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Raha International School - Gardens Campus

United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees AED 41,960 - 66,030
Ages 4 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 2200
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP)
Typical class size 26
Introduction

Raha International School — Gardens Campus is an IB World School located in Khalifa City A, Al Raha Gardens, Abu Dhabi. The campus is authorised to deliver the International Baccalaureate Primary Years, Middle Years and Diploma Programmes and admits children from Early Years 1 (entry from age 4) through the Diploma years (typically up to 18). The primary language of instruction is English; Arabic is taught from EY1 and Arabic, Islamic and UAE Social Studies are delivered in line with local requirements. From Grade 6 non‑native Arabic speakers choose between French and Spanish, and Spanish ab initio is available in the Diploma years; an English as an Additional Language (EAL) support programme is provided. The campus occupies a landscaped site with spacious classrooms and specialist facilities, including libraries, chemistry/physics/biology laboratories, design‑technology and ICT suites, visual‑arts and music studios, multiple gymnasia, tennis courts, a 25‑metre pool, multi‑sport and football pitches, dining and health centres and a 600‑seat theatre. The Gardens Campus holds Council of International Schools accreditation and offers a broad extra‑curricular programme (sports, arts, language clubs, Duke of Edinburgh's Award).

Khalifa City A, Al Raha Gardens, Corner of Al Mireef St, Al Waseet, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

The Essentials

Raha International School - Gardens Campus has 2,200 pupils, typical class sizes of 26, instruction in English.

Location
Gardens Campus is located in Raha Gardens, Khalifa City A, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. It is Abu Dhabi's first IB Continuum school. The two Raha campuses are about a seven-minute drive apart, connected by local roads in Khalifa City.

Stages
Minis EY1 EY2 Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 Grade 6 Grade 7 Grade 8 Grade 9 Grade 10 Grade 11 Grade 12

Type
The school is co-educational and operates as a day school (no boarding facilities).

Pupil Nationality Mix
The Gardens Campus hosts students from more than 90 nationalities; public data does not specify a single most common nationality or the local-to-international ratio.

Additional learning support
Raha provides Additional Learning Needs (SEN) support and wellbeing services through a dedicated inclusion program. The school has a SEN team with specialist staff and wellbeing provisions.

Country affiliation
No formal country affiliation; the school operates in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Religious affiliation
No religious affiliation is stated.

School day structure
School day typically starts around 7:45–7:50 am for Grades 1–12 and ends around 2:50 pm; EY1 finishes around 1:00 pm and EY2 around 2:00 pm.

Bus service
Transportation is outsourced to School Transport Services (STS) Group. Costs are AED 5,000 per student per year (2025–26). A bus assistant accompanies each bus; all vehicles have CCTV and tracking. Registration/seat allocation is managed by Emirates Transport, based on route availability and home address.
Diving Deeper

Uniform Requirement
The uniform is mandatory for all students. The main school uniform, PE uniform, and sports kits are available for purchase at Magrudy's (Forsan Central Mall) or online; the Minis uniform is identical to the PE uniform and should also be bought at Magrudy's; the Raha hoodie is available exclusively at Magrudy's. A uniform guide and policy are provided on the Gardens Campus pages.

Food Options
Food Nation is the designated school food provider for Raha Gardens Campus. Meals are offered for students in Grades 2–12, with menus published for term periods. Food Nation also runs a café for parents and visitors at Raptors Nest; registration for the program is available online.

Governance and Ownership
Gardens Campus and Khalifa City Campus are owned and operated by Taaleem. Raha International School is part of Taaleem.
Fees

Annual tuition at Raha International School - Gardens Campus ranges from AED 41,960 to AED 66,030 for 2026/27.

Application / Registration fees

- New-student registration fee (shown as a separate item on Term 1 invoices): EY1 AED 2,000; EY2 AED 2,100; Grades 1–6 AED 2,700; Grades 7–12 AED 3,100.
- Policy note: the registration fee amount is up to 5% of annual tuition; payment of the registration fee is due within five calendar days of the invoice to secure the place.

Tuition fees by year group (full detail per term and annual total) — Academic year 2025/2026 (AED)

- EY1
- Term 1 (total, including registration fee): AED 16,780.
- Term 1 amount excluding registration fee: AED 14,780.
- Term 2: AED 12,590.
- Term 3: AED 12,590.
- Annual total: AED 41,960.

- EY2
- Term 1 (total, including registration fee): AED 17,620.
- Term 1 amount excluding registration fee: AED 15,520.
- Term 2: AED 13,220.
- Term 3: AED 13,220.
- Annual total: AED 44,060.

- Grades 1–6
- Term 1 (total, including registration fee): AED 23,080.
- Term 1 amount excluding registration fee: AED 20,380.
- Term 2: AED 17,315.
- Term 3: AED 17,315.
- Annual total: AED 57,710.

- Grades 7–12
- Term 1 (total, including registration fee): AED 26,410.
- Term 1 amount excluding registration fee: AED 23,310.
- Term 2: AED 19,810.
- Term 3: AED 19,810.
- Annual total: AED 66,030.

- Diploma (Grade 12) examination charge: AED 3,250 (separately listed).

Billing schedule and payment terms

- Tuition is billed for the academic year and payable in three instalments. Instalments are due one month prior to the start of each term; the exact due dates are shown on each invoice.
- The registration fee for new students must be paid promptly (payment deadline listed as within five calendar days of the invoice) in order to secure the offered place.
- Students will continue to be invoiced until the official written withdrawal form is received by the Admissions Office. No encashment or transfer of registration fees is permitted between academic years.

Boarding fees

- The Gardens Campus operates as a day school; no boarding provision or boarding fees apply.

Other costs and optional services

- Transport: School bus service is charged at AED 5,000 per student per annum for 2025–26. Bus use is permitted only if term fees have been cleared before the start of term.
- Uniforms: Uniform items (main school uniform, PE uniform, sports kits, minis uniform, Raha hoodie) are purchased from the designated supplier Magrudy's (in-store and online). Budget for uniform purchases should be allowed as an additional out-of-pocket cost.
- Textbooks and materials: Textbooks and materials are included in tuition for EY1 through Grade 10. Diploma (Grades 11 and 12) textbooks must be purchased separately for each course from external providers.
- Exam and external fees: the Grade 12 Diploma exam fee is listed separately (AED 3,250); other assessment or external exam charges where applicable will be billed as required.

Refund information

- Registration fee (new students): fully refundable only if written withdrawal notice is received at least 14 calendar days before the start of the academic year (the refund summary provides the specific date for that academic year). After that deadline the registration fee is non‑refundable.
- Re-registration fee (current students): an amount up to 5% of annual tuition; refund eligibility and deadlines vary by transfer type and are specified (deadlines include 30 April or 30 June depending on destination).
- Tuition refunds (all students) follow ADEK rules and are calculated by attendance in a term:
- Attendance of 1–3 weeks of a term: school retains one month of fees.
- Attendance of 3–6 weeks: school retains two months of fees.
- Attendance of more than 6 weeks: the full term fee is retained.
- The same timeline applies to bus fees. Refunds are processed only after the official written withdrawal is submitted to the Admissions Office and all withdrawal procedures are completed.

Fee payment instructions and accepted methods

- Invoices specify the exact due date and payment instructions for each instalment; instalments are required one month before term start. The registration fee payment deadline and other payment timelines are specified on admissions invoices.
- Payment methods and bank/payment details are provided on the school invoice and in the invoice payment instructions. (Accepted methods and payment routing are communicated to families on their invoice and accompanying payment instructions.)

Notes and inclusions

- The published annual fees above are those approved for the 2025/2026 academic year and are shown as AED amounts. Fees are subject to change if and when further approvals are issued. Textbooks and materials are included for EY1–Grade 10; parents should allow for uniform, transport and Diploma textbook / exam costs where relevant.
Academics

Raha International School - Gardens Campus teaches IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP) for students aged 4 to 18.

Curriculum
Gardens Campus offers the IB Continuum: Primary Years Programme for ages 3–12, Middle Years Programme for ages 11–16, and Diploma Programme for ages 16–19. The PYP is inquiry-based and transdisciplinary, with six transdisciplinary themes, agency and voice, and a holistic focus on academic, personal, and social development; Arabic language begins in the Early Years, with Islamic and Social Studies starting from Grade 1. The MYP provides eight subject groups for ages 11–16, includes subject choices in the final two years, and requires learning in at least two languages, with a focus on Approaches to Learning and Service as Action. The DP is a two-year programme for ages 16–19, spanning six subject groups and including Theory of Knowledge (TOK), Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS), and the Extended Essay to prepare students for university. The Gardens Campus accommodates Minis through Grade 12, aligning PYP, MYP and DP within a single Abu Dhabi campus.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The school integrates pastoral care into the structure of each grade level, supported by grade level leaders, heads of grade, heads of pastoral care for each division, and school counsellors. These roles help embed the IB Learner Profile throughout the curriculum to foster a positive school culture. The community is described as close-knit and inclusive, with a goal of helping every student take charge of their well-being and thrive beyond the classroom. Wellbeing and inclusion are positioned under the Beyond Classroom section as core to daily life at the Gardens Campus. This approach sets the foundation for social and emotional development within the IB framework.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
The Inclusion Policy identifies Additional Learning Needs (ALN), Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)/Person of Determination (PoD), Multi-Lingual Learners (MLL), and Gifted and Talented (G&T), including Twice Exceptional (TE) and Multiple Learning Differences (MLD). The school uses a Graduated Response with a Student Support Team (SST) that forms to assess and plan appropriate support for a student. Provisions are delivered through Individual Education Plans (IEP), Individual Accommodation Plans (IAP), Advanced Learning Plans (ALP), Language Acquisition Plans (LAP), or Wellbeing Support Plans (WSP) as needed. The Inclusion process progresses from referral to assessment, plan development, implementation, and regular review, with collaboration between families, teachers, and external agencies when appropriate. The Inclusion Policy aligns with ADEK guidelines and documents the roles of the Inclusion Team in coordinating supports.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
English is the language of instruction at Raha International School, and EAL support is provided for identified students from EY to Grade 9. EAL identification and assessment involve language aptitude screening and referrals to an EAL specialist, with decisions about placement based on assessment outcomes. The EAL support program uses a combination of in-class support and withdrawal from class to help students access the IB curriculum. LAS Links assessments are used for placement of new students, with ongoing progress monitoring throughout the year. EAL proficiency levels range from Intensive/Beginning to Above Proficient, guiding the level of support required.

Mental Wellbeing
Wellbeing at the Gardens Campus is supported by integrated pastoral care across grade levels, with grade level leaders, Heads of Grade, Heads of Pastoral Care, and School Counsellors providing support. The aim is to help each student take charge of their well-being and to thrive in all aspects of life outside the school. The Inclusion team also focuses on the academic, social, and emotional growth of students, including those with ALN, SEND/PoD, MLL, and Gifted and Talented needs. The Wellbeing framework aligns with the IB Learner Profile to promote a positive school culture, and a Wellbeing Support Plan may be developed as part of a Graduated Response for ongoing social-emotional support.

Safeguarding
Taaleem's Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy for Raha Gardens Campus (policy EDUC-008) sets the safeguarding framework, with an effective date of 25 August 2025 and a scheduled review date of 25 August 2026. The policy applies to all employees, governors, contractors, volunteers, visitors, and partners, and designates the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and deputies with defined roles and responsibilities. It outlines governance, reporting procedures, and the training required for safeguarding across the group, including CPOMS usage and escalation steps. The policy emphasizes keeping children safe in a wide range of environments, including online and offline contexts, and details the process for referrals, investigations, and handling allegations against staff. It also situates safeguarding within broader Taaleem safeguarding practices, including whistleblowing and safeguarding oversight at the group level.
Parent Experience

History
Raha International School opened its Gardens Campus in 2006 in Khalifa City A, Al Raha Gardens. The Gardens Campus sits on 14 acres of landscaped grounds in Raha Gardens. Raha International School and Khalifa City Campus are owned and operated by Taaleem. In 2019 Raha announced expansion to a second campus, Khalifa City Campus, which opened in 2020 to relieve demand and initially housed Early Years through Grade 2 with plans to extend to Grade 12. The Gardens Campus was the first Abu Dhabi IB Continuum school to receive full authorization for the IB programmes.

Community
Raha's community is its strength, with a diverse student body of over 90 nationalities. The Gardens Campus is Abu Dhabi's first IB Continuum school, and its community emphasizes relationships and inclusion. Regular communications via the Parents Area keep families informed (Raha Reminders). The school hosts annual and cultural events such as a Holiday Bazaar and International Day's Global Village, and student life includes ongoing arts and sports activities coordinated through community channels.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
The Parent Team is a committee of volunteer parents, regulated by a constitution; the committee meets monthly to plan events and support Raha's teaching staff. Major annual events include a Holiday Bazaar and Global Village on International Day, as well as Staff Appreciation Week. Ongoing activities include recruiting Class and Grade Parents, operating the Secondhand Uniform Shop (SHUS), and welcoming new families through a Welcome Ambassador program. On-demand activities include graduations, performing arts ticketing and support for sports days, with the Parent Team contact at parent.team@ris.ae and a 2025/2026 roster led by Chair Terri, Vice Chair Michelle, Secretary Natasha, and other volunteers.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The Gardens Campus is located in Raha Gardens, Khalifa City A, Abu Dhabi. It is Abu Dhabi's first IB Continuum school with over 18 years of experience. The two Raha campuses, Gardens Campus and Khalifa City Campus, are about a seven-minute drive apart. Raha International Schools operate under Taaleem, a major UAE education provider founded in 2004. The network emphasises IB education and a broad extra-curricular programme.

Academic Facilities
The Gardens Campus is Abu Dhabi's first IB Continuum school. The school provides IB education as part of an IB World School. It is part of Raha International Schools within Taaleem.

Extra Curricular Facilities
The extra-curricular programme offers an extensive range of activities spanning categories including Culture, Sports, Visual & Performing Arts, and General activities.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
The Gardens Campus is an International Baccalaureate continuum school offering the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), and Diploma Programme (DP). The PYP serves ages 3 to 12 and uses an inquiry-based, transdisciplinary approach that emphasizes international-mindedness and action. The MYP serves ages 11 to 16 with eight subject groups and approaches to learning, and it includes service as action as part of its framework. The DP is designed for ages 16 to 19 with six subject groups and core elements including Theory of Knowledge, Creativity, Activity, and Service (CAS), and the Extended Essay; students study at least two languages during the DP.

Arts & Creative
The Extra-Curricular Programme includes Visual & Performing Arts opportunities such as DP Visual Art Studio Time, Raha Concert Band, Raha Contemporary Choir, Raha Primary & Secondary Choirs, Raha Primary & Secondary Dance Ensembles, and a Sketch Club. EY Dance, Play and Sing and in-house theatre/musical productions for EY through to secondary are also offered. These arts provisions are integrated within extracurricular activities alongside other creative projects and performances.

Cultural & Language
Arabic language offerings appear in the Early Years and across the school, with non-mandatory Arabic in Early Years 1 and 2, Islamic and Social Studies beginning in Grade 1, and weekly Arabic classes for different groups. The programme also includes language-focused activities such as Arabic Calligraphy, Arabic Language Club, and Arabic language support, plus French DELF and Spanish DELE preparation. The Primary Years Programme page notes Arabic in the Early Years, and the culture/ language clubs are part of the extracurricular offerings.

Social & Hobbies
A broad range of clubs and competitions are available, including Debate Club, Model United Nations, and World Scholar's Cup, as well as coding and technology clubs. The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award is offered, along with Yearbook, photography and music-related activities, and a variety of general interest clubs such as Chess and Book Club. These activities span arts, academics, and social engagement clubs for students across the campus.

Community & Service
Service as action is embedded in the IB framework, particularly within the MYP, and the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award provides structured service opportunities. Students are encouraged to engage in community-oriented projects and actions beyond the classroom as part of their IB learning journey.

Leadership & Professional
Student leadership opportunities include the Student Representative Council. The school highlights IB philosophy and leadership development as part of its academic program, with a focus on global citizenship and responsible action across the continuum.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
A wide range of sports is offered, including badminton, basketball, cricket, football, golf, HIIT, netball, rugby, swimming, tennis, triathlon, and volleyball. Wellbeing and inclusion are explicit commitments, with pastoral care, school counsellors, and an inclusion team supporting ALN, SEND, multilingual learners, and gifted and talented students. The campus emphasizes a supportive community environment that integrates wellbeing into the IB learning experience.
Admissions

Admissions
1. Application: All applications are digital and there are no paper applications. In the online application you provide general information about your child and contact details, and you upload preliminary documents including a copy of your child's passport, a copy of their UAE visa or Emirates ID if applicable, a copy of their most recent report card in English or official translations, a copy of any diagnostic testing or educational assessments in English with translations, and the email address of a reference. You will receive a confirmation that your application has been received and reviewed within 1 to 4 business days, and we will proceed to Step 2 only when a possible opening is known. It is important to disclose information about any additional learning needs, as failure to do so may put your child's place at risk. 2. Assessment: If places are available you will be invited to submit further information and/or schedule an assessment. Children applying to Minis to Grade 1 will be invited for a Stay and Play session or classroom experience at the school between October and April, with arrangements for families outside Abu Dhabi. Children applying to Grades 2 to 11 will take a computerized cognitive ability assessment, and overseas applicants can complete this step remotely; Arabic level may also be assessed as needed for placement. 3. Review: The Raha academic teams review the application and you will receive feedback within a week. If a place is confirmed you will receive an official offer letter specifying a campus and you must pay a non refundable deposit of 5% to confirm; a seat cannot be held until the deposit payment is received and once a place is accepted, it is not possible to transfer campuses. If there are no concerns and a place is not available, your child will be placed in a priority wait pool in case of withdrawals.

Waitlist
1. Availability: When there are more eligible applicants than places, priority status is determined by the Taaleem Admissions policy, the date of application, and a holistic profile. If there is no availability, the applications will stay on the waiting list up until the start of the academic year for openings. Every year is a fresh start. 2. Priority wait pool: If there is no place, a child may be placed in a priority wait pool to cover withdrawals. 3. Seat allocation: If withdrawals occur, seats may be allocated from the priority wait pool to suitable applicants.
School Events
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