doris
Currency
Y

Yasmina British Academy

United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi

Save school

· Reviewed by · B2C Marketing Manager

Independently researched by doris.
Not yet claimed by the school
Claim your profile
The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees AED 49,740 - 67,270
Ages 3 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 3482
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum British Curriculum
Typical class size 14
Introduction

Yasmina British Academy is a private international English‑medium school in Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi, offering the English National Curriculum from Foundation Stage through Year 13 (ages 3 to 18). The Academy explicitly publishes delivery of the National Curriculum with a STEAM focus and project‑based approaches, and it prepares students for I/GCSE examinations and A‑Level study. English is the language of instruction; Arabic, Islamic Education and Social Studies are taught in line with UAE Ministry of Education requirements, and Modern Foreign Languages are introduced from Year 3. Published facilities include multi‑purpose and girls‑only sports halls, a dance studio, running tracks, a 25‑metre swimming pool, basketball and netball courts, two Astroturf playing fields and soft‑play areas; inspection documentation also lists an auditorium, performance spaces, specialist science, design‑technology, food‑technology, music and ICT rooms, an innovation centre and modern library resources with extensive digital access. The school is part of the Aldar Academies group and is published as rated Outstanding by ADEK and by British Schools Overseas.

Khalifa City, SW17, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

The Essentials

Yasmina British Academy has 3,482 pupils, typical class sizes of 14, instruction in English.

Location

Yasmina British Academy is located in Khalifa City A, Abu Dhabi, UAE, in the Al Raha Gardens area. The campus is accessible by road from central Abu Dhabi. A new, state-of-the-art campus sits nearby in Khalifa City A, located about three minutes from the original Yasmina site. The school operates within the Aldar Academies network in Khalifa City A.

Stages

The school provides education from Foundation Stage 1 through Year 13, encompassing primary and secondary phases. The campus is arranged with clearly separated zones for Foundation, Primary, Secondary and Sixth Form.

Type

The school is co-educational and operates as a day school.

Pupil Nationality Mix

The student body represents over 70 nationalities; the school describes a diverse international community. The exact local-to-international ratio is not publicly published.

Additional learning support

The school has an Inclusion Policy and a Head of Inclusion. About 14% of students have an identified Additional Learning Need (ALN).

Country affiliation

Located in the United Arab Emirates; part of Aldar Academies in Abu Dhabi.

Religious affiliation

There is no publicly stated religious affiliation.

School day structure

The school day starts in the morning and ends in the early afternoon, with variations by year group and day (Friday shorter). Typical published schedules show start times around 8:00 am and end times in the mid-afternoon.

Bus service

Public bus stops are located on Al Mireef Street near the Yasmina campus, within about a 10-minute walk. Nearby stops and access exist for riders; ride-hailing services (Uber/Careem) are commonly used for travel to and from the school area.
Diving Deeper

Uniform Requirement

Uniforms are required for all students. Uniforms can be purchased online via the provided link or in person at Magrudy, Al Wahda Mall.

Governance and Ownership

The school is owned and operated by Aldar Education, within the Aldar Academies network. Aldar Education runs seven academies in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain and a total of 31 schools across the UAE. Aldar Academies are overseen by the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK).
Fees

Annual tuition at Yasmina British Academy ranges from AED 49,740 to AED 67,270 for 2026/27.

Tuition fees (Academic Year 2025/2026)

- Nursery (FS1): AED 49,740 per annum. Term 1: AED 19,896. Term 2: AED 14,922. Term 3: AED 14,922.

- FS2 – Year 1: AED 49,740 per annum. Term 1: AED 19,896. Term 2: AED 14,922. Term 3: AED 14,922.

- Year 2 – Year 6: AED 51,180 per annum. Term 1: AED 20,472. Term 2: AED 15,354. Term 3: AED 15,354.

- Year 7 – Year 8: AED 56,910 per annum. Term 1: AED 22,764. Term 2: AED 17,073. Term 3: AED 17,073.

- Year 9: AED 61,010 per annum. Term 1: AED 24,404. Term 2: AED 18,303. Term 3: AED 18,303.

- Year 10 – Year 13: AED 67,270 per annum. Term 1: AED 26,908. Term 2: AED 20,181. Term 3: AED 20,181.

Application / registration fees

- Registration fee (new students): 5% of the yearly tuition fee, payable on offer acceptance and deductible from the final term's tuition invoice. The registration fee must be received to reserve a seat. Registration fees collected may be subject to ADEK timing guidelines. Registration fee is refundable for new students if written notification is provided at least two weeks prior to the start of the new academic year. Re-registration for returning students is also 5% of the yearly tuition fee and is deductible from the final term's tuition; re-registration is refundable if written notification is provided on or before 30 June.

- Note (2025/2026 page entry): a non-refundable fee of AED 2,000 is shown as charged upon offer acceptance and adjusted against Term 1 invoice (this item appears alongside the 5% statements in the school's published fees content).

Billing schedule and payment terms

- Tuition is divided into three instalments and payable on a termly basis. Term structure: Term 1 covers Sep–Dec (4 months), Term 2 covers Jan–Mar (3 months), Term 3 covers Apr–Jun (3 months). Due dates for term invoices are 1 August (Term 1), 1 December (Term 2) and 1 March (Term 3). A full-year invoice for all three terms may be issued on request with a due date of 1 August. Registration and re‑registration timing and due dates are set in the fee policy; registration is payable within seven days of offer acceptance. Late payment procedures include a sequence of warning notices and authorised administrative actions.

Late payment / non-payment consequences

- The school issues up to three consecutive warning notices for late or non-payment. The school is authorised to suspend a student for up to three days (after warning notices) and may withhold examination report cards, transfer certificates, and/or block re-enrolment until outstanding fees are settled. Parents will be informed in writing if outstanding fees put re-enrolment at risk. Returned cheque bank charges are chargeable to the parent. Cash payments are not accepted.

Boarding fees

- Boarding is not offered by the academy; there are no boarding fees listed. The published fee schedules and fee policy do not include boarding or boarding fees.

Other costs and optional charges

- Uniforms: purchased separately (available through Magrudy, Al Wahda Mall, and online via the listed supplier). Uniform cost is not included in tuition.

- Food services: school catering is not included in tuition; meal plans or food services are charged separately. Examination fees, transport, and some extra‑curricular activities are not included in tuition and are charged in addition.

- Bus transport: a published indicative annual cost for a return journey is AED 5,841 per year (subject to change and route availability). Transport arrangements are provided through the academy's transport provider and are charged separately.

- Extra‑curricular activities (ECAs): most teacher-led ECAs are included in tuition; external-provider ECAs carry additional direct charges. External examination fees are charged in addition to tuition; parents are invoiced for those exams separately.

Refund information and leavers' charge calculations

- Registration fee refund: refundable for new students if written notification is given at least two weeks prior to the start of the academic year. Re-registration fee refund: refundable if written notification is given on or before 30 June. The re-registration fee is non-transferable between children. If a student attends part of the term then withdraws, the school will retain amounts on a sliding scale: up to part of the first week — up to 5% of the annual fee (equivalent to registration/re-registration fee); attendance of 1 to 3 weeks — retention equal to one full month of tuition plus registration; attendance of over 3 and up to 6 weeks — retention equal to two full months of tuition plus registration; attendance over 6 weeks — retention equal to the full term fee plus registration/re-registration fee.

Fee payment options and instalment plans

- Accepted payment methods: Aldar Live Mobile App, online payment link, bank transfer, cheque, and credit card. Cash payments are not accepted. Returned-cheque bank charges apply to the parent. A full-year invoice option is available with the August due date.

- 0% instalment/payment plans: interest-free monthly instalment plans are available through partner banks and credit card schemes (examples listed include FAB, ADIB and ENBD) to spread fee payments. Specific bank partners and plan availability should be clarified with the academy's finance or parent relations team when arranging payment.

Additional notes on inclusions / exclusions

- Tuition fees do not include uniform, food services, transport, examination fees, or external extra‑curricular activities. Curriculum books required for classroom learning are included within tuition; books for external ECAs may incur extra charges. External examination fees and elective programme fees are additional and billed separately.
Academics

Yasmina British Academy teaches British Curriculum for students aged 3 to 18.

Curriculum

Yasmina British Academy follows the English National Curriculum, adapted to UAE requirements, with Arabic, Islamic Studies and UAE Social Studies taught according to UAE MOE guidelines. The Foundation Stage (FS1–FS2, ages 3–5) leads into Primary (Years 1–6, Key Stages 1–2), with core subjects English, Mathematics and Science, and foundation subjects including Design and Technology, ICT, History, Geography, Music, Art and Design, Physical Education, and Modern Foreign Languages from Year 3, plus Personal, Health and Social Development. The curriculum is delivered through enquiry- or project-based learning, with ongoing assessments and periodic formal checks, including benchmark/external tests in reading, mathematics and Arabic. Senior students follow the IGCSE framework before progressing to A-Levels. Each academy operates a whole-school curriculum plan based on the National Curriculum for England, adapted to the local context to ensure continuity across year groups and key stages.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)

Yasmina British Academy places emphasis on the development of the whole child and on emotional well-being as a core part of school life. Senior leaders describe the aim of creating happy, confident, and resilient learners who feel secure enough to try new things and make mistakes. The academy provides wellbeing support through a full-time school nurse who delivers health services during the school day. Safeguarding materials explicitly reference mindfulness and social‑emotional learning as part of the curriculum to promote coping, resilience and emotional regulation. Leadership also stresses that developing resilience and positive relationships is central to learning and everyday school life.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)

The Inclusion policy outlines a school-wide approach to inclusion with formal identification and support for Students of Determination (SoD), spanning a wide range of categories including Autism Spectrum Disorder, hearing/visual impairments, learning disabilities, behavioural and emotional disorders, and more. It establishes an Inclusion Team and a Head of Inclusion, and uses an Individual Education Plan (IEP) and a Provision Map to plan targeted interventions, with a tiered RTI (response to intervention) framework (School Action, SA+, etc.). The policy permits external advice from specialists (e.g., Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Educational Psychologists) as part of an Involvement Plus approach when needed. It describes roles for staff to identify, plan, implement and review support, including collaboration with families and external agencies. The materials describe inclusion as the governing philosophy of the school rather than designating Yasmina as a dedicated SEN specialist institution.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)

The EAL Policy confirms a commitment to meeting the needs of students who are English as an Additional Language (EAL) and distinguishes EAL/ELL from SEN. An EAL Lead (and ELL provision) coordinates assessment, referral, and targeted support, and works with the Inclusion Team to plan provision across the curriculum. The school maintains a register of EAL and ELL students and uses department-based CPD and collaboration among staff to deliver language acquisition support. As of September 2022, 435 students were identified as EAL, with 58 also classified as ELL. Primary and secondary settings emphasise integration into mainstream classes with differentiated teaching and language-focused strategies, guided by the EAL Lead and cross-curricular teams. EAL staff are described as teachers of English as an Additional Language, responsible for planning and monitoring language provision and for coordinating home–school communication.

Mental Wellbeing

Mental wellbeing is addressed as part of safeguarding and pastoral planning, with topics such as mental health, mindfulness, and social‑emotional learning included in the curriculum to support coping strategies and resilience. The safeguarding policy explicitly references conversations about mental health and living healthy, balanced lives, and provides guidance on creating environments that support those seeking mental health support while reducing stigma. The school also designates safeguarding leads (DSL/CPC) and a safeguarding team to coordinate mental health and welfare initiatives across the primary and secondary phases. Leaders emphasise that developing resilient, emotionally well learners is integral to the student experience, alongside practical supports such as school nursing.

Safeguarding

Yasmina British Academy is committed to safeguarding and promoting children's welfare, recognizing every child's right to feel secure and protected from abuse. The school has a Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and deputies, supported by a safeguarding team, with responsibilities including liaising with external agencies, maintaining records, and providing safeguarding training to staff and governors. Safeguarding policy materials outline a zero-tolerance approach to abuse, clear reporting procedures, and the expectation that safeguarding is a standing item on governance and school agendas. The curriculum includes safeguarding in context, with topics on child protection, mental health, anti-bullying, and online safety, and staff are guided to raise awareness and provide age-appropriate information to students and families. The policy is aligned with Aldar Education safeguarding frameworks, with annual governor training and regular reviews, and is scheduled for ongoing updates (the current policy set reflects updates through 2025–2026).
Parent Experience

History

Yasmina British Academy opened in September 2008 within the Aldar Academies network, with Darren Gale serving as the founding principal. The school began at a small, single facility dating from 2007 and has since expanded within Aldar's education group to serve a broader K-12 program. In 2022, the Al Yasmina brand transitioned to Yasmina British Academy as the campus expanded to accommodate the full K-12 offering. The academy holds accreditation with Edexcel and the British Schools in the Middle East (BSME). ADEK rated Yasmina British Academy as Outstanding across all six performance standards in 2019.

Community

Yasmina British Academy forms part of the Aldar Education network, serving a large and diverse student community. The campus is a brand-new site described as part of a broader, inclusive school community with around 3,500 students across multiple blocks. The school runs sustainability and community initiatives—such as environmental projects and awards—that engage students and have earned ECO-Schools Green Flag status in 2023. Families are encouraged to participate through open tours and regular parent information events.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)

Yasmina British Academy maintains a structured parent engagement program that functions as a PTA. The program includes regular parental consultation evenings and open forums to discuss student progress and school developments. It also offers parental engagement workshops and coffee mornings to foster dialogue between families and staff. There is an open-door policy to ensure ongoing communication between parents and leadership. A dedicated Parent Relations Executive coordinates parent communications and engagement, and families can book tours or arrange meetings via PRE@yasminabritishacademy.ae.
Facilities

Facilities Overview

Yasmina British Academy's Khalifa City campus serves students from Nursery through Year 13 on a purpose-built, multi-building site. The new facilities include a post-16 centre, 12 specialist science laboratories, and an audio, film and TV recording studio to support science, technology and the arts. Every classroom is fitted with the latest interactive technology to enhance teaching and learning. The campus combines indoor and outdoor learning spaces, with a large auditorium and extensive multipurpose areas for use across the curriculum, clubs and events. The design supports learning across the full age range with spaces that flow between classrooms, labs and creative spaces.

Sports Facilities

Facilities for physical education include a multi-purpose sports hall, a swimming pool, a netball court, Astroturf and outdoor play areas. The campus also provides indoor and outdoor courts and a fully equipped gym. Cricket nets and a dance studio support both PE and performing arts activities. These spaces enable a broad program of sport, fitness and after-school activities.

Academic Facilities

Academic facilities include 12 specialist science laboratories and state-of-the-art computer suites, together with an audio, film and TV recording studio. The Innovation Hub houses design technology suites and computer science labs, complemented by STEAM facilities and food technology kitchens. Every classroom is fitted with the latest interactive technology to support modern teaching. A dedicated Post-16 Centre supports sixth form learning as part of the expanded campus.

Extra Curricular Facilities

The arts play a central role, with an auditorium for performances and conferences as part of the campus. GCSE and A-level Drama, Art and Music are available to deepen students' artistic study. The Learning Village design includes breakout spaces and stage areas that support flexible learning and performances. The auditorium seats more than 600 people for productions and events.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual

The school teaches the English National Curriculum with a STEAM focus. The learning pathway is delivered through enquiry or project-based learning, guiding student inquiry, dialogue and critical thinking.

Arts & Creative

The STEAM framework integrates the Arts alongside Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, with emphasis on creativity and independent thinking.

Cultural & Language

The school is a private international English school located in Abu Dhabi.

Social & Hobbies

The school places emphasis on strong home/school partnerships and parental involvement. A programme of consultation evenings, open forums, parental engagement workshops, coffee mornings and an open door policy keeps parents informed and empowered.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing

Wellbeing is a core priority; the academy provides a full-time school nurse who delivers health-related services, and safety, welfare and security are key priorities.
Languages

Language Provision

The school uses the English National Curriculum. Modern Foreign Languages are taught from Year 3 upwards. Arabic, Islamic Studies and Social Studies are taught in line with UAE Ministry of Education guidelines.
Admissions

Admissions

1. Submit your enquiry online. The Parent Relations Executive will get back to you within 2 working days to assist you. This initial contact begins the enrolment process, and PRE will guide you on the next steps. You may include information about your child's current year level in this initial enquiry to help tailor the follow-up. 2. Schedule a tour or a meeting with our Senior Leadership team to find out more about our Academy. The tour or meeting provides an opportunity to learn about the Academy directly from leadership. It is part of the process to help families assess whether Yasmina British Academy is the right fit. You can arrange this at a time that suits you. 3. Submit your completed application and our Admissions Team will be in touch within 2 working days. This initiates the formal application process and the admissions assessment timeline. The Admissions Team will communicate timelines and any additional information needed. Timely submission supports a smooth progression through the process. 4. After the academic team has reviewed your assessment, you will receive an offer of a place if successful. Once this is accepted and the registration fee is paid, you will be enrolled. Nursery graduates receive a guaranteed place at FS2 across Aldar Academies, and secondary schools prioritise Primary graduates above other applicants. This prioritisation helps streamline placement within the Aldar network.
School Events
The school has not added events