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Best 20 International Schools in United Arab Emirates

International Education in United Arab Emirates

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Below, we have compiled the top 20 international schools in United Arab Emirates according to our users. However, there are another 222 schools to choose from in the country. You can find the best international school for your child by personalising your results. Just fill in your search criteria, and we will calculate a personal score for every international school in the city of your choosing based on your requirements.

Recommended Schools

The British International School Abu Dhabi

Part of the Nord Anglia family, The British International School Abu Dhabi offers a transformational education in a warm, inclusive community, empowering every student to excel, embrace global opportunities, and shape their future.
City
Abu Dhabi
Curriculum
British, IB
Language of instruction
English
Ages
3 to 18
Yearly fees - 2025/2026
from: Dirham 54,204
to: Dirham 76,952
Reviews
(8 reviews)

Nord Anglia International School Abu Dhabi

Part of the Nord Anglia Education family of premium international schools, NAS Abu Dhabi offers a learning experience designed for the future where your child will achieve more than they ever imagined possible.
City
Abu Dhabi
Curriculum
British
Language of instruction
English
Ages
3 to 18
Yearly fees - 2025/2026
from: Dirham 65,000
to: Dirham 95,000

The Arbor School

An ecological school in Dubai based on the National curriculum for England.
City
Dubai-Sharjah-Ajman
Curriculum
British
Language of instruction
English
Ages
3 to 18
Yearly fees - 2025/2026
from: Dirham 49,500
to: Dirham 90,250

Nord Anglia International School Dubai

At NAS Dubai, success is more than achieving outstanding exam results. We go beyond traditional education to offer transformative learning experiences to help students develop skills needed to thrive in a changing world.
City
Dubai-Sharjah-Ajman
Curriculum
British, IB
Language of instruction
English
Ages
3 to 18
Yearly fees - 2025/2026
from: Dirham 69,625
to: Dirham 105,288
Reviews
(1 review)

Best 20 International Schools in United Arab Emirates

Out of a total of 242 International Schools in United Arab Emirates.

Based on the aggregated preferences of our users in the last 30 days.

The Spanish School of Abu Dhabi

Founded on the basis of strong cultural relations between Spain and the UAE, the Spanish School of Abu Dhabi is committed to providing quality education based on the Spanish curriculum.
Presently, SSAD is offering Nursery to Grade 5.
City
Abu Dhabi
Curriculum
Spanish
Language of instruction
Spanish
Ages
3 to 14
Yearly fees - 2025/2026
from: Dirham 26,875
to: Dirham 29,175

Newlands School

Newlands School Dubai enables every child to achieve their potential. Students gain an excellent quality British education in a values-based, internationally-minded environment so that they may understand, contribute to, and succeed in an ever-developing and competitive world.
Our vision is for the school to provide:
-opportunity and challenge
-a commitment to continuous improvement
-a route to university and lifelong learning
City
Dubai-Sharjah-Ajman
Curriculum
British
Language of instruction
English
Ages
3 to 18
Yearly fees - 2025/2026
from: Dirham 21,372
to: Dirham 40,072
Reviews
(1 review)

Oaktree Primary School

Small classes with intimate student teacher relationships, community engagement and happy and engaged students.
City
Dubai-Sharjah-Ajman
Curriculum
British
Language of instruction
English
Ages
3 to 11
Yearly fees - 2025/2026
from: Dirham 18,518
to: Dirham 31,106

Good Will Children Private School

Good Will Children Private School L.L.C. is a recognized Cambridge International School teaching Cambridge Core subjects in English (as a second language), Math, Science and ICT.
This internationally respected curriculum is now taught in 150 countries across the world and culminates in the International General Certificate of Secondary Education, AS and A level certification recognized by universities worldwide.
City
Abu Dhabi
Curriculum
British
Language of instruction
English
Ages
4 to 15
Yearly fees - 2024/2025
from: Dirham 26,650
to: Dirham 32,360

Ajyal International School

Ajyal International School commits to:
- Offering students an education that is meaningful and relevant to their personal, academic, and social life using the Significant Learning Model;
- Providing active learning experiences, avoiding rote learning;
- Using means of assessment that are educative in nature (assessment for learning), qualitative and quantitative, standardised, frequent, performance–based (criterion and standards) and involving self-assessment;
- Aligning its teaching and assessment activities to Significant Learning Outcomes by a process referred to as backward design;
- Collecting wide-ranging performance data to continuously improve learning and teaching, curriculum provision, and institutional efficacy;
- Using technology to enhance learning, and not just to facilitate teaching;
- Providing continuous professional development to all our staff; and
- Adhering to the highest standards of student physical safety, health and personal well-being.
City
Abu Dhabi
Curriculum
British
Language of instruction
English
Ages
3 to 18
Yearly fees - 2025/2026
from: Dirham 24,104
to: Dirham 43,192
Reviews
(1 review)

American Gulf School

Holistic IB Education
City
Dubai-Sharjah-Ajman
Curriculum
American, IB
Language of instruction
English
Ages
3 to 18
Yearly fees - 2025/2026
from: Dirham 35,540
to: Dirham 75,440
Reviews
(2 reviews)

Citizens School

Citizens School provides a learning experience that focuses on the whole growth of a learner and is built around each child’s unique requirements, giving them the choices to explore themes, expand interests and determine the routes that they want to go on. A Place to be Inspired,
Empowered, and Thrive
Citizens School is at the forefront of modern education, utilising a personalised approach to learning that inspires curiosity and innovation. Our learners are encouraged to ask questions, think critically, and explore real-world challenges. We believe this approach promotes a creative mindset, expanding the horizons of learning and igniting a lifelong passion for knowledge.
City
Dubai-Sharjah-Ajman
Curriculum
British
Language of instruction
English
Ages
3 to 14
Yearly fees - 2025/2026
from: Dirham 40,500
to: Dirham 80,000

American International School in Abu Dhabi

The American International School in Abu Dhabi is celebrating its 25th anniversary, having been established in 1995 to provide local and expatriate residents of Abu Dhabi with high quality American education, based on American standards and an international curriculum. AISA received its first accreditation in October 1997 from the Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges (MSA), and in January 2010 was accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS). AISA offers education from Kindergarten to Grade 12. It was the first school to offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma in the UAE and later became the first school in Abu Dhabi to be authorized to offer the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP). In keeping with local regulations, the Secondary School is gender segregated.
City
Abu Dhabi
Curriculum
IB, American
Language of instruction
English
Ages
4 to 18
Yearly fees - 2025/2026
from: Dirham 32,950
to: Dirham 59,900
Reviews
(1 review)

Crown American Private School

Crown American Private School is an American curriculum school founded in 2005 and is welcoming students from Kindergarten up to Grade 12.
City
Dubai-Sharjah-Ajman
Curriculum
American
Language of instruction
English
Ages
3 to 18
Yearly fees - 2025/2026
from: Dirham 14,100
to: Dirham 31,400

Brighton College Abu Dhabi

Brighton College Abu Dhabi offers its pupils a vibrant and challenging learning environment, and a distinctive British independent school ethos which reflects the values and dynamic culture of Abu Dhabi and the United Arab Emirates.
Located on Abu Dhabi Island in a purpose-built campus next to Khalifa Park, Brighton College Abu Dhabi boasts state-of-the-art facilities and is committed to becoming the leading school in the Middle East. With 144 highly experienced and talented Academic staff and over 100 support staff the school is able to provide an outstanding level of education as witnessed by our latest Inspection reports.
City
Abu Dhabi
Curriculum
British
Language of instruction
English
Ages
3 to 18
Yearly fees - 2025/2026
from: Dirham 50,830
to: Dirham 80,780

German International School Sharjah

The school is situated in a lush green compound. As it is a small school the atmosphere is very friendly and people care for each other. The teachers support all students so they can reach their best results.
City
Dubai-Sharjah-Ajman
Curriculum
IB, German
Languages of instruction
English, German
Ages
3 to 18
This school does not make their fees public.

Collegiate International School

Collegiate International School is a community school providing a warm and caring atmosphere, for happy students and families .we empower our students with a holistic, rigorous and international education for success in an ever changing world.
City
Dubai-Sharjah-Ajman
Curriculum
IB, American
Language of instruction
English
Ages
3 to 18
Yearly fees - 2025/2026
from: Dirham 39,478
to: Dirham 70,630

Al Najah Private School

Al Najah Private School was founded in 1987 as a private international school from K-12 with the aim of providing the most comprehensive British curriculum as a college preparatory education to students of all nationalities.
City
Abu Dhabi
Curriculum
IB, British
Language of instruction
English
Ages
4 to 18
Yearly fees - 2024/2025
from: Dirham 15,100
to: Dirham 33,420

GEMS World Academy Abu Dhabi

City
Abu Dhabi
Curriculum
IB
Language of instruction
English
Ages
3 to 18
Yearly fees - 2025/2026
from: Dirham 55,420
to: Dirham 73,890

German International School Abu Dhabi

German International School Abu Dhabi is a German international school in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates certified as an excellent German abroad school by the German government.
City
Abu Dhabi
Curriculum
German
Language of instruction
German
Ages
4 to 18
Yearly fees - 2025/2026
from: Dirham 37,570
to: Dirham 56,600

Star International School Al Twar

Star International School Al Twar is a bespoke English Curriculum school in the heart of Al Twar. It is very much a family school, with teachers, SLT, TAs, Admin and site staff all working alongside parents and the wider community to offer its children the best opportunities it possibly can.
City
Dubai-Sharjah-Ajman
Curriculum
British
Language of instruction
English
Ages
3 to 18
Yearly fees - 2025/2026
from: Dirham 21,520
to: Dirham 46,140

Virginia International Private School

We aim to produce life-long learners who are innovative and creative, highly competitive in the modern economy and who are champions of UAE culture and heritage. We are a lead school in the United Arab Emirates, developing all learners for successful participation in Society and in the global economy.
City
Abu Dhabi
Curriculum
American
Language of instruction
English
Ages
3 to 18
Yearly fees - 2025/2026
from: Dirham 27,880
to: Dirham 45,230

Capital School

Capital School is an International school reflecting the diverse nature of students and the context of the UAE as centre of innovation and growth.
Capital School works to international standards based around the National Curriculum of England with a strong programme of Arabic and English language to ensure that all students have good communication skills.
The school boasts excellent facilities in sport, technology and learning support and a programme of English language support that will give all students both the confidence and skill to be able to access the National Curriculum of England successfully and enter higher education and the workforce with confidence.
City
Dubai-Sharjah-Ajman
Curriculum
British
Language of instruction
English
Ages
3 to 18
Yearly fees - 2025/2026
from: Dirham 20,500
to: Dirham 48,000

Cambridge International School

-Growing By Learning
-Pursuing Excellence
-Leading Through Innovation
-Global Citizenship
City
Dubai-Sharjah-Ajman
Curriculum
British
Language of instruction
English
Ages
4 to 18
Yearly fees - 2025/2026
from: Dirham 23,795
to: Dirham 36,775

Abu Dhabi International School

Abu Dhabi International School is a truly international school that educates students from over 70 nationalities in a familial, friendly, fun yet disciplined environment. The international flavor our school provides is also reflected in the diversity of its academic programs. AIS provides the opportunity for its students to graduate with an American program, the British (IGCSE and A-Levels) program or the International Baccalaureate Programme and join top tier institutions worldwide, such as Harvard, Stanford, Cambridge and the Sorbonne of France as well as regional universities in Lebanon, Egypt and the UAE.
City
Abu Dhabi
Curriculum
IB, American, British
Language of instruction
English
Ages
3 to 18
Yearly fees - 2025/2026
from: Dirham 26,275
to: Dirham 50,350
222 other schools in United Arab Emirates ⇨

Find the Best International School in United Arab Emirates FOR YOU!

Other lists of best international schools in United Arab Emirates

20 Best IB International Schools in United Arab Emirates 20 Best American International Schools in United Arab Emirates 20 Best British International Schools in United Arab Emirates 20 Best Indian International Schools in United Arab Emirates

Summary

What are the best international schools in United Arab Emirates?

  1. The Spanish School of Abu Dhabi
  2. Newlands School
  3. Oaktree Primary School
  4. Good Will Children Private School
  5. Ajyal International School
  6. American Gulf School
  7. Citizens School
  8. American International School in Abu Dhabi
  9. Crown American Private School
  10. Brighton College Abu Dhabi
  11. German International School Sharjah
  12. Collegiate International School
  13. Al Najah Private School
  14. GEMS World Academy Abu Dhabi
  15. German International School Abu Dhabi
  16. Star International School Al Twar
  17. Virginia International Private School
  18. Capital School
  19. Cambridge International School
  20. Abu Dhabi International School

Find your International School

How Many International Schools are there in United Arab Emirates?

There are 242 international schools in United Arab Emirates. See them all

What are the most popular curriculums in United Arab Emirates?
Curriculum International schools
British 139  
American 56  
IB 51  
Indian 19  
UAE 8  
Other 29  

Additionally, there are 3 boarding schools in United Arab Emirates.

What are the most popular languages of instruction?
Language International schools
English 236  
French 6  
German 3  
Arabic 2  
Spanish 1  
Other 1  

Among these, there are 4 bilingual schools in United Arab Emirates.

How Much do International Schools cost in United Arab Emirates?

The average price of international schools in United Arab Emirates is Dirham 49,489. (*)

Price for 12 y.o.
Min. price Dirham 6,000
Avg. price Dirham 49,489
Max. price Dirham 134,000
Price for 12 y.o. Number of international schools
Dirham 6,000 to Dirham 17,999 18  
Dirham 18,000 to Dirham 29,999 39  
Dirham 30,000 to Dirham 41,999 50  
Dirham 42,000 to Dirham 53,999 26  
Dirham 54,000 to Dirham 65,999 41  
Dirham 66,000 to Dirham 77,999 27  
Dirham 78,000 to Dirham 89,999 21  
Dirham 90,000 to Dirham 101,999 9  
Dirham 102,000 to Dirham 113,999 2  
Dirham 114,000 to Dirham 125,999 1  
Dirham 126,000 to Dirham 137,999 1  

(*) The price for one year of fees for a 12 year old (or the closest age to 12 available in the school), excluding one-time fees at enrolment.

How Big are Class Sizes in United Arab Emirates?

The average class size of international schools in United Arab Emirates is 22.5 students.

Class Size Number of international schools
10 to 14 2  
15 to 19 11  
20 to 24 55  
25 to 29 33  
30 to 34 2  
35 to 39 1  

How big are the schools in United Arab Emirates (in number of students)?

The average size, in number of students, of international schools in United Arab Emirates is 1599 students.

Number of students Number of international schools
50 to 449 14  
450 to 849 35  
850 to 1,249 40  
1,250 to 1,649 29  
1,650 to 2,049 28  
2,050 to 2,449 12  
2,450 to 2,849 8  
2,850 to 3,249 5  
3,250 to 3,649 5  
3,650 to 4,049 4  
4,050 to 4,449 1  
4,450 to 4,849 2  
4,850 to 5,249 2  
5,250 to 5,649 1  
5,650 to 6,049 0  
6,050 to 6,449 1  
6,450 to 6,849 1  

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International Schools Database

The International School Database is a one-stop shop for finding, researching and comparing schools in cities across the world.

Each school's listing includes full contact details, school policies, nationality information, extra-curricular activities, and much more. Everything you need to know is all under one roof, so you can make an informed decision on the best school for your children.

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