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Abdul Rahman Kanoo International School

Bahrain, Manama

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English, Arabic
Fees BHD 1,171 - 2,934
Ages 3 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 2200
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum British Curriculum, IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP)
Introduction

Abdul Rahman Kanoo International School (ARKIS) is a private, co‑educational day school in Salmabad, Manama, Bahrain (Building 192, Road 408) serving Nursery through Grade 12 (early years to upper secondary). The school combines Cambridge programmes (including IGCSE in Grades 9–10) with the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme in Grades 11–12 and describes itself as a bilingual school with English as the language of instruction and a strong provision in Arabic (Arabic First and Arabic Second pathways); the IB programme listing also shows Arabic and French options at diploma level. ARKIS sets out a preschool, elementary and secondary structure, using project‑based learning in Elementary and inquiry‑based approaches in Secondary, and offers student leadership, CAS and community service activities. The school publishes a campus tour and newsletters noting dedicated learning spaces and sports facilities (playing fields, basketball courts), science labs and specialist areas such as food/kitchen learning spaces.

Building 192, Rd 408, Salmabad, Bahrain

The Essentials

Abdul Rahman Kanoo International School has 2,200 pupils, instruction in English, Arabic.

Location
ARKIS is based in Salmabad, Bahrain. The Salmabad campus is a purpose-built site in the Salmabad area of Manama, along Road 408. A second ARKEDU school, ARKS Diyar, opened in Diyar Al Muharraq in 2023 to extend the network. The campuses are positioned to serve relocating families and are located within Bahrain's capital region.

Stages
ARKIS serves Nursery through Grade 12. Preschool (Nursery to KG2), Elementary (Grades 1–5), and Secondary (Grades 6–12) are the typical divisions. The school offers Cambridge IGCSE as its senior secondary pathway and the IB Diploma Programme for the final two years of schooling.

Type
ARKIS is a private, co-educational day school. It operates as a Bahrain-based school with no boarding facilities; the IB information confirms a day-boarding arrangement (no boarding). The site emphasizes a bilingual, international curriculum environment.

Pupil Nationality Mix
ARKIS/ARKEDU report a diverse community with multiple nationalities; the network lists 28 nationalities represented. The school serves a mix of local Bahraini families and international students; however, a publicly published ratio of local to international students is not provided.

Additional learning support
ARKIS provides a School Guidance department focused on safeguarding and student well‑being, offering one-to-one and group counseling, play therapy, and wellbeing initiatives. The guidance team works with students, parents, teachers, and administration to support academic, behavioral, and social development. There is no explicitly labelled separate SEN department publicly listed.

Country affiliation
No formal country-specific affiliation is listed; the school is Bahrain-based, with country identification shown as Bahrain in IB records.

Religious affiliation
There is no formal religious affiliation noted publicly; ARKIS presents a curriculum and values framework without a religious denomination.

School day structure
The school day is organized by level: Pre-School runs from approximately 7:10 to 13:00, Elementary from about 7:45 to 13:40, and Secondary from about 7:55 to 14:30. Assembly and period structure vary by level, with breaks between periods and a shorter day for pre-school. These timings are reflected in the ARKIS daily schedule.

Bus service
ARKIS does not provide school transport; transportation is not offered by the school. Parents typically arrange their own arrangements or use external services if desired.
Diving Deeper

Boarding Arrangements
ARKIS operates as a day school with no on-site boarding facilities. Students attend on school days and return home after classes. The International Baccalaureate record for the school lists boarding facilities as DAY.

Uniform Requirement
The ARKIS uniform includes House T-shirts as part of the dress code. The uniform page does not provide colour details or purchasing information on the site.

House System
ARKIS uses a house-based system, as indicated by the inclusion of House T-shirts in the uniform. Specific house names, colours, and related activities are not detailed on the site.

Governance and Ownership
ARKIS is part of Abdul Rahman Kanoo Education (ARKEDU), Bahrain's homegrown education group. ARKEDU is governed by a Board of Trustees and operates ARKIS and ARKS Diyar as independent schools. The ARKEDU group was founded by Abdul Rahman Kanoo, and today is led by an executive team including a Group CEO and COO.
Fees

Annual tuition at Abdul Rahman Kanoo International School ranges from BHD 1,171 to BHD 2,934 for 2026/27.

Application and Registration Fees

- Registration fee for new admissions: BD 150.
- Seat reservation fee: BD 100 per student (paid to reserve a seat; this BD 100 is deducted from the first instalment). The BD 100 seat reservation payment is non-refundable and non-transferable to siblings.

Tuition fees by year group (detailed per instalment and annual total)

- Nursery / KG1 / KG2:
- 1st instalment: School fees BD 571 + Other fees BD 15 (total BD 586). 1st instalment due in June 2026 for returning students.
- 2nd instalment: School fees BD 570 + Other fees BD 15 (total BD 585). 2nd instalment due Jan 2027.
- Annual total: BD 1,171.

- Grade 1–4:
- 1st instalment: School fees BD 740 + Other fees BD 15 (total BD 755).
- 2nd instalment: School fees BD 739 + Other fees BD 15 (total BD 754).
- Annual total: BD 1,509.

- Grade 5:
- 1st instalment: School fees BD 776 + Other fees BD 15 (total BD 791).
- 2nd instalment: School fees BD 775 + Other fees BD 15 (total BD 790).
- Annual total: BD 1,581.

- Grade 6:
- 1st instalment: School fees BD 922 (no other fees listed for instalments).
- 2nd instalment: School fees BD 922.
- Annual total: BD 1,844.

- Grade 7:
- 1st instalment: School fees BD 966. 2nd instalment: BD 966. Annual total BD 1,932.

- Grade 8:
- 1st instalment: School fees BD 1,002. 2nd instalment: BD 1,002. Annual total BD 2,004.

- Grade 9 and Grade 10 (IGCSE years):
- 1st instalment: School fees BD 1,172 + Other fees BD 150 (total BD 1,322).
- 2nd instalment: School fees BD 1,171 + Other fees BD 150 (total BD 1,321).
- Annual total: BD 2,643. Additional IGCSE exam fee (separate): BD 300.

- Grade 11–12 (IB Diploma students):
- 1st instalment: School fees BD 1,317 + Other fees BD 150 (total BD 1,467).
- 2nd instalment: School fees BD 1,317 + Other fees BD 150 (total BD 1,467).
- Annual total: BD 2,934. IB examination fee (separate): BD 300.

- Additional published resource fees (annual, separate):
- Educational & Technology Resource Fee (Nursery–KG2): BD 92.
- Educational & Technology Resource Fee (Grade 1–12): BD 97.

- Other recurring / optional published charges:
- Extra-curricular activities (Nursery – Grade 5): BD 30.
- IGCSE fee (Grades 9 & 10): BD 300 (exam/registration fee). IB fee (Grades 11 & 12): BD 300 (exam/registration fee). Late IGCSE/IB registration fees are borne by parents.

Billing schedule and payment terms

- Instalment schedule: two instalments per academic year. For Academic Year 2026–2027 the 1st instalment is payable in June 2026 and the 2nd instalment payable in January 2027. For new students the school fees are due upon admission and the 1st instalment for new admits must be paid within 10 days of receiving the school's acceptance; for returning students the 1st instalment is payable in June. Payments made after 31 January require admissions approval and seats cannot be guaranteed.
- Seat reservation: BD 100 is required to reserve a seat for each student; this amount will be deducted from the first instalment payment. Seat reservation is non-refundable and non-transferable. The school may cancel seat reservations if fees are not paid in a timely manner or as agreed.

Boarding fees

- Boarding: Not applicable. No boarding provision or boarding fees are listed in the school's published fee information.

Other costs and typical additional charges

- Uniform: The school uniform is supplied through House of Uniform (uniform purchase is separate from school fees). Specific uniform prices are not published in the school fee schedule.
- After-school club: Available for Preschool up to Grade 5 for an additional fee (parents should consult Accounts/Admissions for current charges). Extra-curricular activity fee listed as BD 30 (Nursery–Grade 5).
- Examination and external assessment fees (IGCSE / IB): BD 300 per student for IGCSE (Grades 9–10) and BD 300 per student for IB (Grades 11–12); late registration fees are charged to parents.

Refund and withdrawal policy (published conditions)

- Students who withdraw before 31 August 2026: fees will be refunded after a deduction of BD 150. Withdrawals after 31 August 2026: fees are non-refundable. The BD 100 seat reservation fee is non-refundable in case of withdrawal. These dates and amounts are the published refund conditions for the 2026–2027 academic year.

Fee payment options and accounts contact

- Accepted payment methods: online banking via Fawateer (including BenefitPay/Fawateer) or by visiting any branch of Ahli United Bank. For account-specific instructions or to request account details contact the Accounts Department at the school's published accounts email.

Notes

- All figures above are published in Bahraini Dinars (BD) as presented in the school's fee schedule for Academic Year 2026–2027. The schedule includes instalment breakdowns (school fees vs other fees), additional published resource fees, and exam/assessment charges where applicable.
Academics

Abdul Rahman Kanoo International School teaches British Curriculum, IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP) for students aged 3 to 18.

Curriculum
ARKIS structures its curriculum in three stages: Key Stage 3 (Grades 6–8) with a bespoke program, Key Stage 4 (Grades 9–10) following Cambridge IGCSE, and Key Stage 5 (Grades 11–12) offering the IB Diploma Programme, with Bahraini students following the MOE curriculum for Social Studies, Citizenship and Religion. In Grades 9–10, English Language, Arabic, and Mathematics are compulsory, with a further four IGCSE subjects selected from Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Global Perspectives, Geography, ICT, Computer Science, Art & Design, Business Studies, and Economics. In Grades 11–12, students pursue the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, either the full DP or selected IB-level courses. The Elementary programme (Grades 1–5) follows Cambridge Primary for English, Mathematics and Science, supplemented by the Ministry of Education curriculum for Arabic, Islamic and Social Studies, together with Art, Music and ARKIStech. Co-curricular activities are offered weekly and include clubs such as cooking, public speaking, chess, drama and fashion design, with Art and Physical Education delivered by qualified specialists.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
ARKIS places safeguarding and student well-being at the core of its approach, with a School Guidance team spanning preschool through secondary levels to support academic, behavioral, and social development. The guidance department provides one-to-one counseling, group counseling, counseling activities, awareness campaigns, and play therapy, and collaborates with the pastoral team for behavior management. The safeguarding office hosts confidential meetings related to child protection, while space is made for therapy through a play therapy room and a Re-charge therapy room for reading, art therapy, music therapy, and group sessions. The school applies restorative approaches to behavior management in line with Ministry of Education guidelines. The Safeguarding Committee includes the School Principal and appointed safeguarding leads and staff who serve in leadership roles across the guidance and pastoral teams.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
ARKIS publicly discloses a School Guidance service focused on safeguarding, well-being, and student development across all levels, with one-to-one and group counseling, counseling activities, awareness campaigns, play therapy, and collaboration with the pastoral team for behavior management. The safeguarding office and therapy spaces exist to support student welfare. The school does not publicly disclose a dedicated SEN department, specific SEN categories it can support, or whether it is a specialist SEN institution. A restorative disciplinary approach is described as part of the student conduct framework in line with Ministry of Education guidelines. Overall, SEN-specific provisions are not explicitly detailed beyond the guidance and pastoral support described.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
ARKIS operates a bilingual program with English as the language of instruction and a strong foundation in Arabic language and culture. The International Baccalaureate profile lists English as the language of instruction for the school. Specific English as an Additional Language (EAL) provisions are not publicly disclosed by the school. The bilingual approach implies language support considerations, but explicit EAL programme details and staff are not stated in public materials.

Mental Wellbeing
Mental wellbeing is supported through the School Guidance service, which offers one-to-one and group counseling, counseling activities, and awareness campaigns. Play therapy is provided, with a dedicated play therapy room to support younger students and a Re-charge therapy room for reading, art therapy, music therapy, and focused group sessions for older students. The guidance team works with the pastoral staff to address wellbeing and behaviour issues, using restorative approaches when appropriate. School leadership and safeguarding staff oversee wellbeing initiatives as part of a holistic student support framework.

Safeguarding
ARKIS has a safeguarding office for confidential child-protection meetings and a dedicated play therapy room and Re-charge therapy room as part of safeguarding and wellbeing provision. The Safeguarding Committee includes Kate Moskwa (School Principal) and safeguarding leads such as Huda Aljamri and Fadhel Mansoor, Reshmi Nair, Leon Shadbolt, Zoea Khurshid, Afaf Salmeen, and Zainab Yousuf, reflecting formal leadership in safeguarding. The safeguarding framework coordinates with counseling, pastoral care, and behavior management to protect students and promote safe school life. The school emphasizes restorative disciplinary practices in alignment with Ministry of Education guidelines.
Parent Experience

History
ARKIS was established in 1997 in Manama by Abdul Rahman Kanoo. In 2004, it moved to a purpose-built campus in Salmabad. In 2006, ARKIS was certified as a Cambridge International Examinations centre, and in 2013 it earned accreditation from the Council of International Schools (CIS) and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). The school opened a second standalone campus, Abdul Rahman Kanoo School Diyar (ARKS Diyar), in 2023 to extend its reach within Bahrain. ARKIS celebrated 25 years of education in 2022.

Community
ARKIS serves a diverse community with representation from 28 nationalities and more than 2,500 students supported by over 250 staff across ARKIS and ARKS Diyar. The community includes language and cultural programs, such as a Mandarin language offering at ARKS Diyar, reflecting partnerships and global-minded learning. The school hosts cultural and national events, including Bahrain National Day celebrations at ARKS Diyar. ARKIS also runs ARKISMUN, an annual Model United Nations conference that engages students from Bahrain and beyond.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
Abdul Rahman Kanoo International School maintains a Parent Teacher Association (PTA) formed every two years, comprising nine parent representatives and five ARKIS staff members, including the Principal. The PTA's mandate is to strengthen home–school links and support the school's development by sponsoring cultural, social, educational and sports activities, with a focus on improving the school environment through volunteer work. It provides a platform for two-way communication, sharing feedback and input to inform school programmes, while not being a decision-making body. PTA officers include Nawaf Saeed (President), Mohammad Swalheen (Vice President), Hind Kamal (Treasurer), Dr. Rafa Haddad, Fatema Ali, Yousria Alnoaimi, Nader Alshirawi, Yusuf Matar, Sawsan Asaad, Henley Aspril, Maged Nawar, Seham Sharif, and Fatema Mohamed (Secretary). The Terms of Reference for 2023–2025 govern the PTA's operations.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
ARKIS has Preschool, Elementary, and Secondary divisions on a single campus. Facilities include Main Gate, Reception, Pre-School Playing Area, Science Labs, ICT Labs, Clinic, Library, Art Room and Auditorium. Classrooms support learning across the divisions. Outdoor facilities include a Playground, Football Pitch and Sports Hall.

Sports Facilities
Football Pitch and Sports Hall are available on campus for sports activities.

Academic Facilities
Classrooms support learning across the school. Science Labs support science education and ICT Labs support technology learning. Library supports reading and research. Art Room supports creative subjects and the Auditorium hosts assemblies and performances.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Co-curricular activities include cooking, arts & crafts, public speaking, chess, entrepreneurship, drama and fashion design. Each week, all students have one hour devoted to CCAs. CCAs are not formally assessed and do not count toward GPA, but they contribute to personal growth and university applications.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
The school combines Cambridge International curricula with the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, and provides bilingual instruction with a strong foundation in Arabic language and culture. Self development is supported through project-based learning in Elementary and inquiry-based learning in Secondary. The Cambridge programme includes IPC in Elementary and CLSP in Middle, leading to IGCSE in Grades 9–10. The IB Diploma Programme is taught in Grades 11–12 and includes TOK, EE, and CAS components.

Arts & Creative
Arts and cultural events are part of school life, including a Cultural Fashion Show and a Winter Show. A Variety Show also features in the annual calendar.

Cultural & Language
The school provides bilingual education, combining Cambridge and IB curricula with a strong foundation in Arabic language and culture. Arabic language and cultural education are integral to the program.

Social & Hobbies
Pre-School Clubs and Elementary CCA Clubs are available.

Community & Service
Beyond ARKIS includes Community Service programs.

Leadership & Professional
Student leadership opportunities include a Student Council, ARKIS Talks, CAS projects, and community service programmes. University and Career Guidance Pathways support graduates.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
The school emphasizes student well-being, happiness, and character development as part of its holistic approach.
Languages

Language Provision
Preschool, Elementary, and Secondary levels are taught in a bilingual environment, combining English-language curricula with Arabic language and cultural instruction.

Bilingual Teaching
ARKIS offers a bilingual education with a strong foundation in Arabic language and culture.
Reputation

Awards
null

Accreditations
Ark Edu Bahrain
Admissions

Scholarships
In 2010, Abdul Rahman Kanoo International School (ARKIS) announced the Abdulrahman Kanoo Award scholarship to inspire students toward high academic and social achievement by granting scholarships to study abroad in reputed universities.
School Events
The school has not added events
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