Compare International Schools in Abu dhabi, United arab emirates

Abu Dhabi International School (AIS) operates across two campuses, the Abu Dhabi Campus at 121 Hadfah St, Al Manhal, and the MBZ Campus in Mohamed Bin Zayed City. Catering to students aged 3 to 18, AIS delivers three curricula under one private, coeducational K-12 umbrella: the British Program (IGCSE and A Levels) at the Abu Dhabi Campus; the American Program with Advanced Placement (AP) at the MBZ Campus; and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) also at MBZ for grades 11–12. The American track aligns English and Math with the Common Core, Science with NGSS, and Arabic with UAE Ministry standards. The High School offers Engineering, Medicine & Health Sciences, Economics & Business, and Liberal Arts tracks. Facilities span two campuses with libraries, theatres, laboratories, and sports grounds, plus spaces for co-curricular activities. AIS fosters nationalities (about 60) and a spectrum of clubs in science, arts, sports, service, and sustainability.

Al Nahda National Schools is a private English-medium day school in Abu Dhabi with separate Boys' and Girls' campuses for ages 4–18. Established in 1983, ANNS offers British and American Curricula, including Cambridge IGCSE and Pearson Edexcel IGCSE, plus Advanced Placement. The British Program and American Program cover languages, mathematics, sciences, humanities, information technology, Islamic studies, physical education, music, drama and art. The school is licensed by ADEK and the UAE Ministry of Education and accredited by NEASC, CIS, ECIS, Cambridge International Examinations, Pearson-Edexcel, and the SAT Center. Examinations include IGCSEs, GCSEs and A-levels, alongside the BTEC suite. The SAT Center supports university admissions testing. With nearly 5,800 students, the school focuses on high-quality learning and global citizenship, while maintaining its two-campus, gender-segregated model. Extracurriculars feature sports, robotics, and debating, and the school's arts program integrates music, drama and art alongside National Day and Cultural Evenings. National Day celebrations foster cultural awareness.

GEMS Founders School - Masdar City (GFA) offers the National Curriculum for England for students from FS1 to Year 10. Located in Abu Dhabi’s eco-friendly urban community, the campus integrates environmental responsibility directly into the student experience. A standout feature is the "Sustainnovation" program, which blends sustainability and innovation, teaching students to apply eco-conscious practices through hands-on projects and cross-curricular learning. The school operates with renewable energy sources and incorporates green spaces throughout. Students benefit from dedicated science laboratories, music rooms, and expansive outdoor play areas. Beyond core subjects, GFA provides an extracurricular program featuring robotics, coding, design challenges, and philanthropic activities. Leadership development is actively encouraged through roles like House Captains and the student council. By combining British educational standards with a unique focus on environmental stewardship, the school prepares students to be informed, earth-conscious citizens.

Located in Khalifa City A, Abu Dhabi, Sama International School – formerly Italian International School – serves students aged 3 to 17. The campus is the founding site of Sama International Schools, part of expansion preserving its Italian identity. The school delivers an American Curriculum aligned with California/Common Core within the IB framework, taught in English and reinforced by a multilingual approach including Arabic and Italian. The Italian language department offers two pathways: Language A for mother-tongue Italian speakers and Language B for Italian learners; Language A enables Italian graduation through the IB Diploma Programme at higher or standard level. The IB continuum covers PYP and MYP, with the Career-related Programme as a candidate arriving 2026–2027, with final authorization planned for May 2026. Facilities include 100% smart classrooms and 21st-century learning spaces, plus culinary programs and sport academies. Extras include over 20 ECAs, such as Chess, Coding, Swimming, and Arts initiatives.

Muna British Academy, located in the Saadiyat Lagoons district of Abu Dhabi, provides the English National Curriculum from Nursery through Year seven, eventually expanding to Year thirteen. The school operates as Abu Dhabi’s first Estidama Pearl 5 rated campus, demonstrating a measurable, documented commitment to environmental sustainability and eco-conscious daily operations. Students engage in inquiry-based learning centered on core subjects like English, Mathematics, and Science, supplemented by Ministry of Education requirements in Arabic, Islamic Studies, and Social Studies. The physical campus features specific facilities, including dedicated science and technology laboratories, drama and dance studios, an indoor sports hall, and multiple swimming pools. Outdoor physical education is supported by junior and senior football pitches alongside jogging tracks. Muna British Academy integrates regular teacher-led extracurricular activities into the standard tuition, allowing students to pursue interests in areas ranging from creative arts to swimming.

Noya British School, located in the Noya Community on Yas Island, offers the English National Curriculum for students from FS1 to Year 9. The campus accommodates up to 3,000 learners, featuring dedicated performing arts spaces and extensive sports grounds. Students follow a thematic learning approach that connects core subjects to real-world global issues. The school is deeply committed to environmental responsibility and operates as a sustainability-focused campus with initiatives tied to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, guided by a dedicated Sustainability coordinator. Families benefit from wrap-around care available from 6:30 am to 5:30 pm and an extra-curricular program delivered with Infinite Sports, featuring robotics, rugby, and ballet. High Performance Learning principles are integrated into daily lessons, developing cognitive characteristics like resilience. Core academics are complemented by specialist instruction in physical education, music, and drama, ensuring varied opportunities for student engagement and personal development.

Raha International School (RIS) is an IB Continuum school in Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi, part of the Taaleem education group. The Gardens Campus is Abu Dhabi's first IB Continuum school, and the nearby Khalifa City Campus offers state-of-the-art facilities. RIS fosters global citizens with a lifelong love of learning through inquiry-based and collaborative education. The school has a close-knit community with a comprehensive extracurricular programme spanning culture, sports, visual and performing arts, and general activities.

Summit International School in Abu Dhabi delivers the American Curriculum, strictly aligned with California Common Core standards, for students from Kindergarten through Grade 12. The downtown, four-building campus features a regulation football pitch, a multi-use gymnasium, a swimming pool, and a theater. Instruction replaces traditional textbooks with a 1:1 Chromebook learning model and utilizes Exact Path adaptive software to create individualized learning paths based on NWEA MAP assessment data. A unique hallmark of the school is its unified "Climber" identity. Students, parents, and staff are all referred to as Climbers ascending "Mount Summit," and daily interactions frequently incorporate the school’s signature call-and-response motto, "To the Top!" Students begin in co-educational classrooms until Grade 4, transitioning to gender-segregated instruction from Grade 5 onward. The school provides a technology-driven, data-informed environment focusing on individual student growth, robotics, and strong core subject foundations.

The Cambridge High School in Abu Dhabi is a private international school for ages 4 to 18 and is part of the GEMS Education group. It follows the National Curriculum for England, offering EYFS, Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International AS Levels, Cambridge A Levels and BTEC qualifications. The Foundation Stage serves 4 to 5-year-olds, with a Primary and a Secondary programme up to Sixth Form. The campus in Mussafah provides a safe, nurturing environment with facilities, including an Early Years Playground, four ICT labs with high-speed Internet, dedicated science laboratories, a Music Studio, two Art Studios, a library, an air‑conditioned auditorium and a Multi‑purpose Court, plus a heated swimming pool. Arabic is compulsory for most students; Islamic Studies is offered; Personal, Social, Health and Citizenship Education is taught. ADEK has rated the school 'Very Good' since 2022. The school includes Sustainability and Innovative Initiatives as part of Education for Sustainable Development.

Yasmina American School, opening in August 2025 in Khalifa City A, Abu Dhabi, provides the American curriculum for students from Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 5, with future expansion planned up to Grade 12. The school occupies the former Yasmina British Academy campus on Al Mireef Street, featuring age-appropriate classrooms, integrated technology, and designated outdoor play spaces. Students follow a structured program focusing on literacy, numeracy, science, and social studies, supplemented by dedicated STEAM, arts, and sports extracurricular activities. A distinctive feature of the school is its formalized Parental Engagement framework, which integrates families into the educational process through regular workshops and collaborative events. The campus provides a fixed-fee bus service and includes Arabic language instruction aligned with Ministry of Education standards. By maintaining specific class limits—up to 25 in early years and 30 in Grades 1-5—educators deliver targeted instruction tailored to individual student requirements.

Abu Dhabi International School (AIS) operates across two campuses, the Abu Dhabi Campus at 121 Hadfah St, Al Manhal, and the MBZ Campus in Mohamed Bin Zayed City. Catering to students aged 3 to 18, AIS delivers three curricula under one private, coeducational K-12 umbrella: the British Program (IGCSE and A Levels) at the Abu Dhabi Campus; the American Program with Advanced Placement (AP) at the MBZ Campus; and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) also at MBZ for grades 11–12. The American track aligns English and Math with the Common Core, Science with NGSS, and Arabic with UAE Ministry standards. The High School offers Engineering, Medicine & Health Sciences, Economics & Business, and Liberal Arts tracks. Facilities span two campuses with libraries, theatres, laboratories, and sports grounds, plus spaces for co-curricular activities. AIS fosters nationalities (about 60) and a spectrum of clubs in science, arts, sports, service, and sustainability.

Al Nahda National Schools is a private English-medium day school in Abu Dhabi with separate Boys' and Girls' campuses for ages 4–18. Established in 1983, ANNS offers British and American Curricula, including Cambridge IGCSE and Pearson Edexcel IGCSE, plus Advanced Placement. The British Program and American Program cover languages, mathematics, sciences, humanities, information technology, Islamic studies, physical education, music, drama and art. The school is licensed by ADEK and the UAE Ministry of Education and accredited by NEASC, CIS, ECIS, Cambridge International Examinations, Pearson-Edexcel, and the SAT Center. Examinations include IGCSEs, GCSEs and A-levels, alongside the BTEC suite. The SAT Center supports university admissions testing. With nearly 5,800 students, the school focuses on high-quality learning and global citizenship, while maintaining its two-campus, gender-segregated model. Extracurriculars feature sports, robotics, and debating, and the school's arts program integrates music, drama and art alongside National Day and Cultural Evenings. National Day celebrations foster cultural awareness.

Abu Dhabi Indian School – Al Wathba Branch offers the CBSE curriculum for local and international families. Affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education (Affiliation No. 6630083), the school follows the National Curriculum Framework 2005 and the National Education Policy 2020, using a Spiral Curriculum that revisits concepts with increasing depth. From grade 6 to 10, Artificial Intelligence is integrated as a vocational subject, while core subjects include English, Mathematics, Science, Social Science and Computer Science. Languages offered as second languages include Hindi (grades 1–5), Malayalam (grades 6–10), French (grades 8–10) and CBSE Arabic (grades 9–10). SDGs are embedded across learning, and Gifted & Talented as well as Students with Special Needs are supported through differentiated instruction. The 34,500-square-metre campus serves about 3,450 students and features a Play Ground, Swimming Pool, Library and Computer Lab, plus facilities for dance, music and drama. Notable offerings include Model United Nations and annual literary and arts competitions.

Abu Dhabi Indian School – Muroor is a CBSE-affiliated school in Abu Dhabi, located at 12, Al Routah Street, Hadbat Al Za'faranah. The campus opened in 1980 after moving from the India Social Centre and is licensed by the Ministry of Education, Abu Dhabi Zone (License No: 37). The school serves families of the Indian community and prepares students for the All India Senior Certificate Examination at the end of Grade 12. The CBSE curriculum emphasizes activity-based learning and wide academic coverage, with a focus on language development, mathematics and science. The school offers Arabic and other language departments, a Second Language section, and an Islamic Education Department to support language learning across the curriculum. Extracurriculars include ADIS Shakers (arts and performance), public speaking and a Student Council, with a strong emphasis on community service and student leadership. Physical education and wellbeing are integrated through the Nurturing Champions program throughout.

ADNOC Sas Al Nakhl in Abu Dhabi delivers an American-based curriculum for ages 4–18, incorporating the Massachusetts Framework with Common Core for Math and English, Next Generation Science Standards for Science, SHAPE PE, and integrated MOE Arabic and Islamic Studies. The high school offers AP courses in the senior year, with PSAT and SAT testing available from grade 10, and Sas Al Nakhl operates as a testing center for nearby schools, supporting college admissions locally and globally. The campus features a library with Dewey Decimal and AACR2, Destiny system and OPAC; science labs (three dry Physics labs and four wet labs) with safety features. Indoor gymnasiums, three swimming pools, three outdoor football pitches, three outdoor basketball courts, a multipurpose room, and on-site security and a clinic. After-school ECAs cover sports, academic enrichment, arts, leadership, and wellbeing; activities run 2:45–3:30 PM with first-come registration. The program develops 21st-century skills and learners.

Al Ittihad National Private School – Khalifa City delivers a K–12 American-based curriculum aligned with California Common Core for Mathematics and English, plus Humanities and Art. California Computer Science Standards and ISTE standards guide Computer Science, and the Next Generation Science Standards guide Science. Arabic, Islamic Studies, Social Studies and Moral Education follow Ministry of Education standards for Arab and non-Arab students. The curriculum emphasizes mastery-based and inquiry-based learning across grades. A 1:1 Smart Learning Program provides devices from kindergarten through grade 12, with a focus on digital citizenship. Educational Tracks include the American High School Diploma (Path 1) and Advanced Placement (Path 2), with AP from Grade 10. The school prepares students for university with IELTS, TOEFL, and SAT, and aligns with UAE National Agenda Parameters for MAP, PISA, TIMSS and PIRLS. Structure runs KG–12 as KG, Elementary (1–5), Middle (6–8), High (9–12), with catalogs 1–5 and graduation policies.

Al Ittihad National Private School – Shakhbout City is a purpose-built campus in Abu Dhabi delivering an international American curriculum with the UAE Ministry of Education requirements for Arabic, Islamic Studies, and Social Studies. Open to students aged 4 to 17, the school operates as a branch of the Al Ittihad Private Schools network and is licensed through Grade 12. The program centers on developing 21st‑century skills and aligns with national initiatives such as the UAE Centennial 2071. Classrooms are modern and safe, supported by a well-stocked library, dedicated science laboratories, and on-site mosque for daily prayers. A comprehensive wellbeing program includes counselors, while sport facilities support daily PE and after‑school activities. Extracurriculars span academics, arts, and culture, with clubs and programs such as Model United Nations, arts and creativity, and Cultural and Language activities. The school emphasizes service, leadership, and community, fostering resilience, teamwork, and global understanding for all.

Future Leaders International Private School – Baniyas is located in Baniyas East, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, with three campuses. The school provides an American-based curriculum, reinforced by NGSS and AP standards, while aligning with the Virginia State Standards of Learning and the UAE MOE National Curriculum. Ages 4 to 17 are supported through a bespoke curriculum that integrates technology and inquiry-based learning. Learning Communities organize classrooms into collaborative blocks with shared facilities, including smart classrooms, labs, libraries, playfields, a swimming pool with gym, and multipurpose halls. The school emphasizes student-centered teaching through iPadic classroom integration and a STEM–STEAM philosophy. With over 2,500 students and about 90% of teachers highly qualified, it offers more than 30 extracurricular programs. Cultural and language clubs reflect UAE integration; a Students Council, a Careers section, and leadership opportunities anchor community. The institution aims to prepare students for international pathways through academic and co-curricular engagement globally.

Future Leaders International Private School – Rabdan sits on Al Maqta' Street, Abu Dhabi. The school offers an American curriculum based on Virginia State Standards of Learning and NGSS, with students aged 3 to 17. Arabic, Islamic, Social Studies and Moral Education are taught as MOE-required subjects, while UAE heritage and values are embedded across the program. Arabic and Islamic are taught within both Native and Non-Native groups, and French is offered as an extracurricular activity. The Rabdan campus has dedicated KG and Elementary playgrounds, a school uniform shop, and a canteen operated by Heritage Village Catering Services with rotating monthly menus. A school nurse is on site and meals follow a nut-free policy. Parent access is supported by a Security Pass system and gate procedures. Extracurriculars include Drama Club, Music Club, Cultural Club, Environmental Club and Football Club, complementing the academics. Core values of respect, honesty, tolerance, care and resilience underpin behavior policies.

Mayoor Private School LLC sits in Abu Dhabi's Al Wathba district and opened in 2014. Developed with Mayo College General Council, it is the first branded Mayo day-school outside India and is governed to bring Mayo's educational ethos to the UAE. The school follows the Indian CBSE curriculum from Kindergarten onward, delivered in English, with Arabic compulsory from Grade 1 to 12, Hindi from Grade 1 to 10, and French introduced from Grade 5 as a second language. UAE history and local heritage are woven into learning, alongside a Learning Support Programme, remedial and enrichment classes, and university-career guidance in grades. Facilities include a 1:1 learning environment (laptops from Grade 1, tablets for KG), Innovation and Aerospace Labs, a 9,000-title library with Oxford Reading Tree, and a secure WiFi campus under CCTV surveillance. After-school sports and activities complement academics, including robotics, drama, Operation Smile UAE community service, and student leadership.

Private International English School (PIES) in Mussafah, Abu Dhabi, is a CBSE-affiliated, ADEK-accredited private co-educational school with about 2,000 students. The campus supports holistic learning through a well‑equipped academic and arts‑driven environment. The curriculum follows a progression from Montessori–themed early years to NCERT-based Primary, and NCERT/CBSE Middle, Secondary and Senior Secondary studies, with foreign languages introduced and a focus on real‑world connections and continuous evaluation. The school emphasizes technology in classrooms, including IT‑enabled facilities and smart boards as part of its longstanding commitment to digital learning in the region. Facilities span science laboratories (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Computer, Math, Psychology), a Library, Music and Dance rooms, an Auditorium, and dedicated KG and indoor play spaces, plus a Football Court and garden areas for environmental projects. Co‑scholastic assessment, French culture activities, and an Observership Program reinforce skill development, leadership, and community engagement alongside academic study. The school fosters curiosity, collaboration, and resilience.

Ryan International School – Masdar City is a CBSE-affiliated campus located in Masdar City, Abu Dhabi, established in September 2015. It follows the CBSE curriculum designed by NCERT with English as the medium of instruction. Arabic is compulsory for all students; Islamic Studies is taught to Muslim students; Hindi or French are optional. UAE culture, heritage and national appreciation are emphasized through the My Identity program. The curriculum integrates enquiry- and project-based learning, supported by Ryan Innovation Labs and digital resources for teacher-student collaboration. The campus features technology-driven classrooms, activity rooms, an auditorium, a swimming pool and a sports ground. The learning approach encourages cross-curricular, theme-based teaching to develop 21st-century skills in alignment with the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030. Extracurricular activities include Indian Model United Nations, World Scholar's Cup, and the International Children's Festival of Performing Arts, with Ryan TV as a media program. Atal Tinkering Labs and an Innovation Lab further foster hands-on creativity and practical problem-solving.