Ajyal International School, MBZ City

Ajyal International School MBZ is a British curriculum school established by the Bin Omeir Foundation in 2014. The school is located in Mohammed Bin Zayed City – one of the popular residential areas in Abu Dhabi that is easily accessible to families. Its other branch is in Al Falah. The School currently has around 1,000 students, of which the majority are local Emiratis. However, students from other Arabian nations are also part of this educational institute. The teaching staff at this educational institute has 87 full-time teachers and 30 teaching assistants. The student to teacher ratio of 1:11 ensures individual attention and care.

Ajyal School caters to the educational needs of students from Foundation Stage 1 to Year 13 based on the National Curriculum of England. It also follows the guidelines set by the Ministry of Education (MOE) for Arabic and Islamic Studies. Students are exposed to intriguing non-curricular activities aimed at their overall development. The school facilities support their pursuits of academic and non-academic excellence. ADEK last inspected the school in 2018 and rated its performance as good.

Read this comprehensive guide by Bayut to learn more about the educational programme, admission and fees information and facilities available at Ajyal International School MBZ.

• Location: District 15, MBZ City
• Curriculum: UK and MOE curricula
• Co-ed or segregated: Co-education
• ADEK rating: Good
• Grades: Pre-KG to Grade 12

Ajyal International School is situated in Zone 15 of Mohammed Bin Zayed (MBZ) City, Abu Dhabi. Its strategic location allows easy access to people from the following nearby communities:

• Zone 14, MBZ City
• Zone 22, MBZ City
• Zone 20, MBZ City
• Mussafah

Zone 14 of Mohammad Bin Zayed City is near the Ajyal International School. It is one of the quiet and peaceful residential zones of MBZ City, consisting of spacious and luxurious villas. Residents enjoy easy access to various amenities, including shopping malls, supermarkets, hospitals, schools and restaurants. The school is within walking distance from Bareen International Hospital and a 2-minute drive from Madinat Mohammed Bin Zayed Healthcare Centre. Those living far from the school can opt for Zone 14, Zone 22 and Zone 20 of the MBZ City and Mussafah.

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Ajyal International School has plenty of school resources that directly elevate students’ learning experience. The modern and colourful school building is on a spacious plot in MBZ City. It resembles E-shaped architecture, with the front sides having the main reception area and foundation stage section. The rear end of the building has school facilities for the rest of the educational stages.

Classrooms for the foundation stage have soft flooring and easy access to outdoor areas. The idea is to support the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum involving numerous indoor and outdoor learning activities. The foundation stage section is oval with classrooms in pairs separated by outdoor areas and playing equipment at the centre of the section.

Inside the building lies the central corridor with tables and seating arrangements. The central corridor serves as a dining area for the foundation stage students. Classrooms from primary to high school stages are bright and spacious. They are fully furnished with age-appropriate furniture and teaching resources. The science labs at the school are split into biology, chemistry and physics labs. All the science labs are equipped with resources to support the curriculum.

The campus also has an extensive library where students have access to fiction and non-fiction books, supporting materials, journal articles, newspapers, periodicals, and other reading material forms. Students also have access to specialist ICT labs equipped with desktop computers, laptops, iPads and other ICT devices. This area is handy for high school students in completing their research work or projects.

There also exists a separate canteen area for senior students where they can enjoy their meals. Other noteworthy facilities within the campus include:

• 300-seater auditorium
• Specialist rooms for woodwork, design and technology, food technology, graphics and textiles
• Indoor sports hall
• Two swimming pools

Ajyal International School sits on Malaqit Street in Zone 15 of the Mohammed Bin Zayed City in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Those looking to access the school from the surrounding communities can access the school via Al Qa-id Street. In contrast, people living far from the school can use Abu Dhabi – Al Ain Road or Abu Dhabi – Al Ain Truck Road to reach the school.

An essential feature of Ajyal International School MBZ campus is its modern educational programme. The school emphasises updated knowledge with relevant education through its acclaimed educational programme. It is based on England’s internationally recognised National Curriculum, including the EYFS framework in the kindergarten stage. Students completing their schooling from this school attain A-Levels certification, which is globally accepted.

This school is an excellent option for Mohammad Bin Zayed (MBZ) City residents. Located in Zone 15, a central sub-community of the great MBZ City, students from different sub-communities can easily access the school. Additionally, the transportation facility by the school makes it an equally impressive option for those living far from the school.

Another strength of this school is its closeness to the local culture and traditions. Ajyal International School has made UAE culture and tradition a part of its strategic objectives. Consequently, it has attracted many Emirati to enrol their child in this school.

The teacher to student ratio at this educational facility is 1:11. It is lower than many international schools in the UAE and results in individual support to students. Students at the school feel that their academic and non-academic needs are met because of the excellent teaching strength and availability of exceptional facilities. The teaching faculty at the campus is experienced and have relevant qualifications.

Ajyal International School has a well-crafted inclusion policy for gifted and talented students and students with special educational needs. These documented policies and clear roles for management and teachers ensure that needs of every student are met.

Furthermore, Ajyal International School became the member of the British Schools in the Middle East in the academic year 2020 - 2021.

All these aspects make it an enticing option for parents looking to enrol their child in an international curricular school that offers individual support to students and offers a cultural experience close to their traditional values.

Ajyal International School caters to the educational needs of students aged 3 to 18 years. The educational system at this learning centre is split into the following phases of education:

Ajyal International School follows the National Curriculum of England for its educational programme. The school’s academic programme is broad and academically rich. It ensures updated knowledge with an international context to its students. Besides, the school offers a robust enrichment programme for the overall development of students. The enrichment programmes run for nine weeks each term. Students participate in various activities ranging from sports, music, arts and other co-curricular disciplines.

The specific features of the curriculum for each phase of education are as follows:

Foundation Stage Curriculum

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework is followed in the foundation stage. EYFS is a popular educational framework for young learners entering school for the first time. Seven key areas of learning focus on students’ overall growth and development. All seven areas of learning are interconnected and spark students’ interests in things around them.

The following three areas of learning are crucial in sparking curiosity and enthusiasm for learning:

• Physical Development
• Social, Personal and Emotional Development
• Language and Communication

Additionally, teachers ensure the development of students in the other four areas of learning:

• Mathematics
• Expressive Arts and Design
• Knowledge of the world
• Literacy

A vital feature of this framework is non-formal teaching methods for building foundational skills. This teaching method includes indoor and outdoor learning activities involving play and learn strategies. After completing the early years’ education, students are ready to tackle the academic endeavours of primary education.

Primary Stage Curriculum

Students entering the primary stage are exposed to more formal learning methods. From this stage, the school adopts the National Curriculum of England. Initially, teachers at Ajyal International School help students adjust to formal teaching methodologies.

The core subjects are taught by classroom teachers, whereas specialist teachers teach specialist subjects. At this stage, the school works closely with parents and ensures that regular feedback is shared with them. The close engagement with parents ensures that both teachers and parents are on the same page in students’ academic development.

For this purpose, the school arranges two parent-teacher meetings in the primary section, and parents receive written reports.

Secondary Stage Curriculum

In the secondary stage, the school adopts the National Curriculum of England for KS3, KS4 and KS5. Teachers build on the concepts laid in the primary section by developing a deeper understanding of the core subjects. At this stage, the school aims to develop curious, independent learners with strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills. The pastoral support team at the campus also ensures that students thrive in an encouraging, warm and positive learning environment.

The specialised subjects taught at Ajyal International School are:

In KS4, students prepare for the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) examinations. Afterwards, students work their way towards A-Levels certification in Year 13. Check out the curriculum of Ajyal International School for more information.

Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) is an education regulatory body established by the government of Abu Dhabi. Founded in 2006, ADEK aims to improve the quality of education offered by educational institutes in Abu Dhabi. Through the Irtiqaa programme, it inspects the performance of schools and other institutes every 18 to 24 months and issues a detailed report. ADEK examines the school based on the following six performance standards:

• Leadership and Management
• Assessment and teaching
• Curriculum
• Students’ achievement
• Students’ social and personal development and innovation skills
• Protection, care, guidance and support to students

It uses the six-point rating scale to judge the performance of school:

• Outstanding
• Very Good
• Good
• Acceptable
• Weak
• Very Weak

A brief explanation of ADEK’s six-point rating scale is as follows:

ADEK last inspected Ajyal International School MBZ City for 2018-2019. There is an improvement in the school’s overall performance as ADEK rated the school as good in the current inspection report. Previously, the performance of the school was rated acceptable.

The ratings for each performance standard is as follows:

• Students’ achievements – Good
• Curriculum – Good
• Protection, care, guidance and support to students – Good
• Teaching and assessments – Good
• Students’ personal and social development and innovation skills – Good
• Leadership and management – Good

The following strengths of Ajyal International School MBZ are as follows:

• Students demonstrate good behaviour and a positive relationship with other students and staff.
• Students also demonstrate a good understanding of Islamic values and UAE culture.
• The school provides a very good support programme for students to learn English as a second language.
• The school curriculum involves a progressive learning environment for students.
• Ajyal International School offers a high-quality learning environment and resources to its students.

Nevertheless, the school can take several steps to improve its performance:

• The school needs to raise attainment for every subject throughout the school. For this, teachers need to work on students’ Arabic and English speaking and writing skills. They should also raise the students’ expectations and plan a more challenging learning environment. They should also increase the breadth of the high school programme and modify the curriculum to meet the needs of SEN students.
• The school should use assessment for planning and supporting teaching. For this purpose, they should link the continuous assessment to monitor progress made by students in all stages. They should also use formative assessment techniques for every subject. Improve the quality of teaching by involving students in their achievements.
• Ajyal International School MBZ needs to develop opportunities for students to learn and take responsibility. They can do so by promoting creative and critical thinking, enhancing opportunities for innovation and leadership roles for students. They can also work on their academic and pastoral services.
• The school should also work on developing a shared vision and value. They can work closely with parents to support students’ learning. They should also devise a coherent and strategic plan for improving provision through all the phases of education.

The academic year at Ajyal International School MBZ City starts in the last week of August and ends in the second week of July. There are three terms in an academic calendar, with important dates as follows:

• The first term starts in the last week of August and ends in the first week of December. This is followed by a winter break from the second week of December to the last week of December.
• The second term starts in the first week of January and ends in the fourth week of March. This is followed by a spring break that ends in the second week of April.
• The third term starts in the third week of April and ends in the second week of July.

For more information, contact the school.

Ajyal International School follows an inclusive admission policy and accepts admission applications from all. To apply, parents need to submit the online application form. At this stage, parents have two options. If they are new to the school, they need to register as a new family. If any of their children studied at this school, please login into the existing profile to apply for admission. Before applying, the school encourages parents to book a school tour and check out the facilities by themselves. Ajyal International School is also offering virtual school tours on its website.

After completing the required stages in the online application form, parents need to visit the school along with the following documents:

Students-Related Documents

• Previous academic record, preferably of the previous academic year
• Original transfer certificate (must be attested and stamped)
• Recommendation form
• 1 passport-size photograph (white background)
• Copy of Vaccination record
• Copy of Insurance card
• Transfer Certificate within UAE if the current school is outside of Abu Dhabi
• Address location Proof either ADDC(electricity) bill or Tawtheeq.
• eSIS withdrawal transcript if the current school is in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain or Western region.

Parents-Related Document

• Copies of Emirates ID card of both parents (both sides)
• Copies of passports of both parents with valid UAE residence visas (visa is mandatory for non-UAE nationals)

Arabic forms and documents required are:

• Medical form
• Photography form
• Transportation form

Parents can also upload a soft copy of the aforementioned documents via website.
Please note that the transfer certificate and school reports that are from outside the UAE must be stamped and attested by the following:

• The Ministry of Education
• The Embassy of the country of origin
• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs

However, documents from West Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand are exempted from the above attestation.

Here are the age-grade guidelines for admission at this school:

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

* This is to cater to students transferring from systems that admit students of a younger age)

After submitting all the required documents, parents need to make an appointment for an assessment. For admission in the foundation stage, a school teacher will undertake a stay and play session. The assessment test of 30 to 50 minutes is taken for admission in Year 1 and Year 2. For admission in Year 3 onwards, the candidates need to clear the CAT 4 test. Contact the admission team of the school for more information.

Suppose your child successfully clears the assessment and meets other requirements. In that case, the school will send an acceptance letter to parents with further instructions. At this stage, parents need to submit the required deposit within the specified time to secure a seat for their child. Failure to do so could result in the cancellation of admission. Read the admission process at Ajyal International School MBZ City for more information.

The Ajyal International School MBZ City fees are as follows:

Parents can pay the tuition fee online. The banking details are as follows:

• Bank: National Bank of Fujairah
• Branch: Abu Dhabi
• Account Name: AJYAL INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
• Account Number: 012001120393
• IBAN: AE310380000012001120393
• Swift Code: NBFUAEAFAUH

For more information, check out the fees structure of Ajyal International School.

Ajyal International School MBZ City offers a fully-funded scholarship programme to female students between 7 and 12 years old. A 100% scholarship is awarded to five girls by the scholarship panel. The panel reviews their applications and interviews them to find out deserving candidates.

Ajyal International School has collaborated with Raptors Cafe and Caterers to provide scrumptiously delicious and nutritious food items to students. It is a well-known catering service in Abu Dhabi that offers quality food to offices and schools. All the food items prepared by Raptors are free from additives, preservatives and other harmful chemicals.

The school has relaunched its catering operations from the start of the academic year in 2020. Packed meals are delivered to students in classrooms where they enjoy their meals as per the guidelines of ADEK. Currently, the packed meal only include sandwiches. Parents can opt for either weekly or monthly packages.

To apply for the meal service, parents need to fill out the google form issued by the school at the start of the academic year. Payment needs to be made to the following account:

• Account Name: Raptors Chicken Restaurant
• Account Number: 117897028220001
• IBAN Number: AE1900300117897028220001
• Bank: ADCB
• Bank Branch: Salam Street

Once paid, send a snapshot of the paid receipt via email to raptorsatajyal@gmail.com. Afterwards, you can order a meal for your child on the school’s official website. For more information, read about the catering service offered by Ajyal International School MBZ.

There exists a transportation service for students at Ajyal International School. The school has a fleet of buses that drop and pick students from different areas in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Ajman. The full-year school bus fee for all grades is AED 4,575.

It is a day-only school and does not offer any boarding facility to students. Those living far from the school can either use the transport service provided by the school or relocate to areas close to the school. If you are interested in moving close to the school, read the residential communities near the Ajyal International School section at the beginning of the guide.

The school usually arranges holiday camps for its students by collaborating with the East Sports Management (ESM) Academy. It usually organises the camps during the summer break. It carries out for four weeks where students learn different life-related skills.

The school has a limited range of sports facilities available on the campus. The sports facilities include an indoor sports hall used for indoor sports, such as badminton, basketball and volleyball and Physical Education (PE) sessions. There also exist two swimming pools where students learn and practise swimming.

Ajyal International School, MBZ City branch, strongly emphasises the provision of extra-curricular activities to its students. Named the enrichment programme, it aims to introduce students to a range of non-academic activities. Students from a young age take part in these activities and show their potential. The enrichment programme serves as an opportunity for students to work with peers and teachers.

Experienced teachers lead the extra-curricular programme. Parents and students choose three activities of their choice in preferential order. The school then selects an activity for the students. In case of availability, the school can opt for two activities for students.

The range of activities available to students are:

Field Trip is an integral part of Ajyal International School Mohammed Bin Zayed (MBZ) City. It allows students to explore the outside world and link it with the lectures taught within the classrooms. Some memorable field trips offered to students by the MBZ City campus are:

• Hay Festival, Manarat al Saadiyat
• Little World, Abu Dhabi
• Expo 2020
• Al Qana National Aquarium

Currently, the only after-school care offered to students at Ajyal International School is in the form of its enrichment program. Some of these activities happen outside the regular school timings.

There is a school clinic that caters to the medical needs of students. It has the necessary equipment and highly experienced staff to handle minor to moderate illnesses and injuries. The school takes the affected children to the nearest hospital in severe conditions. The school clinic also runs several government-initiated health-awareness and vaccination programmes for children’s safety.

Several modes of communication are available at this school. The parent portal by the Ajyal International School facilitates parents by providing necessary information together on a single platform. By adding their credentials, parents can access attendance records, examinations schedule, academic calendars, circulars and notifications and much more.

Besides, the school arranges parent-teacher meetings and parent-teacher conferences where teachers and parents can discuss the progress made by children. These meetings are essential as they allow both teachers and parents to share practices to aid students’ learning.

Other modes of communication at the school include the official school website, social media platform and WhatsApp Groups. The school makes the WhatsApp groups in which teachers and parents of students studying in the same classroom are added. It is an ideal source of communication for parents and teachers for urgent enquiries.

Address: Behind Sheikha Fatima Mosque, Zone 15, Mohammad Bin Zayed (MBZ) City, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Telephone Number

• Registrar: +971 02 6968 507 or +971 02 6968 506
• Principal’s PA +971 02 6968 503
• Reception: +971 02 6968 500 or +971 02 5522 668

Email Address

• General Enquiries: info@ajyal.sch.ae
• Registrar: registrar@ajyal.sch.ae
• Principal’s PA: paprincipal@ajyal.sch.ae

Official Website and Social Media

• Official Website
• Facebook
• Instagram
• Twitter
• YouTube

Note that the cover image belongs to Ajyal International School

What are the School hours at Ajyal International School MBZ City?

The school starts from Monday to Friday at 07:45 am. The school ends at 01:00 pm for students in FS1 and FS2 while it ends at 03:00 pm for students in Year 1 and above.

Does the school organise after school activities?

The enrichment program is the only after-school care service provided to the school's students at the moment, and some of these activities are held outside the regular school hours.

Does the school provide a school transportation service for students participating in after-school activities?

Yes, the school provides school transportation for students during after-school activities and field trips.

How many grades are there at Ajyal International School?

Ajyal International School in District 15 of MBZ City offers education to children from FS1 to Year 12.

Does the school follow a co-ed model?

Yes, the school follows a co-ed model.

How many students are currently studying at this school?

The school current have over 1,000 students, most of them are Emiratis.

Does the school have any special education programmes for students of determination?

The school follows a policy of integrating students of determination and those with special educational needs, and is keen to implement a comprehensive admission policy in addition to making the necessary adjustments to the individual education plan and appointing trained and qualified teachers and staff to deal with this group and other strategies.

What is the academic calendar followed by Ajyal International School?

Ajyal International School follows the academic calendar for US/UK curriculum schools, which starts in August and ends in July.

Does the school offer scholarship programmes to children?

Yes, the school offers a fully funded scholarship program for female students between the ages of 7 and 12 years. The scholarship committee selects 5 females for 100% scholarship programmes.

How does the school communicate with parents?

The school believes in the importance of effective communication with parents by providing several means of communication, including the parent portal of Ajyal International School, Mohamed Bin Zayed Electronic City, parent-teacher meetings and conferences, as well as the school's official website, social media platforms and WhatsApp groups.

Does the school have a cafeteria or a canteen?

Yes, Ajyal International School MBZ City has a canteen where students can buy items provided by Raptors Café and Caterers. The avergae cost is given below:

• Vegetarian meal: one meal per day for a week is 45 AED, while the daily meal for a month is 170 AED
• Non-vegetarian meal: one meal per day for a week is AED 50, while the daily meal for a month is AED 190

Does the school arrange field trips?

The school gives students the opportunity to explore the outside world and relate it to their lessons by organizing field trips, which are an important part of the enrichment programme.

Does the school arrange holiday camps?

Yes, Ajyal International School arranges holiday camps in collaboration with Eastern Sports Management Academy (ESM).

How many teachers are part of this school?

The school currently has 87 full-time teachers and 30 teaching assistants.