Cities / Abu Dhabi / Al Rabeeh Academy
Al Rabeeh Academy
The newer, purpose-built MBZ City sister of long-established Al Rabeeh School, opened in 2017 and running a British curriculum to Year 13.
In brief
The newer, purpose-built MBZ City sister of long-established Al Rabeeh School, opened in 2017 and running a British curriculum to Year 13.
The Al Rabeeh name has run schools in Abu Dhabi since 1979/1980, and the Academy inherited the bulk of older students from the original Muroor campus when it opened. ADEK rated the Academy Very Good in 2024-25, and BSO inspectors awarded an Outstanding rating. Fees sit roughly AED 39,000 to AED 46,000.
The strongest themes in parent feedback are pastoral care, communication and the small-school feel that has carried over from the legacy campus. Families who want a settled British-stream school in the MBZ catchment without paying premium Saadiyat or Reem fees tend to land here, alongside Cranleigh and the Aldar Academies as the next step up.
Fees
| Fee | Age | Type | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| FS1 Tuition | 4 | Annual | AED 38,900 |
| FS2 Tuition | 5 | Annual | AED 40,000 |
| Year 1 Tuition | 5 | Annual | AED 40,000 |
| Year 2 Tuition | 6 | Annual | AED 43,000 |
| Year 3 Tuition | 7 | Annual | AED 43,000 |
| Year 4 Tuition | 8 | Annual | AED 43,000 |
| Year 5 Tuition | 9 | Annual | AED 43,000 |
| Year 6 Tuition | 10 | Annual | AED 43,000 |
| Year 7 Tuition | 11 | Annual | AED 46,000 |
| Year 8 Tuition | 12 | Annual | AED 46,000 |
| Year 9 Tuition | 13 | Annual | AED 46,000 |
| Year 10 Tuition | 14 | Annual | AED 46,000 |
| Year 11 Tuition | 15 | Annual | AED 46,000 |
| Year 12 Tuition | 16 | Annual | AED 46,000 |
| FS1 Registration Fee | 4 | One-time | AED 1,900 |
| FS2 Registration Fee | 5 | One-time | AED 2,000 |
| Year 1 Registration Fee | 5 | One-time | AED 2,000 |
| Year 2-6 Registration Fee | One-time | AED 2,100 | |
| Year 7-12 Registration Fee | One-time | AED 2,300 |
Reviews
- Newer Mohamed Bin Zayed City campus run by the Al Rabeeh group, opened 2017. ADEK rated it Very Good in the 2024-25 inspection round, up from Good in 2018-19. BSO inspection rated it Outstanding.
- Parent reviews consistently praise communication via Class Dojo and on-site channels, the small-school feel and Arabic-language emphasis. ADEK 2018-19 inspectors flagged English attainment, challenge for high-achieving students and partnership with parents as the original weak points; later inspections show progress.
- Independent parent survey averages run lower than the directory testimonials, suggesting a more polarised picture than the formatted reviews show.
- Specialist resources, classrooms and staffing for SEN students were rated limited at the 2018-19 inspection. Gifted and talented provision was flagged as relying too heavily on extracurriculars rather than in-lesson challenge.
- Strong daily Arabic instruction and Islamic-values framing repeatedly come up as positive factors for Arabic and Muslim families.
Head of school
Riaan Huyser
Accreditations
- Council of International Schools 01
- British Schools Overseas (DfE) 02
- ADEK 03
Academic results
- BSO Inspection Rating Outstanding
- ADEK Overall Performance Rating (March 2025) Very Good
- ADEK Overall Performance Rating (May 2022) Good