12 Best Schools in Abu Dhabi

Are you an expat who’s planning to bring your family to come and live with you in the UAE? If so, then one of the things you have to consider is where your children will be studying. Fortunately, there are many great schools here in Abu Dhabi.

In this article, we present some of the best schools in the city where your children are sure to get quality education. For each school, we provide a brief description of the history, curriculum, levels, facilities, accreditation, and of course, the location.

Top Schools in Abu Dhabi

As parents, it’s important to make sure that your children get high quality education. Here in Abu Dhabi, below are some of the best schools that can help you achieve that goal:

1. Al Muna Academy

Situated on Zayed the First St., Al Muna Academy offers top-of-the-line facilities, including computer technology, healthcare, and sports facilities. It follows the National Curriculum of England, focusing on students from Nursery up to Year 6.

Notably, the school has received received consecutive ratings of “Outstanding” from the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK). It is part of Aldar Academies, which has a total of seven academies and one nursery, located across Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. These include Al Muna Academy, Al Ain Academy, Al Bateen Academy, Al Mamoura Academy, Al Yasmina Academy, The Pearl Academy, West Yas Academy, and Al Forsan Nursery.

Al Muna Academy
Address: Zayed the First St., Al Danah, Zone 1, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Telephone: +971 2 501 4777
Email: PRE@almunaacademy.sch.ae
Website: https://www.almunaacademy.sch.ae/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AAMunaAcademy/

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2. American International School in Abu Dhabi

Established in 1995, the American International School in Abu Dhabi (AISA) is one of the top schools in the emirate. It provides Pre-School to Grade 12 level education, offering the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Program as well as the IB Diploma.

The school has state-of-the-art facilities, including two libraries, six science labs, an art room, a music room, a drama room, swimming pool, two gymnasiums, two outdoor basketball courts, a sports field, and a prayer mosque.

AISA is also a part of ESOL Education, a company that specializes in K-12 international education in the Middle East and Mediterranean. This company has a network of schools in the UAE, Bahrain, Lebanon, Egypt, Cyprus, and Hong Kong.

American International School in Abu Dhabi
Address: 29th Street of Airport Road (opposite Pepsi-Cola Plant), Abu Dhabi, UAE
Telephone: +971 2 444 4333
Email: contactus@aisa.sch.ae
Website: http://www.aisa.sch.ae/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AISAbuDhabi/

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3. Brighton College Abu Dhabi

Brighton College Abu Dhabi is a sister school to the renowned Brighton College in the UK. Following the British curriculum, it features state-of-the-art facilities where children can get a well-rounded education. There are music practice rooms, sports halls, a dance studio, a photography studio, a 600-seat theatre, and more.

The school is open for students from Nursery up to Year 13. It is located in Bloom Gardens, and aims to be the leading British curriculum school in the Middle East.

Brighton College Abu Dhabi
Address: 175 Das St., Abu Dhabi, UAE
Telephone: +971 2 815 6500 / +971(0)28156504 (Admissions)
Email: admissions@brightoncollege.ae
Website: http://www.brightoncollege.ae/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BCAbuDhabi/

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4. Cranleigh Abu Dhabi

Located on Saadiyat Island, near Manarat Al Saadiyat, Cranleigh Abu Dhabi is a school that follows an England and Wales-based curriculum. Though it was established only in 2014, this school has already received a rating of “Outstanding” from ADEK. It caters to students from Nursery to Sixth Form.

Cranleigh Abu Dhabi
Address: Saadiyat Island (near Manarat Al Saadiyat), Abu Dhabi, UAE
Telephone: +971 2 497 0000
Email: admissions@cranleigh.ae
Website: http://www.cranleigh.ae/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CranleighAbuDhabi/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cranleighad/

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5. GEMS World Academy – Abu Dhabi

GEMS World Academy, which is part of the well-known GEMS Education, is among the top international schools in Abu Dhabi. This premium IB and British curriculum school caters to students from Foundation Stage 1 (FS1) to Year 8, with plans to add levels annually, up to Year 13.

Notably, GEMS World Academy – Abu Dhabi aspires to be the leading IB World School in the Middle East, providing a “dynamic, diverse, and inclusive” community that challenges and empowers learners. Just recently, GEMS World Academy moved to a new campus, which is located on Al Reem Island.

GEMS World Academy – Abu Dhabi
Address: Najmat, Al Reem Island, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Telephone: +971 2 659 5959
Email: info_waa@gemsedu.com
Website: http://www.gemsworldacademy-abudhabi.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GEMSWorldAcademyAbuDhabi/

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6. GEMS American Academy

Located in Khalifa City A, GEMS American Academy (GAA) is among the best American curriculum schools in Abu Dhabi. Notably, this K-12 school has facilities for teaching students of determination, or children with special education needs.

Established in 2011, GEMS American Academy is also part of GEMS Education. Aside from offering an American Curriculum, it offers the IB curriculum as well.

GEMS American Academy
Address: 16th Street, Madinat Khalifa A, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Telephone: +971 2 557 4880 / +971 2 2019 555
Email: info_gaa@gemsedu.com
Website: http://www.gemsaa-abudhabi.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GEMSAmericanAcademy.AbuDhabi/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gems_gaa/

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7. Merryland International School

“Changing Lives, Nation Wide.” This is the vision of Merryland International School, a UK curriculum-based school in Abu Dhabi. Established in 1978, it began as a kindergarten school, with primary sections added over the years. Today, it offers classes from FS1 to Year 13.

If you happen to live in Khalifa City, Al Mafraq, Al Maqtaa, or Muhammad Bin Zayed City, then this school is very much accessible.

Merryland International School
Address: Plot -13, Musaffah, Sector 9, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Telephone: +971 2 551 9626
Email: contact@merryland.org
Website: https://www.merrylandinternational.net/newsite/

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8. Private International English School

Located in Mussafah, Private International English School (PIES) is one of the best Indian CBSE schools in the emirate. It is recognised by ADEK as well as by the Central Board of Secondary Education (New Delhi).

Notably, Private International English School is managed by Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan (BVB), an Indian educational trust that has schools across the Middle East. In fact, it was the first school in the UAE to be managed by BVB. During the 2018-2019 inspection round, ADEK rated PIES as “Very Good” — making it the first Indian curriculum school to have achieved this rating.

Private International English School
Address: Mussafah, Sector 9, Shabiya, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Telephone: +971 2 559 1777
Email: info@bhavansabudhabi.com / registrar@bhavansabudhabi.com (Admissions)
Website: http://bhavansabudhabi.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/piesabudhabi/

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9. Raha International School

Expats living in Al Raha Gardens, Al Raha Beach, and nearby communities should consider enrolling their children in Raha International School. This school has been awarded an “Outstanding” rating by ADEK.

Interestingly, Raha International School was the first school in Abu Dhabi to be fully authorised by ADEK to offer all three IB programmes:  Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), and Diploma Programme (DP). Moreover, the school is part of Taaleem, which is the second largest school provided in the UAE for early years, primary, and secondary education.

Raha International School
Address: Khalifa City A, Al Raha Gardens Cnr. Al ‘Ishoush St. & 20th St., Abu Dhabi, UAE
Telephone: +971 2 556 1567
Email: admissions@ris.ae
Website: http://www.ris.ae/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RISAbuDhabi
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/RISAbuDhabi

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10. Repton School Abu Dhabi

Repton School Abu Dhabi is a sister school of Repton School Dubai and its parent school in Derbyshire, UK. This British curriclum school is one of the best schools in the emirate. If you live on Al Reem Island, then this could be the perfect choice for you and your family!

The school is located in two campuses on Al Reem Island. The Repton Foundation School on “Rose Campus” caters to students from Nursery to Year 1. Meanwhile, the Repton School “Fry Campus” caters to students from Year 1 to Year 13.

Repton School Abu Dhabi
Address: Jazeerat Al Reem, Shams Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Telephone: +971 2 507 4800 / +971 2 507 4888 (Admissions)
Email: admissions@reptonabudhabi.org
Website: http://www.reptonabudhabi.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ReptonAbuDhabi/

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11. The British International School Abu Dhabi

As the name says, this school offers the English National Curriculum and the IB Diploma Programme. It caters to students age 3 to 18 years old, and is part of the Nord Anglia Education Group.

Established in 2009, The British International School Abu Dhabi has earned several accolades. In 2020, it won the “Community Award” at the International School Awards. The following year, it won the “Student Pathways to Continued and Higher Education Award.”

The British International School Abu Dhabi
Address: P.O. Box 60968, Abu Dhabi, UAE (behind Abu Dhabi University)
Telephone: +971 2 510 0100
Email: enquiries@bisad.ae / admissions@bisad.ae
Website: https://www.nordangliaeducation.com/bis-abu-dhabi
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/britishinternationalschoolabudhabi
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bis_ad/

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12. The British School Al Khubairat

Established in 1968, The British School is one of the oldest schools in the emirate. It follows the National Curriculum of England in primary school and secondary school. The school is just five minutes away from the city centre, situated just off Airport Road.

The British School Al Khubairat
Address: Al Mushrif, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Telephone: +971 2 446 2280 / +971 2 204 0200
Email: Registrar@britishschool.sch.ae / communications@britishschool.sch.ae
Website: https://www.britishschool.sch.ae/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BSAKAbuDhabi
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/BSAK_AbuDhabi/

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Wherever you may be in the world, it’s important to make sure that your children get quality education, so that they may learn lifelong skills and succeed in whatever paths they choose. Here in Abu Dhabi, you can rest assured that your children would get top-notch education through the above schools.

Meanwhile, if you are a Filipino expat looking for a school that follows Philippine curriculum, don’t worry because we’ve got you covered! Here’s a list of Philippine schools in Abu Dhabi where you can enroll your children.