of community.
Community	Community —	Community AIS Kuwait maintains an active school community with a calendar of events including cultural celebrations and national holidays. World Arabic Language Day is observed at AIS on December 4, 2025. The AIS calendar includes events such as the MUN Conference (December 4–6, 2025) and the Winter Book Fair (November 23–27, 2025), plus National Day/Liberation Day celebrations in February. Student life is supported by active clubs and organizations such as NHS and MUN, promoting student leadership and community engagement.
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association —	Parent teacher association —
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual —	Academic & intellectual The school offers Model United Nations (MUN) through AIS Activities. The school lists SLC and NHS as components of AIS Activities. The school includes an Academic Events program.
Arts & creative	Arts & creative —	Arts & creative The school offers Visual Arts and Performing Arts. The school maintains a Visual Arts Gallery. The school provides Performing Arts opportunities.
Cultural & language	Cultural & language —	Cultural & language The school offers Model United Nations (MUN) through AIS Activities. The school lists SLC and NHS as student life options. Lunch Clubs are available as part of AIS Activities.
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies —	Social & hobbies The school offers After School Clubs. Lunch Clubs provide social opportunities after school. AIS Activities includes a variety of clubs under Student Life.
Community & service	Community & service —	Community & service The school has National Honor Society (NHS) as part of AIS Activities, offering service opportunities. Service & Action is part of the IB Continuum.
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional —	Leadership & professional The school lists the Student Leadership Council (SLC) under AIS Activities. NHS supports leadership and service experiences. AIS Athletics & Activities provide opportunities for team leadership and collaboration through Varsity, Junior Varsity, and U14.
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing —	Lifestyle & wellbeing The school offers NESAC Athletics and KASAC Athletics with Varsity, Junior Varsity, and U14 teams. These programs support physical well-being through school athletics. The school provides a broad range of athletic opportunities through Student Life.
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision —	Language provision English is the language of instruction. Arabic is studied through Grade 9 in accordance with Kuwait MOE requirements. Islamic Studies is studied for Muslim students.
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching —	Bilingual teaching English is the language of instruction. Arabic is taught as a language through Grade 9 under Kuwait MOE requirements.
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations —	Accreditations MSA accreditation: The school has Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA) accreditation. First accredited in 1994; reaccredited in 2003 and 2013. The most recent accreditation used the Excellence by Design protocol, strengthening health and safety policies, student support and career services, and the governance–leadership alignment with the teaching staff. IB Continuum: The IB Continuum is part of AIS. Diploma Programme authorized in 2005; MYP authorized in 2006; PYP authorized in 2007. Reauthorized in all three programmes multiple times, with a 2017 multi-programme self-study bringing the reauthorizations together.
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions —	Admissions —
Scholarships	Scholarships —	Scholarships —
Waitlist	Waitlist —	Waitlist The Admissions Committee may place the applicant on a waiting list.
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