Raha International School - Gardens Campus

An Aldar Taaleem IB World school in Khalifa City and one of the few full-continuum PYP, MYP, and DP options in Abu Dhabi, drawing students from over 80 nationalities.

The Gardens Campus opened in 2006 and was the first school in the capital to offer the full IB pathway end to end. ADEK rates it Very Good in the most recent inspection, with consistent strengths in student development, safeguarding, and parental partnership. A second campus in Khalifa City sits a short drive away and the two function as siblings rather than a tiered system.

The school reads as broad-church international rather than a high-pressure academic engine. Families who want the IB without a hothouse atmosphere tend to land here. Fees are at the premium end, roughly AED 41,000 in early years up to around AED 64,000 in the senior school, which puts it in the same financial bracket as Cranleigh and Repton. Comparable shortlist schools are Aldar's own Cranleigh Abu Dhabi and BSAK on the British side, and ACS Abu Dhabi on the IB side.

• ADEK rates the Gardens campus Very Good as of the September 2025 inspection.
• Community and belonging are the school's strongest signal. One parent said "the school really has a great culture and happy vibe. It feels truly international".
• Performing arts is a standout strength. Parents call the music and drama provision "top notch".
• Leadership instability recently has unsettled families, with reported communication gaps during principal and senior changes.
• Roughly four in ten parents agree fees represent good value at this price point. Fee value is mixed but better than Khalifa City peers.
• The campus is described as charming but aging compared to newer competitors and the sister Khalifa City build.
• Reddit voices flag the MYP as weaker than IB Diploma and recommend joining for Grade 11 onward.