Abu Dhabi International Private School

Abu Dhabi International School was established in 1992 to provide quality education to residents in the capital emirate. Since then, the school has built a solid reputation in the educational sector while catering to the diverse learning needs of students.

One of the most exciting features of Abu Dhabi International Private School (AIS) by Mrs Jihan Nasr is the choice of curriculum. Your child can study the American curriculum, the British curriculum or opt for the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP).

AIS School is a private and co-educational institute that offers different curriculums to students from KG 1 to Grade 12.

Abu Dhabi International Private School is located in the community of Al Rawdah. When the building needed maintenance, another AIS campus was opened in Mohammed Bin Zayed City in 2015. Children studying at the Al Rawdah campus have access to the new campus for a higher fee.

The school was recently inspected by ADEK and rated as Very Good.

This Abu Dhabi International Private School review will assist parents in making an informed decision when it comes to choosing the right school for their children. You can find a detailed account of curriculum, fee structure, admission process and facilities provided by AIS.

• Location: Al Karama Street, Al Rawdha
• School fees: AED 31,300 - AED 48,400
• Curriculum: American | British | IBDP
• Co-ed or segregate: Co-ed
• ADEK rating: Very Good
• Years offered: KG 1 - Grade 12

Located in the heart of the city, International Abu Dhabi School can be easily accessed from:

• Al Manhal
• Al Khalidiya
• Al Nahyan
• Al Tibbiya
• Al Bateen

The nearest residential neighbourhood, Al Manhal, is one of the popular districts in Abu Dhabi. It is home to the famous Al Manhal Palace. Families prefer the community for the multiple lifestyle amenities it offers.

If you are in search of accommodation near the school, check out:

• Apartments for rent near Abu Dhabi International Private School
• Villas for rent near Abu Dhabi International Private School

Abu Dhabi International Private School campus has adequate facilities to ensure that daily lessons and extracurricular activities are conducted smoothly. As for school facilities, you will find a library, a football field, a prayer room, a gymnasium, four laboratories, an art room and a music room.

Abu Dhabi International Private School campus is located on Al Karamah Street in the bustling community of Al Rawdah. The school is close to several landmarks, including:

• The Embassy of Japan
• The Embassy of Bangladesh
• The Embassy of Italy
• The French Embassy
• Al Rayyan National Private School
• Al Karamah School

Being in business for more than 3 decades, Abu Dhabi International Private British School is a name trusted by many. It offers a plethora of opportunities for students who are willing to learn in a progressive environment.

AIS, Abu Dhabi offers three different curriculums and has two campuses. The school follows the American, British and International Baccalaureate (IB) curricula. Thus, parents interested in enrolling their child on international schools find AIS Dubai an attractive option.

What’s important to note here is that the school supports children through counselling services, ESL support and special education services. These three initiatives ensure that all students, even those requiring additional support, are on the same page regarding academic and non-academic ventures.

Nurturing your child during their tenure in the school is not the only goal. At Abu Dhabi International Private School, children are offered Advanced Placement (AP) courses to help them make it to the Ivy League and other top institutes in the world.

Students previously enrolled at AIS have secured admissions at:

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
• University of California Los Angeles
• Stanford University
• Columbia University
• Cornell University
• New York University
• Duke University

Since International Abu Dhabi Private School offers three different curriculums, things might get a bit confusing for students when applying for admissions. Hence, AIS International School has divided the classes into four different categories.

Since there are two school branches, the management has dedicated Abu Dhabi International Private School Abu Dhabi Island for students interested in British education. On the other hand, the MBZ City campus follows the American curriculum from Kindergarten until Grade 12. However, students can opt for IBDP from Grade 9.

The two years of Foundation Stage focus on the following seven key learning areas:

Abu Dhabi International Private School curriculum encourages students to utilise campus facilities to understand the subjects being taught. Teachers are recommended to ensure students know about global issues, innovation and technological developments, business management, science and technology and economics.

The use of assessments and group activities ensure that students implement their classroom learnings in the real world.

Students appear for International General Certificate of Secondary Examination (IGCSE) examinations in Grade 9 and 10 and Advanced Subsidiary (AS) and Advanced (A) Levels in Grade 11 and 12.

Students who have completed the British Program can obtain the equivalency from the Ministry of Education only if they clear:

• 5 IGCSE subjects (Grades A-E; excluding Arabic and Islamic Studies)
• 2 IAS subjects (Grades A-D; Grades E and U are considered failed)
• 1 IAL subject (Grades A-D; Grades E and U are considered failed)

Formed in 2005, the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) is responsible for evaluating private and public schools in the capital city. The focus is to develop the UAE’s educational infrastructure for future betterment.

The six performance standards on which schools are judged include:

• Curriculum
• Students’ work
• Teaching and assessment
• Students’ health, safety and offer guidance and support
• The school’s leadership and management
• Students’ personal and social development and innovation

ADEK’s Irtiqaa Programme inspects schools and rates them on a six-point scale depending on their overall performance.

Compared to previous performances, this year’s inspection report is fairly improved. Changes in senior management and leadership led to the improved overall performance of Abu Dhabi International Private School Abu Dhabi Island.

The report further highlights the strong areas of the school. Students were observed to attain high levels of academic performance, develop learning skills, independence and enthusiasm for school, which is reflected by attendance.

Besides this, efforts made by the school for building positive relationships and a secure environment have been reported in the annual publication. Moreover, teachers are committed to increasing the quality of teaching standards by modifying the previously adopted strategies.

These measures helped improve the Abu Dhabi International Private School ADEK rating from Good to Very Good.

Nevertheless, a couple of areas still need improvement so the school can receive an ‘Outstanding’ rating. The first thing that the school must change is the assessment criteria. A well-developed assessment procedure will help identify students according to their ability, provide constructive feedback, and ensure that performance is being improved.

Next, support extended to students of determination must be modified. Ways must be developed to ensure that students with SEND requirements work on their critical thinking, problem-solving and innovation skills in all lessons.

Last, teaching strategies should be developed to assist students with a better understanding of Arabic Studies. Despite improving the performance across various subjects, Arabic Studies still needs modifications.

Even though the school offers three different curriculums, Abu Dhabi International Private School’s academic calendar remains the same for all sections. 

Admission for the academic year 2022-2023 is open for MBZ City Campus only; however the standard admission procedure is explained here. Students from all nationalities can apply for admissions in KG to Grade 11; applications to Grade 12 are not accepted.

Abu Dhabi International Private School’s admission process consists of two stages.

Stage 1

• The first step includes submitting a duly filled student application form. You may also collect the form from the school reception.
• The next step is getting a Recommendation Form for Entering KG 2 to Grade 2 or the Student Recommendation Form for Entering Grades 3 to 11 from the current school. The form must be completed and signed by the respondent, signed and stamped by the principal, and submitted to Abu Dhabi International School Al Rawdah in an officially sealed envelope.
• Following this, parents must make an appointment for an initial interview. You can book an appointment by calling the AIS School’s admissions line at +971-56-664-0627 from Sunday to Thursday between 08:00 am to 02:00 pm and from 08:30 am to 12:30 pm on Saturdays. You must bring the applicant along for the initial interview.
• On the day of your interview, please bring along the following documents in English or Arabic; documents in other languages must be translated.
  • Completed Student Application Form
  • Student Recommendation Form in an officially sealed envelope
  • Two recent passport size photos of the applicant (full-face view directly facing the camera in front of a white or off-white background)
  • A copy of the applicant’s passport
  • A copy of the applicant’s valid Emirates ID card
  • A copy of the applicant’s birth certificate
  • A copy of the applicant’s vaccination record
  • A copy of the parents’ passports
  • A copy of the parents’ Emirates ID card
  • A copy of the water and electricity bills
  • A copy of the applicant’s school report cards for the last year and the latest progress reports for the current academic year. It is mandatory for applicants, including those applying for KG1 and Prep, if they are currently enrolled in a preschool or nursery school.
• AED 500 in cash as a registration deposit must be paid to the Accounts Department. This amount is later deducted from the tuition fees if the school offers a seat and the applicant accepts it. For a refund, parents must submit the original receipt within one month from receipt.
• Applicants must get clearance from the school clinic to ensure that they don’t have any medical condition that AIS Schools cannot accommodate.
• Students applying from outside the UAE can scan and email documents and applications to the school.

Stage 2

• Once the documents have been verified, your child will be called for an entrance assessment.
  • Applicants applying for Grade 1 to Grade 9 will appear for an examination. The school will test the applicant’s English and Mathematics knowledge.
  • Applicants applying for Grade 10 and Grade 11 will sit for English, Maths and Sciences assessments.
  • KG1 and Prep applicants will be scheduled for an orientation session.
• Students who qualify for admission will be informed of the decision via email.

Before initiating the admission process, parents must ensure that their child meets the age requirements set by the school.

This is based on the age of the students on 31st March (for schools beginning in April) and 31st August (for schools beginning in September). Source: ADEK

Abu Dhabi International Private School Al Rawdah tuition fee is approved by the ADEK. The fees fall in the moderate to high range but can be paid in instalments. 

The total fee does not include books charges that range from AED 500 to AED 2,700. Abu Dhabi International Private School fees can be paid via cash, cheque or bank transfer.

AIS School Abu Dhabi provides transportation facilities that ensure a safe and sound commute. The school bus is responsible for picking and dropping students at predetermined locations.

Parents must submit a complete bus transportation application form to the transportation department to start using the bus service. You may also collect the form from the bus supervisor present at the school.

Also, parents must pay a bus registration deposit of AED 500 to the Accounts Department. The deposit will be adjusted against the annual transportation charges of AED 4,500 for a two-way trip.

Please note that bus services for kindergarten students are separate from bus services provided to Grade 1 to Grade 12 students. However, in certain circumstances, kindergarten children are allowed to use the other bus service.

Areas covered by the school are:

Abu Dhabi international private School in Al Rawdah believes that physical education and sporting activities are crucial for a student’s growth and development. For this purpose, the school has built a sizeable green football field where students can enjoy various sporting activities.

The indoor gymnasium also serves as a multi-purpose sports hall. Activities like yoga, kickboxing and taekwondo can take place in this gymnasium.

Abu Dhabi International School in Al Rawdah offers a wide range of extracurricular and co-curricular activities.

The extracurricular programme allows students to groom themselves by finding their passion and working on it. Students can participate in:

The clubs mentioned above are divided into paid and free categories. Where paid clubs take students upon registration, free clubs accept students on a first-come-first-serve basis. To participate in activities in a paid club will cost you AED 50 per session, and there are 20 sessions in total.

Bus service is available for students who are part of free clubs, while parents will have to pick up their children after the paid club session ends.

Apart from these ventures, AIS International School has brought third parties on board to provide extracurricular activities. Students can partivipate in activities offered by Fitness Express or Baroudy Sports Club for an additional fee.

To ensure that children get the most out of their academic journey, AIS in Abu Dhabi arranges field trips to cultural sites.

The after-school activities at AIS Al Rawdah occur from 02:45 pm to 03:45 pm.

Abu Dhabi International Private School in Al Rawdah and MBZ City has a dedicated medical centre with HAAD licenses. The primary responsibilities of the school clinic are:

• Annual health screening
• Assessment of minor health complaints
• Initial care for emergencies and health situations arising during the school day
• Medication administration for students with health care needs
• Monitoring and reporting infectious illnesses
• Providing vaccinations as per UAE vaccine schedule.

Building a positive relationship between parents and teachers is critical for any student’s academic success. AIS Abu Dhabi firmly believes in parents’ involvement in their child’s life.

Keeping this in mind, the school has designed various ways for parents to communicate with teachers and other staff members. A parent-teacher meeting is scheduled each term to discuss the performance of the students.

Another effort by AIS Private School is the Parents Committee. This organisation is made for parents who act as school ambassadors and serve on the advisory board. Joining this committee means actively working with the school management to achieve the goals.

Some of the objectives of the Parents Committee are:

• Designing programs that promote a strong sense of school community
• Encouraging parental involvement in school activities and events
• Providing student career orientation programs
• Conducting fund-raising efforts for students in financial need and educational purposes
• Discussing matters of concern related to the school with the administration
• Collaborating with the school administration and faculty in decision making and other aspects of school governance

Parents, guardians, and sponsors can create an account on the Abu Dhabi International Private School parent portal. You can view your child’s performance, attendance, extracurricular activities, school timings, school events, policies, academic calendar, etc.

Abu Dhabi International Private School’s contact details are presented below.

• Telephone Number: +971-2-443-4433
• Emails
  • Admission Enquiries: admissions@aisuae.com
• AIS Website
• AIS Facebook
• AIS Instagram

Note that the cover image belongs to Abu Dhabi International Private School

Do you conduct after-school activities?

All after-school activities are held in collaboration with external companies between 02:45 pm and 03:45 pm.

How many grades/years are there in your school?

Abu Dhabi International Private School Al Rawdha welcomes students from KG 1 until Grade 12.

Does your school follow a co-education model?

Yes, the school follows a co-education model.

How many students are currently studying in your school?

The school currently receives about 1,400 students.

Can you please describe the academic calendar of your school?

The academic calendar starts in the last week of August and ends in the last week of June.

Can you please mention the range of the tuition fee charged by your school?

The school’s annual fees range from AED 31,300 to AED 48,400.

How do you communicate with parents?

The school provides a special portal for parents, enabling them to view students' performance, attendance and absence records, activities and events schedules, working hours, policies, academic calendar, and much more. Parent-teacher meetings are an other way of establishing communication.

How often does your school arrange field trips?

The school organizes field trips to many destinations of cultural and historical importance in the UAE.

How many teachers are currently teaching in your school?

Currently, 80 teachers and 8 teaching assistants supervise the teaching of students.