The Sheikh Zayed Private Academy for Boys, Abu Dhabi

Managed by the renowned GEMS Education, The Sheikh Zayed Private Academy for Boys (SZPAB) opened in 2015. The school was launched in response to The Sheikh Zayed Private Academy for Girls’ grand success.

The Sheikh Zayed American Private Academy for Boys is an American curriculum school with a strong emphasis on Arabic and Islamic studies and UAE culture and heritage. The school offers education from KG until Grade 12. The private school offers a co-educational setting from KG 1 to Grade 3, but only caters to boys from Grade 4 onwards.

Currently, SZPAB Abu Dhabi has over 1,300 boys from KG1 to Grade 12. Majority of students are Emirati. The school’s experienced teaching staff consists of 120 full-time teachers and 43 teaching assistants that fully support students’ educational needs.

SZPAB in Abu Dhabi achieved a ‘Very Good’ rating from the ADEK in its second year of inspection. Because of its favourable rating, SZPAB American School made it to the list of best schools in Abu Dhabi, and top GEMS schools in Abu Dhabi put together by Bayut. Parents in the capital city can also check out other top American schools in Abu Dhabi for their children.

• Location: Khalidiyah
• School fees: AED 52,560 - AED 70,260
• Curriculum: American
• Co-ed or segregate: Co-ed from KG 1 until Grade 3 after which it's a boys only school
• ADEK rating: Very Good
• Years offered: KG 1 - Grade 12

Parents living in nearby communities can send their children to the Sheikh Zayed Private School for Boys for high-quality American education. The nearest residential neighbourhoods include:

• Al Bateen
• Al Manhal
• Al Tibbiya

The nearest community is Al Bateen, one of the key residential neighbourhoods of Abu Dhabi. Home to Al Bateen Palace, the area is filled with landscaped gardens and is just minutes away from several restaurants, bars and hotels.

If you are on a lookout for housing near the school, check out:

• Apartments for rent near SZPAB School
• Villas for rent near SZAPB School
• Villas for sale near SZAPB School

The purpose-built Sheikh Zayed Private Academy for Boys campus offers excellent facilities to its students. Indoor teaching facilities include:

Outdoor facilities include:

• A 5-lane running track
• Football / Rugby field
• Basketball courts
• Skateboard park
• Climbing apparatus
• General outdoor play and picnic areas
• Covered play areas
• Two rooftop play and picnic areas

You can buy school uniforms online or from the shop located on the girls’ campus. Globe Uniforms LLC supplies the uniform.

Sheikh Zayed Private American Academy for Boys is located on Al Falah Street in Al Khalidiyah. The neighbourhood is home to notable landmarks, including the Embassy of Uganda.

Plus, the bustling community is filled with several lifestyle amenities such as beauty salons, fitness centres, mosques, schools, clinics and offices.

Sheikh Zayed Academy for Boys is a reputed school in Abu Dhabi that caters to students’ educational needs. Even though the school follows the American curriculum from KG until Grade 12, the introduction of Arabic Studies, Islamic Education and Emirati studies ensure that students understand and appreciate the local culture.

To instil innovative and leadership skills, SZPAB offers leadership programs to students. The school has also been recognised as an Apple Distinguished School for 2018–2021 for its innovative integration of iPads to enhance learning linked to the Computer Explorers Club.

Moreover, Sheikh Zayed Private Academy for Boys’ location is another plus point. Families from nearby communities can easily access the school. Similarly, parents who want their child to be educated in a gender-specific school will be satisfied with a segregated campus setting from Grade 4 onwards.

Finally, SZPAB School campus in Khalidiya boasts premium facilities. From indoor teaching facilities to fantastic outdoor sports facilities, your child will receive amazing support for academics and physical education.

The Sheikh Zayed Private Academy for Boys has divided the school years into four sections based on the American education system.

Sheikh Zayed Private Academy for Boys Abu Dhabi offers the American curriculum from Kindergarten until Grade 12 based on the Massachusetts State Standards. The school is accredited by NEASC, placing it amongst a small number of American schools in Abu Dhabi having achieved this feat successfully.

The kindergarten section prepares little ones for the demands of the primary school. Students are introduced to play-based activities that improve their numeracy, reading and writing skills.

As soon as the child is promoted to Grade 1, they are introduced to core subjects, including English Language Arts, Mathematics and Science, together with Social Studies. As your child keeps growing academically, the school complements these traditional subjects by teaching Art, Music, Drama, ICT and French.

Other than this, the Sheikh Zayed Private Academy for Boys’ curriculum encourages students to develop leadership and innovative skills through different programs. Similarly, to help students understand Emirati culture and Islamic values, the school offers The Leadership Program, The My Identity Program, and Qu͛ran Memorisation Program with an annual opportunity to travel to Mecca (after Umrah).

The Abu Dhabi Departments of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) was formed in 2005 to regulate and supervise both private and public schools in Abu Dhabi. The agency invests in innovative learning strategies on behalf of schools to ensure that students can face and tackle the 21st century’s challenges.

Irtiqaa Programme is one of the initiatives of ADEK where private and public schools are inspected annually and are rated based on:

• Quality of students’ achievement.
• Quality of personal and social development as well as innovation skills of the students.
• Quality of teaching and assessment.
• Quality of curriculum.
• Quality of student safety and wellbeing, as well as the guidance and support provided to them.
• Quality of school leadership and management.

The quality of the school is rated on a six-point scale, as shown below:

The Sheikh Zayed Private Academy for Boys’ ADEK rating for the academic year 2021 – 2022 is ‘Very Good.’

The published report highlights the strong and weak areas of the school. Some positive points include:

• The way school leaders and governors promoted the vision of the school amongst students, teachers and parents.
• The effectiveness of teaching in promoting students’ engagement and progress in all subjects.
• The success of the kindergarten curriculum in providing a strong start to children’s education.
• Remarkable efforts by SZPAB UAE to provide protection, care, guidance and support to all students.
• The school used best practices to ensure more provision for students with special educational needs and innovative use of learning technology.

However, there are few areas where Sheikh Zayed Private Academy for Boys UAE should direct their planning to, including:

• Raising students’ attainment in all subjects by focusing on their progress.
• Increase the level of challenges offered to students, particularly higher achievers, as they progress through the school.

Sheikh Zayed Private Academy for Boys’ academic calendar is 10-month long and divided into three terms. It highlights major school events, examination days, result day, and national and Islamic holidays.

Please note that dates for Islamic holidays are subject to moonsighting. The academic year starts in August and ends in July; here’s a summary to give you an idea:

• The first term starts in the last week of August and ends in the second week of December, followed by a 3-week winter vacation.
• The second term resumes in the first week of January and ends in the last week of March, followed by a 2-week spring break.
• The third term begins in the second week of April and concludes in the first week of July, followed by a 2-month summer holiday.

The admission process at Sheikh Zayed Private Academy for Boys starts with an online inquiry. Parents are advised to provide the correct and updated contact details and other information at this stage.

Once you have submitted the online inquiry, the school will send you an email informing you about your application’s status. This is also a confirmation of receiving your inquiry request. The email will also contain a link to complete the application. Parents are asked to submit the following supporting documents:

• Applicant’s original Emirates ID card
• Three photos of the applicant
• Applicant’s recent school/nursery reports (at least the two previous
• years) excluding KG1
• Copy of applicant’s passport
• Copy of applicant’s visa (If not a UAE citizen)
• Copy of applicant’s immunisation record
• Parents’ original Emirates ID cards
• Copy of Family Book (For UAE citizens)
• Copy of parents’ (sponsor) visa (if not a UAE citizen)
• Copy of parents’ (sponsor) passport
• Copy of your electricity bill
• Your child’s Transfer Certificate

Please note that your child might be asked to appear for an entry assessment and interview. The criteria for different year groups are mentioned below:

• Grade 1: Students will attend an interview with the Head of Phase/ Division to assess basic literacy (English and Arabic) and numeracy skills.
• Grade 2: Students will attend an English reading, writing, mathematics and an Arabic assessment.
• Grade 3 yo Grade 12: Students are required to complete an English reading, writing, and numeracy assessment. SZPA assessments are conducted using the standardised MAPs (Measure of Academic Performance) online. Students will also be evaluated for their Arabic Reading and Writing.
• Grade 6 to Grade 12: Individual interviews will be conducted.

Within 7 days of the assessment, the student will be offered a place. The offer letter is sent to the parents by email and will include detailed information on accepting the offer and paying the registration fee that is adjustable from the first term tuition fee.

The age-placement guidelines followed by the school are given below:

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

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

Sheikh Zayed Private Academy for Boys’ tuition fee for the academic year 2021 – 2022 is as follows:

The fee mentioned above does not include the cost of uniforms and transportation. Similarly, buying a school digital device is compulsory from Grades 3 to Grade 12. But the charges are not included in the fee quoted earlier. Parents will be informed of the cost of the device separately.

Refund Policy

If a student doesn’t wish to join the school after enrollment, a withdrawal form must be submitted to the school registrar. This should be done before the start of the academic year to avail 5% refund on the advance payment. If students withdraw after the beginning of the academic year, the following fees will be due.

• If the student attends classes for one week or fails to show up entirely without notifying the school in writing in advance, the school shall deduct registration or re-registration fee.
• If the student attends classes for two weeks, the school shall deduct one month’s tuition fee.
• If the student attends classes for three weeks, the school shall deduct two months’ tuition fee.
• If the student attends classes for a month or more, the school shall deduct three months’ tuition fee.

You can pay Sheikh Zayed Private Academy for Boys’ fees via cash, cheque or bank transfer.

Keita offers catering services at SZPAB School in Abu Dhabi. Parents must pay for hot and cold meals online. However, no lunch options are available for KG 1 and KG 2 students. They shall bring food/lunch from home.

Students in Grades 1 to Grade 10 can buy a cold snack from Keita catering service daily or bring healthy snacks from home. Students can buy hot or cold lunch Monday through Thursday. Since Friday is an early dismissal day and students get off at 11:45 pm, there is no school lunch.

Sheikh Zayed Private Academy for Boys Khalidiya has outsourced bus services to Emirates Transport.

Sports facilities at the Sheikh Zayed Private School include:

• A 5-lane running track
• Football / Rugby field
• Basketball courts
• Skateboard park
• Climbing apparatus
• General outdoor play and picnic areas
• Covered play areas
• 2 rooftop play and picnic areas

To address different interests and enrich students’ experiences, SZPAB offers a variety of extracurricular activities. These activities are held after school timings. Different ECAs are offered each term and start within the first few weeks of the school year.

To enrol yourself for ECA, you have to visit the ParentPoint portal. There you will find all the ECAs listed and can choose your favourite ones. Since SZPAB teachers offer activities, there are no additional charges.

Other than this, you can enrol your child with outside providers such as E-Sports (ESM) who hire professional coaches to offer even more selections at a minimal charge.

Private music lessons are also available and include Piano, Vocals, Strings (violin, cello), Woodwind (recorder, flute, saxophone, clarinet), Brass (trumpet, horn, euphonium, trombone, tuba) and Percussion (orchestral, drum kit).

Most ECA are offered after school from 03:00 pm to 04:00 pm. Parents are requested to pick their child as soon as the activity ends. If you pick your child late, they might be disqualified from the activity.

Break from studies is a must for students. For this purpose, schools often arrange field trips where children can explore the real world and casually interact with their peers. Similarly, SZPAB in Khalidiya takes students on school trips that engage their mental and physical capacity.

The school has visited culturally rich sites and tourist attractions in Abu Dhabi and other emirates in the past.

If a child is injured, the nurse or the school doctor will be the first contact point for students. A medical clinic is tended by a registered physician onsite. The medical staff remains in contact with the school management, parents and nearby hospitals to treat emergencies.

The well-equipped clinic can quickly treat minor emergencies and provide first-aid. Medical record of each child is stored in the clinic for future reference. Nevertheless, parents are requested to provide updated medical reports, especially if they have a medical condition that the school must know.

Basic health checks on students are done annually. The clinic is also responsible to give sessions on health and hygiene to children frequently.

The Sheikh Zayed Private Academy for Boys represents a warm and friendly community that promotes constructive interaction between students, school, parents, and society. There is SZPAB ParentPoint – an online portal for parents to access and view activities of their child round the year.

• Telephone Number: +971-2-203-3333
• Emails
  • General Enquiries: zayedacademyboys@zayedacademyboys.ae
  • Admission Enquiries: registrar@zayedacademyboys.ae
• SZPAB Website
• SZPAB Facebook
• SZPAB YouTube
• SZPAB LinkedIn
• SZPAB Instagram

Note that the cover image belongs to The Sheikh Zayed Private Academy for Boys

What are the timings of your school?

• KG 1 and KG 2: 07:45 am to 12:20 pm
• Grade 1 to Grade 12: 07:45 am to 02:30 pm (11:45 am on Fridays)

Do you conduct after-school activities?

Many extra-curricular activities are conducted after-school hours.

How many grades/years are there in your school?

The Sheikh Zayed Private Academy for Boys offers education from KG 1 until Grade 12.

How many students are currently studying in your school?

Currently, there are over 1,300 students enroled in the school.

Can you please describe the academic calendar of your school?

The academic calendar runs from the last week of August to the first week of July.

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

Tuition fee ranges from AED 52,560 to AED 70,260.

How do you communicate with parents?

Primarily, communication is done via a parent portal and parent-teacher meetings. You can also contact the school through its official website and social media pages.

Do you have a cafeteria or a canteen on campus?

The school canteen, in cooperation with the Kita Catering Company, provides food services for students.

How often does your school arrange field trips?

The school organizes many field trips for students throughout the academic year.

How many teachers are currently teaching in your school?

The teaching staff consists of 120 full-time teachers and 43 teaching assistants.