Abu Dhabi International School

One of the older private schools in the capital, running both American and IB Diploma tracks across an Al Karama campus and a newer MBZ City branch.

Founded in 1992 by superintendent Jihan Nasr, AIS celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2022 and added the IB Diploma in 2005. A third campus is in development on Saadiyat. The school is mid-fee by Abu Dhabi standards at roughly AED 25,000 to AED 48,000.

AIS has a long-standing reputation for handling a range of learners well, including students with mild learning needs, and parents praise the structured SEND support. Long-tenured teachers and a family-feel community come up repeatedly. Academics are solid rather than elite, with steady IB results and broad university outcomes. Families weighing this school usually compare it against Al Najda, Al Mushrif and the older Abu Dhabi Island establishments rather than the premium Saadiyat schools.

• The school runs two contemporary campuses in MBZ City and Abu Dhabi City and offers a US curriculum at lower years, with IGCSE and A Levels from Grade 9 and an IB Diploma route at MBZ City.
• ADEK rated the school Very Good in October 2025, sustained from the previous inspection, with TIMSS 2023 results above international averages in both maths and science.
• Inspectors and survey respondents flag inconsistent teaching quality across phases, weaker progress in Cycle 2, and provision for gifted students described as less well developed.
• Parents repeatedly praise teaching staff, communication and atmosphere. One parent said the British curriculum had "empowered my child to excel," another that "the staff of teachers is one of the best in the area."
• Survey responses available on independent trackers are too few for a confident pattern beyond inspector findings, and the Reddit footprint is thin.
• Attendance figure of 92.7% is described in inspection materials as only acceptable.