Choosing between schools in Abu Dhabi is the decision that quietly shapes everything else: where you rent, how long the school run takes and how much of your package disappears in three termly instalments. The capital has well over 200 private schools teaching British, American, Canadian, IB, Indian, French and other curriculums, all regulated by the Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK).
This guide does the sorting for you. It explains how ADEK ratings actually work, which schools currently hold an Outstanding rating, what each curriculum costs for 2026-27, the fee rules schools have to follow and the new admissions age cut-off that changed this year. If you are still at the planning stage, start with our guide to moving to Abu Dhabi and come back here once you have a shortlist of neighbourhoods.
How to choose a school in Abu Dhabi
Start with curriculum, because switching later is hard. Then filter by ADEK Irtiqaa rating (Good is the minimum standard, Outstanding is the top band), by the ADEK-approved fee for your child’s year group and by commute. Shortlist three or four schools, tour them in the autumn and apply early for August entry.
| What | Details |
|---|---|
| Regulator | ADEK (Department of Education and Knowledge) |
| Inspection rating | Irtiqaa, five bands from Outstanding to Weak |
| Outstanding schools | 14 ratings across 13 schools (latest round) |
| Admissions age cut-off | 31 December, for new admissions from 2026-27 |
| Registration fee | Capped at 5% of annual tuition |
| Tuition instalments | At least three per year |
| Typical tuition range | AED 10,420 to AED 101,537 a year |
How ADEK school ratings work
Every private school in the emirate is inspected under Irtiqaa, ADEK’s programme built on the UAE Unified School Inspection Framework. Inspectors judge six standards: students’ achievement; personal and social development and innovation skills; teaching and assessment; curriculum; protection, care, guidance and support; and leadership and management. The result is one overall band: Outstanding, Very good, Good, Acceptable or Weak.
ADEK treats Good as the minimum standard every school should reach. In the round reported in October 2025, 13 of 204 rated schools were Outstanding, 51 Very good, 93 Good, 42 Acceptable and five Weak. Inspections run on a rolling cycle, so a school’s current rating can come from the last round or the one before it.
Every private school also displays a School Performance Plaque at the entrance showing two ratings: the Irtiqaa band and the National Identity Mark, which looks at how well a school teaches UAE culture, values and citizenship. ADEK’s plaques page links to the official lookup for both.
WOW Expert Tip: Most schools post their full Irtiqaa inspection report as a PDF on their own website, usually under policies or admissions. Skip the headline rating and read the sections on progress in English and maths for the phase your child is joining – a school can be Outstanding overall and merely Good in one phase.
ADEK Outstanding schools in Abu Dhabi
These are the schools whose most recent Irtiqaa rating is Outstanding. Repton is inspected as two campuses, which is why 14 ratings sit across 12 names. The list is in A to Z order, not a ranking, and fees are the published annual tuition range from nursery or KG to the final year.
| School | Curriculum | Area | Fee (2026-27) |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Community School of Abu Dhabi | American, IB Diploma and AP | Saadiyat Island | AED 60,765 to AED 101,537 |
| Bateen World Academy | IB (PYP and Diploma) | Al Manaseer | AED 54,000 to AED 75,310 |
| Brighton College Al Ain | British | Zakher, Al Ain | AED 55,090 to AED 90,630 |
| Canadian International School | Canadian (Alberta) | Khalifa City A | AED 39,010 to AED 51,820 |
| Cranleigh Abu Dhabi | British | Saadiyat Island | Check with school |
| Merryland International School | British (Cambridge) | MBZ City, Mussafah | AED 26,200 to AED 46,620 |
| Muna British Academy | British | Saadiyat Lagoons | AED 52,973 to AED 69,208 |
| Repton Abu Dhabi (Rose and Fry campuses) | British | Al Reem Island | AED 63,740 to AED 83,390 |
| The British International School Abu Dhabi | British and IB Diploma | Behind Abu Dhabi University | AED 54,204 to AED 76,952 |
| The British School Al Khubairat | British | Al Khubairat, off Airport Road | AED 45,560 to AED 74,560 (2025-26) |
| The Sheikh Zayed Private Academy for Boys | American with MoE subjects | Al Falah Street | Check with school |
| The Sheikh Zayed Private Academy for Girls | American with MoE subjects | Al Rowdah | AED 33,910 to AED 78,160 |
Ratings from the latest ADEK Irtiqaa results and each school’s own published reports. Fees from each school’s official fee page, checked in October 2026.
British curriculum schools in Abu Dhabi
The English National Curriculum is the most common choice for expat families, running from FS1 (age three) through GCSEs and A Levels, with some schools adding the IB Diploma or BTECs in the sixth form. It is also where the Outstanding list is most crowded. Among the Outstanding schools, tuition runs from AED 26,200 to AED 90,630 a year, with most premium options between roughly AED 50,000 and AED 80,000.
The British School Al Khubairat
BSAK is the city’s long-established not-for-profit British school, tucked off Airport Road a five-minute drive from the centre. It runs from FS1 to Year 13 and suits families who want a traditional British school feel without moving out to the islands. Its published fees (2025-26) run from AED 45,560 in FS1 to AED 74,560 in the sixth form.
Location: Al Khubairat, 1st Street off Airport Road | Contact: +971 2 204 0200
The British International School Abu Dhabi
Part of Nord Anglia, BISAD offers the British curriculum with a sixth form that includes the IB Diploma, BTEC International and IGCSEs, which gives older students more than one route to university. 2026-27 fees are 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 (admissions +971 2 510 0176)
Cranleigh Abu Dhabi
The overseas sister of the Surrey boarding school sits on Saadiyat Island and runs from early years to A Levels. Its admissions team publishes the current ADEK-approved fees and booking details on the school website.
Location: Saadiyat Island | Contact: cranleigh.ae
Muna British Academy
Aldar Academies’ Muna describes itself as Abu Dhabi’s longest-standing Outstanding school and has moved into a new Saadiyat Lagoons campus. 2026-27 fees 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 Foundation (FS1 to Year 1) and Fry for Year 2 to Year 13. Fees for 2026-27 are AED 63,740 in FS1 to AED 83,390 in the sixth form, plus a book fee for the youngest years. It is the obvious pick if you live on the island – see our Al Reem Island guide for what else the neighbourhood offers families.
Location: Al Reem Island | Contact: Rose Campus +971 2 507 4800, Fry Campus +971 2 508 1900
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.
Location: Plot 13, ME-9, MBZ City, Mussafah | Contact: +971 2 551 9626
Brighton College Al Ain
If you are based in the Garden City, this is the one. The 28-acre campus in Zakher looks out to Jebel Hafeet and is Outstanding with 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.
Location: Zakher, Al Ain | Contact: +971 3 713 3999
American and Canadian schools in Abu Dhabi
North American schools use grades (KG1, KG2, Grade 1 to Grade 12) and continuous assessment, finishing with a high school diploma, often alongside AP courses or the IB Diploma. Among the Outstanding schools, fees run from AED 33,910 to AED 101,537 a year, the widest spread of any curriculum.
American Community School of Abu Dhabi
ACS is the city’s original not-for-profit American school and moved to a purpose-built campus in Saadiyat’s Marina District, near NYU Abu Dhabi, in January 2024. High schoolers can take AP courses or the IB Diploma. Fees for 2026-27 are AED 60,765 in KG1 to AED 101,537 for Grades 9 to 12, and new students also pay a one-time capital fee of AED 27,000. Living nearby? Our Saadiyat Island guide covers the rest of family life on the island.
Location: Saadiyat Marina District, Saadiyat Island | Contact: +971 2 681 5115
Canadian International School
The answer for anyone searching for Canadian schools in Abu Dhabi. CIS teaches the Alberta Program of Studies alongside UAE Ministry of Education requirements and is a Tier 1 Alberta Accredited school. It is also excellent value for an Outstanding school: AED 39,010 in KG1 to AED 51,820 for Grades 10 to 12 in 2026-27, books included.
Location: Khalifa City A | Contact: +971 2 556 4206
The Sheikh Zayed Private Academies
The two Sheikh Zayed Private Academies (separate boys’ and girls’ schools) blend an American curriculum with a strong Emirati identity and Arabic programme. The girls’ academy publishes fees from AED 33,910 for Pre-K and KG to AED 78,160 for Grades 10 to 12.
Location: Boys: Al Falah Street. Girls: Mubarak Bin Mohammed Street, Al Rowdah | Contact: Boys +971 2 203 3333, Girls +971 2 619 5555
IB schools in Abu Dhabi
The International Baccalaureate runs as a continuum: Primary Years Programme (age three to 12), Middle Years Programme and the two-year Diploma Programme that universities worldwide recognise. Several Abu Dhabi schools offer only the Diploma on top of another curriculum, so check which IB stages a school is authorised for. Expect AED 54,000 to AED 101,537 a year at the Outstanding schools offering IB.
Bateen World Academy
Aldar Academies’ IB school runs a Reggio-inspired early years, the PYP and the IB Diploma, and its class of 2026 scored above the global IB average. Fees for 2026-27 run from AED 54,000 in FS1 to AED 75,310 in Years 12 and 13.
Location: Khalifa Bin Shakhbout Street, Al Manaseer | Contact: +971 2 813 2000
ACS and BISAD (both above) also offer the IB Diploma in their final two years.
Indian (CBSE) schools in Abu Dhabi
Indian curriculum schools, mostly CBSE with some following ICSE or Kerala boards, educate a huge share of the emirate’s children and are by far the most affordable option. Fees can start at around AED 10,000 a year in KG. GEMS United Indian School is a useful benchmark: its 2026-27 fees run from AED 10,420 in Pre-KG to AED 20,700 in Grades 11 and 12.
GEMS United Indian School
A CBSE school in Baniyas West with a KG to Grade 12 offer and transparent monthly or termly payment options.
Location: 42nd Street, Baniyas West | Contact: +971 2 205 9777
French schools in Abu Dhabi
French-system schools follow the national programme of France from maternelle to the Baccalauréat and are accredited through the French education network abroad. They are popular with French-speaking families and with anyone who wants a bilingual pathway. Lycée Français International Théodore Monod gives a clear picture of costs: ADEK-approved 2026-27 fees of AED 33,490 in kindergarten to AED 65,250 in Terminale, with a bilingual programme supplement of AED 4,500 to AED 5,250.
Lycée Français International Théodore Monod
Opened in 2006, LFITM now runs a Saadiyat campus. New registrations for the following year open in November, so French-system families need to move early.
Location: Al Dhiba Street, Saadiyat | Contact: +971 2 443 4447
Other options: MoE, charter and specialist curriculums
Beyond the big five, Abu Dhabi has private schools following the UAE Ministry of Education curriculum, plus German, Japanese, Filipino, Pakistani and other national systems, many linked to embassies. ADEK also runs charter schools, government-funded but privately operated, which are mainly for Emirati students. If you need a less common curriculum, ADEK’s school finder on TAMM lets you filter by curriculum and area.
School fees in Abu Dhabi by curriculum
Here is what a year of tuition costs, using official 2026-27 fee schedules from the schools named in this guide. Remember tuition is only part of the bill: transport, uniforms, exam fees and paid after-school clubs come on top.
| Curriculum | Fee range (AED a year) | Based on |
|---|---|---|
| Indian (CBSE) | AED 10,420 to AED 20,700 | GEMS United Indian School |
| British | AED 26,200 to AED 90,630 | Outstanding British schools |
| French | AED 33,490 to AED 65,250 | LFITM |
| American | AED 33,910 to AED 101,537 | SZPA Girls, ACS |
| Canadian | AED 39,010 to AED 51,820 | Canadian International School |
| IB | AED 54,000 to AED 101,537 | Bateen World Academy, ACS |
Typical extras worth budgeting for, all from the schools’ own fee pages:
- School bus: around AED 5,000 a year at Aldar Academies and LFITM
- One-time capital fee for new students: AED 27,000 at ACS
- External exam fees at GCSE, A Level and IB, often with an admin charge on top
- Uniforms, school lunches and clubs run by outside providers
The fee rules every Abu Dhabi school has to follow
ADEK’s school fees policy is one of the more parent-friendly in the region. The key rules:
- Registration fee capped at 5% of annual tuition. It can be taken up to four months before the year starts and must be deducted from your final tuition payment, not added on top.
- At least three instalments. Schools must let you pay tuition across the year in three or more payments, and the first can be collected no earlier than one month before term.
- Six clear fee categories: tuition, educational resources, uniforms, transport, extracurricular activities and other fees, all published on the school’s website with the ADEK-stamped schedule.
- Books, devices and uniforms can be optional if you source approved second-hand items that meet the school’s requirements.
- Late payment protections: a school must send three warnings at least a week apart before any suspension, which is capped at three days once a term, and cannot bar a child from exams over unpaid fees.
Can schools raise fees for 2026-27?
Not on their own. Any increase must be applied for and approved by ADEK, which links increases to its Education Cost Index and the school’s Irtiqaa rating, so higher-rated schools can ask for more. To apply for a standard increase a school needs a valid licence, at least three years of operation and audited accounts for the last two years. An exceptional increase also needs two consecutive years of operating losses and at least 80% occupancy, and ADEK can turn down any request.
When ADEK last published the caps, Outstanding schools could add up to 3.94%, Very good 3.38%, Good 2.81% and Acceptable or below 2.25%. Dubai froze private school fees for 2026-27, but that decision applies to KHDA schools only – Abu Dhabi runs its own process, so the number that counts is the ADEK-approved 2026-27 fee on your school’s website.
WOW Expert Tip: Ask the admissions team for the ADEK-stamped fee schedule, not a brochure or a screenshot. It is the only document that shows the approved figure, and schools are required to publish it. Some schools also list their approved fees for the year after next, which tells you what an increase will look like before you sign.
School admissions in Abu Dhabi: the process and timeline
Most schools run an August or September to July year, and the strongest schools fill popular year groups early. A realistic timeline for August entry:
| Step | What happens | When |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Shortlist and tour | Pick three or four schools and book visits | September to January |
| 2. Apply | Submit the online application with documents | From October or November |
| 3. Assessment | Age-appropriate assessment or interview | Within a few weeks of applying |
| 4. Offer and registration | Pay the registration fee to secure the seat | Within days of the offer |
| 5. Enrolment | Transfer certificate and records, eSIS registration | Before the first day |
| 6. First instalment | First tuition payment | Up to a month before term |
Schools will ask for passports, Emirates IDs and residence visas for the child and parents, recent school reports and a transfer certificate from the previous school. Certificates from outside the UAE usually need attesting, so start that paperwork before you arrive. Our moving to Abu Dhabi guide covers the visa and Emirates ID steps that come first.
The new age cut-off: 31 December
From the 2026-27 academic year, the UAE moved the admissions cut-off for schools starting in August or September from 31 August to 31 December. A child must reach the age below by 31 December of the year they join. The rule applies to new admissions only; children already enrolled carry on in their current year group, and schools starting in April keep a 31 March cut-off.
| Year group | Age by 31 December |
|---|---|
| Pre-KG / FS1 | 3 years |
| KG1 / FS2 | 4 years |
| KG2 / Year 1 | 5 years |
| Grade 1 / Year 2 | 6 years |
WOW Expert Tip: Born between September and December? Under the old rule your child would have waited a year; now they may be eligible a year earlier. The Ministry of Education has said eligibility alone does not guarantee a place, so ask the school about readiness assessments for the youngest children in a year group before you decide.
Best areas for schools in Abu Dhabi
Commute matters more than you think: a 40-minute school run each way adds up fast. Abu Dhabi’s main school clusters line up with its family neighbourhoods.
- Saadiyat Island: ACS, Cranleigh, Muna British Academy and LFITM all sit on the island, which makes it the strongest single cluster for premium schools. See our Saadiyat Island guide.
- Khalifa City: the mainland family belt, home to Yasmina British Academy and the Canadian International School, with BISAD close by. Handy for Al Raha, Yas and anyone working near the airport.
- Al Reem Island: Repton’s two campuses mean Reem families can walk or drive minutes to an Outstanding school. Next-door Al Maryah Island is an easy hop for parents working in ADGM.
- Yas Island: a short drive to the Khalifa City and Al Raha schools. Our Yas Island guide covers what living there is really like.
- Central Abu Dhabi: BSAK off Airport Road, Bateen World Academy in Al Manaseer and the Sheikh Zayed Private Academy for Girls in Al Rowdah keep city-centre families covered.
Once you have a school, plan the journey: our guide to getting around Abu Dhabi covers fares and routes, and our piece on Abu Dhabi’s safer school run explains the bus and traffic rules near school gates. Weekends sorted too, with our family activities in Abu Dhabi roundup.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best schools in Abu Dhabi?
ADEK’s top band is Outstanding, and 13 schools currently hold it, including ACS, Bateen World Academy, BSAK, BISAD, Cranleigh, Muna British Academy, Repton, Yasmina British Academy and the Canadian International School. The best school for your family also depends on curriculum, budget and commute.
How much are school fees in Abu Dhabi?
Annual tuition for 2026-27 ranges from about AED 10,000 at Indian curriculum schools to just over AED 100,000 for the senior grades at the most expensive American school. Most British and IB schools rated Outstanding charge between AED 50,000 and AED 90,000 a year.
What is the school age cut-off in Abu Dhabi?
For new admissions from 2026-27, a child must reach the required age by 31 December of the year they join: three for Pre-KG or FS1, four for KG1, five for KG2 and six for Grade 1. Schools that start in April keep a 31 March cut-off.
Can Abu Dhabi schools increase fees?
Only with ADEK approval. Increases are linked to ADEK’s Education Cost Index and the school’s inspection rating, and the school must meet licensing and audit conditions. Always check the ADEK-approved fee schedule on the school’s website.
Are there Canadian schools in Abu Dhabi?
Yes. The Canadian International School in Khalifa City A teaches the Alberta curriculum, is rated Outstanding by ADEK and charges AED 39,010 to AED 51,820 a year for 2026-27.
Which schools in Abu Dhabi offer the IB?
Bateen World Academy offers the IB from the early years through the Diploma. ACS and the British International School Abu Dhabi offer the IB Diploma in the final two years alongside their main curriculum.
When should I apply for a school in Abu Dhabi?
For August entry, apply in the autumn or winter before. Many schools open registration for the following year from around October or November, and popular year groups at Outstanding schools fill quickly.
Fees, ratings and admissions details checked in October 2026 and can change – confirm with the school and ADEK before you apply.
