Best schools in Abu Dhabi

A far cry from the wildlife haven of the late 18th century, this oil-rich island is now home to a growing tourist and financial industry, bringing a wide cultural mix in terms of ethnicities and religions. This, in turn, has brought international schools hurrying to jump onto the sandy bandwagon in Abu Dhabi.

Wooden boats along a sandy beach on Marina Mall island with the modern skyline of Abu Dhabi across the water, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Education in Abu Dhabi

Bingo! In 1958, the black gold was discovered and it was all change for the sleepy, ex-pearling town. Abu Dhabi became a magnet for the oil industry (the emirate owns 95 per cent of UAE oil production), is home to the Supreme Petroleum Council and is still the driving force of the UAE economy. All of which brings executives flocking here from all over the world.

Abu Dhabi has grown into a shiny new city, expanding outwards (and upwards) at a formidable pace. The constant new developments entice families with brand-new housing, seaside living and access to international schools. And with the population made up of around 90 per cent expats, it should come as no surprise that these international schools cover such a wide variety of educational systems.

Choosing a school in Abu Dhabi

A few stalwarts have been here since the third quarter of the 20th century but the majority of international schools are relative newcomers. That said, some are offshoots of famous British educational heavyweights while others are run by very reputable businesses in the field.

All the schools take children from nursery to 18, although few families stay that long – Abu Dhabi is seldom a lifetime choice. That means the key consideration for parents is finding a school that will most easily enable their offspring to transition when they exit for home or another country. Therefore, it’s probably best to consider the options from a curriculum point of view.

Good news is that all schools are government inspected and rated every two years by the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK). To find out the latest ratings and reports for individual schools go to www.tamm.abudhabi and type in Irtiqaa Rating: Higher to Lower under the tab ‘Sort By’. These reports are lengthy and thorough but bear in mind they are always looking at the school from an Arab angle, notably to ensure that Arab language and culture is sufficiently promoted. Also be aware that while ADEK and accreditation reports are certainly useful in coming to a decision (and helpfully, they include the results of very comprehensive parent surveys), nothing beats talking to parents or ex-parents yourself.