Abu Dhabi has 223 private schools on this site, spread across Abu Dhabi city, Al Ain and Al Dhafra. 63 of them are rated Very good or better by ADEK. This guide walks you through choosing one, step by step, using ADEK's own data.
1. Start with the curriculum
The curriculum decides the exams your child will take, how easily they can move schools or countries later, and often the fees. If you may move back home in a few years, staying in your home system usually makes the move easier. If you expect to keep moving, the IB is built to travel well.
Here is how the curricula compare in Abu Dhabi, using ADEK's latest ratings and published fees:
| Curriculum | Schools | Very good or better | Typical starting fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| British | 65 | 27 of 60 | AED 25,050 |
| International Baccalaureate (IB) | 15 | 9 of 15 | AED 33,700 |
| Indian (CBSE / ICSE) | 29 | 6 of 28 | AED 8,550 |
| American | 73 | 20 of 66 | AED 23,000 |
| French | 2 | 2 of 2 | AED 33,490 |
| UAE Ministry of Education | 47 | 4 of 41 | AED 5,500 |
"Typical starting fee" is the middle value of each school's lowest published yearly fee, so half the schools start below it and half above. Schools offering more than one curriculum are counted in each.
Use these numbers to narrow your search, not to rule a curriculum out. One well-run school that suits your child matters more than an average.
2. Check the age rules
From the 2026-27 school year, children joining Pre-KG, KG1, KG2 or Grade 1 for the first time are placed by their age on 31 December of the school year, for schools that start in August or September. Schools that start in April, which includes many Indian and Pakistani curriculum schools, use 31 March. Children already enrolled are not affected.
Year group names differ by curriculum (FS2, KG1 and Pre-KG can all mean the same age). Our year groups guide has a table for every curriculum, and the age rules are the same across the UAE.
3. Shortlist by area and commute
The emirate is large, so location matters more than in most cities. Abu Dhabi city has most of the schools, with the biggest groups in Mohamed Bin Zayed City, Bani Yas and Khalifa City on the mainland. Al Ain has its own large cluster of 66 schools, and Al Dhafra in the west has a smaller choice, including ADNOC schools in Ruwais and Madinat Zayed. Many families pick a school first and then rent nearby, because cross-city school runs can be long.
These areas have the most schools rated Very good or better:
You can also see schools on our map or browse all Abu Dhabi schools by area.
4. Read the ADEK rating properly
ADEK inspects private schools through its Irtiqaa programme and rates them on the same six-level scale used across the UAE, from Outstanding to Very weak. Inspectors look at achievement, students' personal development, teaching, the curriculum, care and support, and leadership. Where a campus teaches more than one curriculum, ADEK rates each one separately. On this site the badge shows the highest of those ratings, and the school page lists each one.
In Abu Dhabi, 63 schools are rated Very good or better. These 14 are rated Outstanding: American Community School, Bateen World Academy, Bloom Academy - Al Ain, Canadian International School, Cranleigh School - Abu Dhabi, Merryland International School, Muna British Academy, Repton Foundation School, Repton School Abu Dhabi, The British International School, The British School Al Khubairat, The Sheikh Zayed Private Academy for Boys, The Sheikh Zayed Private Academy for Girls, Yasmina British Academy.
- Check the year. Each Abu Dhabi school page shows the year of the latest Irtiqaa inspection. A recent rating tells you more than an old one.
- Download the full report. ADEK's School Finder on TAMM has each school's Irtiqaa report. Search the school ID shown on our school page, then use Download next to the rating.
- 22 newer schools have no rating yet. That says nothing bad about them, only that ADEK has not inspected them yet. Visit and ask about their plans and results.
How school ratings work across the UAE →
5. Plan your budget
222 of the 223 Abu Dhabi schools on this site have published fees. Here is what schools at each rating typically start from:
| Rating | Schools with fees | Lowest starting fee | Typical starting fee | Highest starting fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outstanding | 14 | AED 25,850 | AED 55,090 | AED 71,500 |
| Very good | 49 | AED 5,890 | AED 23,060 | AED 59,530 |
| Good | 92 | AED 3,540 | AED 15,120 | AED 57,090 |
| Acceptable | 42 | AED 3,240 | AED 6,140 | AED 34,000 |
| Weak | 4 | AED 5,200 | AED 6,000 | AED 25,000 |
Starting fee is the lowest yearly tuition fee each school publishes, usually for its youngest year group. Fees for older year groups are higher.
A higher rating does not always mean higher fees. 77 schools rated Good or better start at AED 20,000 a year or less. Some of the best value schools rated Very good or better:
- Al Andalus Private Academy: Very good, from AED 5,890 a year (Falaj Hazza', Al Ain)
- Saint Joseph Private School: Very good, from AED 6,650 a year (Al Mushrif)
- Al Dhafra Private Academy: Very good, from AED 8,420 a year (Al Tiwayya, Al Ain)
- Rosary Private School: Very good, from AED 8,480 a year (Al Nahyan)
- Abu Dhabi Indian School - Wathba: Very good, from AED 9,360 a year (Al Wathbah)
You can sort Abu Dhabi schools by fees or search with a budget, for example "British school under 40k".
Fee rules worth knowing
- Instalments: schools must let you pay in at least three equal instalments a year, and can offer more (for example 4 or 10). The first instalment can be collected up to one month before the school year starts.
- Registration fee: capped at 5% of the ADEK-approved tuition fee, and only for students who enrol. It can be collected up to four months before the year starts.
- Fee increases: schools can only raise fees with ADEK approval, after at least three years of operation and with audited accounts. Approved fees must be shown by category (tuition, resources, uniform, transport, activities) when you register.
- Late payment: schools must send three written warnings before taking any action, and may not stop a child from sitting exams because of unpaid fees.
- Second-hand items: schools may waive textbook, device and uniform charges when you use second-hand items that meet current requirements. It is worth asking.
6. Visit and ask the right questions
Ratings and fees get you to a shortlist. A visit tells you whether the school feels right for your child. Try to visit during a normal school day, and ask:
- What did the latest inspection say the school needs to improve, and what has changed since?
- How long have the principal and senior leaders been in post? How many teachers left last year?
- How big are classes, and is there a teaching assistant in the early years?
- How do you support children who need extra help, and those who need more challenge? Are there extra costs?
- What is included in the fees, and what costs extra (books, uniform, transport, trips, activities)?
- How and when do you report progress to parents?
Save the schools you like to your shortlist to compare ratings, fees and grades side by side.
7. Quick checklist
- Choose one or two curricula that fit your plans.
- Confirm the right year group for your child's age.
- List the areas within a reasonable commute.
- Shortlist five to eight schools using the ADEK rating and fees.
- Read the latest inspection report and the full fee sheet.
- Visit your top three and talk to other parents.
- Apply early, with passports, Emirates IDs, birth certificates and recent school reports ready.
Ready to build your shortlist?
Browse all 223 Abu Dhabi private schools by area, curriculum, fees and ADEK rating.
Sources
- School ratings, curricula, grades and fees: ADEK School Finder on TAMM, checked 23 October 2026.
- ADEK fee rules (instalments, registration fee, increases and late payment): Gulf News.
- Age cut-off dates from 2026-27: Khaleej Times, August 2026.
This guide is general information to help with your research. Always confirm details with ADEK and the schools you are considering.