Education in Abu Dhabi

One of the biggest concerns of parents when they learn that they will be relocating overseas is how their children will adjust and be educated. “Will they be happy? Will they be safe? Will they be able to reintegrate when they return home?” These are all questions that parents ask themselves before departure.  What they learn upon arrival in Abu Dhabi is that the city has a excellent educational choices available including world class schools like The British International School Abu Dhabi. Parents are quickly comforted with the knowledge that their children will be safe, happy and well educated.

All expat children in Abu Dhabi attend private schools, and in spite of the fact that many new establishments have opened up over the past couple of years, competition for places is still stiff. Schools can have waiting lists in certain year levels and parents may have to wait to receive an offer. However school places do become available throughout the year so parents are advised to be patient and to stay in touch with the admissions staff at the school. It’s a good idea to apply for places at the schools of your choice as early as possible – visit the schools in your area and talk to other parents before you make a choice, as some schools have far better reputations than others. All schools, universities and colleges are overseen by the Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC), who have an excellent website (www.adec.ac.ae) with an interactive School Finder, showing where schools are in the city with details about their curriculum.

Nurseries:

Plenty of highly regarded nurseries and pre-schools operate in Abu Dhabi, although the fees are often very high. Many establishments accept children from as young as six weeks old until four or five when they start primary school. British, American and Montessori systems are all available.

Primary and secondary schools:

Due to the wide range of nationalities in Abu Dhabi, you’ll find schools teaching curricula based on systems from all over the world – India, Australia, the Philippines and Canada, as well as British and American schools. GCSEs, French and International Baccalaureate and CNEC are all taught, and schools are subject to regular inspections by ADEC. Fees for primary and secondary schools are also high – you can expect to pay between Dhs20,000 and Dhs75,000 per year, plus registration fees, facilities charges, trips and other extracurricular activities on top of that. Standards are high though, and many of the schools have outstanding facilities and excellent teachers that meet international standards. The school year begins in September and is divided into three terms with a long summer holiday. The school week runs from Sunday to Thursday with classes starting around 8am and finishing around 3pm. All schools require the kids to wear a uniform, which you can purchase from a variety of uniform stores.

Higher education:

While most expats either return home or go abroad for tertiary education, there are some opportunities in Abu Dhabi to take diplomas and degrees in a range of subjects. Abu Dhabi University and Zayed University are fairly well regarded, and the new Masdar Institute of Science and Technology gives students the chance to study groundbreaking developments in sustainable technology.

For more information about schools and education in Abu Dhabi please visit the site of the British International School Abu Dhabi.