Cities / Abu Dhabi / The Cambridge High School, Abu Dhabi
The Cambridge High School, Abu Dhabi
One of the longest-running British curriculum schools in Abu Dhabi, operated by GEMS Education and rated Very Good by ADEK. A high-volume, mid-fee option in Mohammed Bin Zayed City with strong A Level results.
In brief
One of the longest-running British curriculum schools in Abu Dhabi, operated by GEMS Education and rated Very Good by ADEK. A high-volume, mid-fee option in Mohammed Bin Zayed City with strong A Level results.
Founded in 1988, the school sits in the Mussafah area and serves close to 1,800 students from around 45 nationalities. IGCSE and A Level outcomes run consistently above international benchmarks, and the science and maths pipeline is the main draw for South Asian and Arab families targeting UK and US universities.
Parent feedback is mixed on year-to-year teacher consistency, with some cohorts reporting strong, committed staff and others less so. The campus shows its age in places, and class sizes can feel full. Strong value relative to the premium British schools on the island.
Fees
Annual fees
| Year level | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| FS2 | 4 | AED 16,960 |
| Year 1-2 | 5 | AED 20,520 |
| Year 3-4 | 7 | AED 22,000 |
| Year 5-6 | 9 | AED 23,840 |
| Year 7-8 | 11 | AED 27,850 |
| Year 9-10 | 13 | AED 29,450 |
| Year 11 | 15 | AED 31,190 |
| Year 12-13 | 16 | AED 35,760 |
Reviews
One of the older British schools in Abu Dhabi, in Mussafah and part of GEMS. The ADEK rating has held at Very Good across recent inspection cycles and exam outcomes sit comfortably above UK averages, with IGCSE and A Level results edging up year on year. Long-serving teachers and a warm, multi-national parent community are the consistent positives. Physical plant is the soft spot: the original campus shows its age, classrooms feel full, and GEMS visibly directs new build investment toward its Baniyas sister site rather than here. Feedback in the senior years is patchier than in primary, and SEN, Arabic and Islamic Studies provision are weaker than the core British curriculum offer.
Positives
- Academic outcomes. IGCSE and A Level results are strong and trending up. The 2024-25 IGCSE cohort hit 88% A*-C and 45% A*/A; A Level reached 30% A*/A and 51% A*/B. Performance sits notably above UK averages and is one of the more reliable British exam outputs at this fee point in the city.
- Inspection rating. Very Good with ADEK, sustained across consecutive inspection cycles since 2022. Personal development and cultural integration of UAE values are picked out as particular strengths.
- Teaching staff. Around 94 teachers drawn from roughly 30 countries, with a meaningful core of long-tenured staff. Parents repeatedly describe teachers as kind, patient and effective at settling children new to the British system.
- Value and fees. Annual fees run from about AED 17,000 in the early years to AED 36,000 at Post-16, mid-range for British curriculum in Abu Dhabi. GEMS credit-card discounts are available and the per-fee output looks favourable next to pricier British peers in the emirate.
- Community. Roughly 45 nationalities on roll, with the largest cohorts from India, Pakistan, Egypt and the UAE. Parents talk about a settled, compassionate atmosphere and an accessible front office and principal.
Considerations
- Campus and facilities. The original Mussafah building shows age-related wear and proposed expansion looks shelved. GEMS is channelling its newer-build money into the Baniyas campus rather than upgrading this site, and reviewers describe classrooms as compressed.
- Senior school consistency. Primary and lower secondary draw consistent praise. Feedback gets choppier in Years 9 to 13, where parents flag uneven teaching quality and syllabus delivery in certain departments alongside the strong headline results.
- SEN and Arabic strands. SEN support is described as inconsistent. Arabic, Islamic Studies and UAE social studies sit below the standard set by the rest of the curriculum, a weak spot also picked up at inspection.
- Extracurriculars. The co-curricular programme is functional rather than rich. One recurring view is that activities beyond a weekly PE slot are limited, and that families top up with private tuition and clubs in the neighbourhood.
- Leadership continuity. Kim Teakle-May moved into the principal seat for 2025-26, taking over from Kuki Tyagi. She has been at the school since 2017 and Vice Principal since 2021, so the change reads as internal succession rather than a reset, though it is recent.
Leadership
Kim Teakle-May
Kim Teakle-May serves as Principal of The Cambridge High School Abu Dhabi. In the welcome message she expresses great pride and genuine pleasure in welcoming families to the school. The Cambridge High School delivers the British National Curriculum for England and has been rated Very Good by ADEK since 2022, reflecting strong leadership in maintaining high academic standards across the school community.
Location
Shabia 9, Mohammed Bin Zayed City,Near Safeer Mall, Mussafah - near Safeer Mall - Mohamed Bin Zayed City - ME9 - Abu Dhabi - United Arab Emirates