British Schools in Abu Dhabi: 16 Picks Sorted by ADEK Rating

Ask any expat parent in the capital what they are teaching their kids and the odds are good the answer is the English National Curriculum. British schools in Abu Dhabi make up the biggest and most competitive slice of the private school market, and they hold most of the top ADEK ratings in the emirate. They are also where the waiting lists are longest.

This guide sorts 16 British curriculum schools by their latest ADEK Irtiqaa rating, with the 2026-27 fee range, area, phone number and sixth form route for each, plus a section on more affordable options. If you are still choosing a neighbourhood, our guide to moving to Abu Dhabi covers the visa and housing steps that come first.

British schools in Abu Dhabi at a glance

Abu Dhabi has more than a dozen British curriculum schools rated Outstanding or Very good by ADEK. The Outstanding group includes BSAK, BISAD, Cranleigh, Repton, Yasmina, Muna and Merryland. Annual tuition for 2026-27 runs from about AED 22,000 at the budget end to almost AED 106,000 for the sixth form at Cranleigh.

Schools are listed A to Z within each rating band, not ranked against each other. Brighton College Al Ain, the emirate’s Outstanding British option outside the capital, has its own section further down.

How ADEK ratings work for British schools

Every private school in the emirate is inspected under Irtiqaa, ADEK’s inspection programme, and ends up in one of five bands: Outstanding, Very good, Good, Acceptable or Weak. ADEK treats Good as the minimum every school should reach. In the round reported in October 2025, only 13 of 204 rated schools were Outstanding, and more than half of them were British curriculum schools.

Many British schools also carry a British Schools Overseas (BSO) rating, which is the UK government’s voluntary inspection for schools abroad. It is useful extra evidence, but it is not a substitute for the ADEK result. Where a school’s ADEK and BSO grades differ, we say so below.

WOW Expert Tip: Most schools post their full ADEK inspection report on their own website. Skip the headline grade and read the sections on progress in English and maths for the phase your child is joining. A school can be Outstanding overall and only Good in one phase.

Outstanding British schools in Abu Dhabi

These seven schools in the capital hold ADEK’s top rating in their latest inspection. They are listed A to Z.

Cranleigh Abu Dhabi

The overseas sister of the Surrey boarding school opened on Saadiyat Island in 2014 and runs from FS1 to Year 13. It is now part of Aldar Education and is moving its Prep and Senior Schools to a new purpose-built Saadiyat campus. It is also the priciest British school in the capital: 2026-27 fees run from AED 71,500 in FS1 to AED 105,980 in Years 12 and 13. If you are weighing up island life, our Saadiyat Island guide covers the rest of the family picture.

Location: Saadiyat Island | Contact: 800 8535 (Aldar Education admissions)

Merryland International School

The value outlier of the Outstanding list. Merryland teaches the British curriculum with Cambridge exams, and its ADEK-approved 2026-27 fees run from AED 26,200 in FS2 to AED 46,620 in Year 13, less than half of what some peers charge. Families in MBZ City and Mussafah get an Outstanding school without the island commute.

Location: Plot 13, ME-9, MBZ City, Mussafah | Contact: +971 2 551 9626

Muna British Academy

Aldar Academies’ Muna describes itself as Abu Dhabi’s longest-standing Outstanding school and has moved into a new campus at Saadiyat Lagoons. It currently takes children from FS1 to Year 9 and will add a year group each year until it reaches Year 13. Fees for 2026-27 are AED 52,973 from FS1 to Year 6, rising to AED 69,208 for Years 10 to 13.

Location: Saadiyat Lagoons, Saadiyat | Contact: +971 2 501 4777

Repton Abu Dhabi

Cognita’s Repton runs two campuses on Reem: Rose for FS1 to Year 2 and Fry for Year 3 to Year 13, where students sit GCSEs and A Levels. Both campuses are rated Outstanding, Fry since the 2025-26 round. Fees for 2026-27 run from AED 63,740 in FS1 to AED 83,390 in Years 12 and 13. It is the obvious pick if you live on the island, and our Al Reem Island guide shows what else the neighbourhood offers families. Parents working in ADGM next door will find our Al Maryah Island guide handy too.

Location: Al Reem Island | Contact: Rose Campus +971 2 507 4800, Fry Campus +971 2 508 1900

The British International School Abu Dhabi

Part of Nord Anglia, BISAD teaches the English National Curriculum to IGCSE, then switches to the IB Diploma in the sixth form, with BTEC International as a second route. It is the British school to look at if you want an IB finish. Fees for 2026-27 run from AED 54,204 for Nursery to AED 76,952 for Years 12 and 13.

Location: Behind Abu Dhabi University, Abu Dhabi mainland | Contact: +971 2 510 0100

The British School Al Khubairat

BSAK opened in 1968, which makes it the city’s oldest British school, and it runs on a not-for-profit basis. It takes children from FS1 to Year 13, offers GCSEs, A Levels and BTECs in the senior years and has one of the widest subject choices in the emirate. Its fee page currently shows 2025-26 tuition of AED 45,560 in FS1 to AED 74,560 in Years 10 to 13. A new head takes over from Mark Leppard MBE in August 2027.

Location: 1st Street, off Airport Road, Al Khubairat | Contact: +971 2 204 0200

Yasmina British Academy

A mainland favourite for families in Khalifa City and Al Raha, Yasmina is rated Outstanding by both ADEK and BSO and runs from FS1 to Year 13 with GCSEs and A Levels. ADEK-approved fees for 2026-27 run from AED 49,740 in FS1 to AED 67,270 for Years 10 to 13, which makes it one of the better-value Outstanding all-through options.

Location: Al Raha Gardens, Khalifa City A | Contact: +971 2 508 9500

Very good British schools in Abu Dhabi

A Very good rating still puts a school in the top third of the emirate, and these three charge premium fees in return for strong facilities and results.

Brighton College Abu Dhabi

Brighton is selective and academic, with IGCSEs and A Levels and a reputation for the arts. ADEK rates it Very good, while BSO rated it Outstanding in every category in April 2024. Fees for 2026-27 run from AED 50,830 in FS1 to AED 80,780 for Years 10 to 13.

Location: 175 Das Street, Bloom Gardens | Contact: +971 2 815 6500 (admissions +971 2 815 6504)

Mamoura British Academy

Aldar Academies’ central all-through school runs from FS1 to Year 13, with IGCSE, BTEC and A Level options. ADEK rates it Very good and BSO rated it Outstanding in 2026. ADEK-approved fees for 2026-27 run from AED 54,360 for Preschool to AED 80,690 for Years 12 and 13.

Location: Mohammed Bin Khalifa Street, Al Nahyan | Contact: +971 2 885 7100

Pearl British Academy

A stand-alone primary for FS1 to Year 6, Pearl is a long-running Aldar school and a natural feeder into Aldar’s secondary schools. ADEK rates it Very good. Fees are close to flat across the school: AED 44,480 in Preschool and AED 46,030 from FS2 to Year 6 for 2026-27.

Location: Muroor Road, Al Danah | Contact: +971 2 641 8887

Budget British schools in Abu Dhabi

Not every family has a housing allowance that stretches to AED 80,000 a year per child. These schools teach the British curriculum for well under AED 55,000 at the top end, and three of them are rated Very good. Merryland (above) is the Outstanding pick in this price bracket.

Al Basma British School

A Very good school behind Deerfields Mall that runs from FS1 to Year 13, handy for families in Al Bahya and the northern suburbs. ADEK-approved fees for 2026-27 run from AED 21,890 in FS1 to AED 44,380 in Year 13, with buses an extra AED 5,000 a year.

Location: 12 Al Houri Street, behind Deerfields Mall, Al Bahya | Contact: 02 562 3454

Belvedere British School

An MBZ City school rated Very good, running from FS2 to Year 13. It has some of the lowest British fees in the capital for 2026-27: AED 25,760 in FS2 to AED 33,520 in Year 13, plus AED 5,000 a year for the bus.

Location: 44 Al Fteysi Street, MBZ City | Contact: +971 2 509 0000

GEMS Cambridge International School

GEMS’ Abu Dhabi British school in Baniyas runs from FS1 to Year 13 and is rated Very good. ADEK-approved fees for 2026-27 run from AED 23,060 in FS1 to AED 40,340 in Years 12 and 13, with savings on offer if you pay the year in advance.

Location: 6th Street, Baniyas East | Contact: +971 2 510 4343

Noya British School

Aldar Education’s newest British school opened on Yas Island and currently runs from FS1 to Year 10, adding year groups as its students move up. As a new school it has not had a full ADEK rating yet. Published fees run from AED 32,000 to AED 47,000 a year, mid-market money for a brand new Yas campus. Our Yas Island guide covers what living there is really like.

Location: Yas North, Yas Island | Contact: +971 2 651 5100

Reach British School

A Baniyas East school rated Good that runs from FS1 to Year 13. For 2026-27, fees run from AED 25,260 in FS1 and AED 30,140 across Years 1 to 6, rising to AED 51,900 for Years 11 to 13.

Location: Baniyas East | Contact: 02 582 2030

WOW Expert Tip: A lower fee does not always mean a lower total bill. Ask every school for its full list of extras: buses (around AED 5,000 a year at several schools here), uniforms, exam entry fees and paid clubs. Compare the totals, not the tuition line.

British schools in Al Ain

Brighton College Al Ain

If you are based in the Garden City, this is the one. The campus in Zakher looks out to Jebel Hafeet, runs from FS1 to Year 13 and is rated Outstanding by both ADEK and BSO. ADEK-approved fees run from AED 55,090 in FS1 to AED 90,630 in Years 12 and 13, and the college currently offers discounted rates below those figures. Never been? Our Al Ain day trip guide is a good way to scout the city.

Location: Zakher, Al Ain | Contact: +971 3 713 3999

GCSE and A Levels or the IB in sixth form?

Every all-through school in this guide follows the English National Curriculum to Year 11, ending in GCSEs or IGCSEs at around 16. The big choice comes after that.

• A Levels are the default at most British schools here, including BSAK, Repton, Yasmina, Brighton College and Mamoura. Students usually take three or four subjects in depth, which suits teenagers who already know what they want to study at university.
• The IB Diploma means six subjects plus the Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge and a service programme. It keeps options open and is widely recognised by universities worldwide. Among British schools in Abu Dhabi, BISAD is the clear IB route.
• BTECs are vocational qualifications assessed largely through coursework, offered alongside A Levels at schools including BSAK and Mamoura, and at BISAD next to the IB. They suit students who do better with projects than with final exams.

If your child is likely to apply to UK universities, both A Levels and the IB are well understood. If you may move again, or are eyeing North America or Europe, the IB is often the more portable choice. Check the subject list for Year 12 before you commit to a school in Year 7, because switching schools for the sixth form is common and places at the top schools are tight.

Waiting lists and admissions: the reality

The Outstanding British schools are the most oversubscribed in the emirate, and the pressure points are predictable: FS1, the start of Year 7 and the sixth form. Mid-year entry into a popular primary class is often a waiting list job, so build that into your relocation timeline.

• Apply early. For August entry, most schools open applications in the autumn of the year before. Tour in September to January and apply as soon as you have a shortlist.
• Know the age rule. From 2026-27, a child must reach the required age by 31 December of the year they join: three for FS1, four for FS2 and five for Year 1.
• Registration fees are capped. ADEK limits the fee to 5% of annual tuition, and it is deducted from your tuition rather than added on top. Schools cannot demand a separate deposit to hold a place.
• Have the paperwork ready. Expect to provide passports, Emirates IDs and visas, recent school reports and a transfer certificate. Certificates from outside the UAE usually need attesting.

WOW Expert Tip: Apply to at least one Outstanding school and one Very good school with spare places in your child’s year group. Ask admissions where you would sit on the waiting list and how many children they expect to leave over the summer: expat turnover moves lists faster than the raw numbers suggest.

Which area suits which British school?

A 40-minute school run each way adds up fast, so match your school to your neighbourhood. Our getting around guide covers routes and fares, and our piece on Abu Dhabi’s safer school run explains the bus rules.

• Saadiyat Island: Cranleigh and Muna, plus the IB and American options on the island. The strongest premium cluster in the city.
• Al Reem Island: Repton’s two campuses, a short hop from Al Maryah and downtown.
• Central Abu Dhabi: BSAK off Airport Road, Mamoura in Al Nahyan, Pearl in Al Danah and Brighton College at Bloom Gardens. Living on the western side of the island? Our Al Bateen and Breakwater guide has the neighbourhood lowdown.
• Khalifa City and Al Raha: Yasmina, with BISAD close by. Handy for Yas and anyone working near the airport.
• Yas Island: Noya on the island itself, with the Khalifa City schools a short drive away.
• MBZ City, Baniyas and Al Bahya: Merryland, Belvedere, GEMS Cambridge, Reach and Al Basma, where most of the capital’s budget British places sit.

Weekends sorted too, with our family activities in Abu Dhabi roundup.

Frequently asked questions

What are the best British schools in Abu Dhabi?

On ADEK’s latest ratings, the Outstanding British schools in the capital are BISAD, BSAK, Cranleigh, Merryland, Muna British Academy, Repton and Yasmina British Academy. Brighton College Al Ain is Outstanding in Al Ain. The best fit for your family also depends on budget, commute and sixth form route.

How much are British school fees in Abu Dhabi?

For 2026-27, annual tuition at the schools in this guide runs from about AED 21,890 in FS1 at Al Basma British School to AED 105,980 in the sixth form at Cranleigh. Most premium British schools charge between AED 50,000 and AED 85,000 a year.

What is the cheapest British school in Abu Dhabi?

Of the schools in this guide, Belvedere British School in MBZ City has the lowest fees across the whole school, from AED 25,760 to AED 33,520 for 2026-27. Al Basma and GEMS Cambridge start lower for the youngest years. Merryland is the cheapest Outstanding British school.

Which British schools in Abu Dhabi offer the IB Diploma?

The British International School Abu Dhabi follows the English National Curriculum to IGCSE and then offers the IB Diploma in Years 12 and 13. Most other British schools in the capital offer A Levels, sometimes alongside BTECs.

Do British schools in Abu Dhabi have waiting lists?

The Outstanding schools often do, especially for FS1, Year 7 and mid-year places in popular primary classes. Apply in the autumn before you want to start and ask admissions where you would sit on the list.

What age does my child need to be to start at a British school in Abu Dhabi?

From 2026-27, children joining a school that starts in August or September must turn three by 31 December to enter FS1, four for FS2 and five for Year 1. The rule applies to new admissions only.

Fees, ratings and admissions details checked in October 2026 and can change – confirm with the school and ADEK before you apply.