Cities / Abu Dhabi / Nord Anglia International School Abu Dhabi
Nord Anglia International School Abu Dhabi
Nord Anglia British-curriculum school on Al Reem Island, FS-Y13, with Y12 launching August 2025 and Y13 following 2026. Part of the NAS group.
In brief
A new school. It opened in 2023 and is still building out - Year 13 only arrives in 2026. So no graduating cohort yet, no exam results to look at.
The buzz around town is largely positive. Parents on Al Reem rate it highly, and Nord Anglia's own internal surveys put it top of their Middle East region two years running. Take that with a pinch of salt, but it tracks with what people say.
Strengths people actually mention: the campus (rooftop 50m pool, genuinely impressive facilities), low pupil-to-teacher ratio, the breadth of after-school activities (over 100), and qualified UK-trained staff. The MIT/Juilliard/UNICEF tie-ins are real and parents say their kids do get something out of them, not just marketing.
According to one parent on a Foundation-Stage class, "kids are absolutely loving it" and the school is "nurturing and lively." Another said "the quality of teaching, the supportive environment, and the wide range of opportunities... have all exceeded our expectations."
Where to push on the open day: - Secondary leadership is still bedding in - a new Head of Secondary arrived August 2024. Fine if your child is in primary; ask harder questions if they're going into Years 10-12. - Communication is the recurring grumble. One parent flagged "many different apps and communication channels" being overwhelming. The school admits it and says they're working on it. - Screen time has been a flashpoint with parents - there's now a working party on device use. Worth asking how that's landed. - No ADEK inspection rating yet (the sister school BIS Abu Dhabi is Outstanding, but that's a different school - don't conflate them).
Fees sit roughly AED 55-72k. Mid-to-upper of the Abu Dhabi market, not the very top.
Bottom line: a strong, well-resourced young school on a good island campus. The right call for primary-aged kids. For older years, go in eyes-open about the school still maturing - but the trajectory looks right.
Fees
Annual fees
| Year level | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| FS1-FS2 | 3 | AED 65,000 |
| Y1-Y2 | 5 | AED 75,000 |
| Y3-Y6 | 7 | AED 82,000 |
| Y7-Y9 | 11 | AED 85,000 |
| Y10-Y11 | 14 | AED 90,000 |
| Y12-Y13 | 16 | AED 95,000 |
One-time fees
| Item | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Registration Fee (non-refundable) | AED 3,000 |
Reviews
A young Nord Anglia campus on Reem Island, opened in August 2023 and still growing into its purpose-built site. Families talk about a warm staffroom and an engaged parent community, and the school is treated locally as a serious British curriculum option alongside the established Abu Dhabi names. Year groups are still filling in, sixth form is not yet through a full A Level cycle, fees sit at the top of the city, and the commute only works easily if you live on or near Reem.
Positives
- Warmth and parent community. Parents on Reem describe the school as warm and well organised, with a strong parent community and staff who feel invested in individual pupils. The tone in local conversation is consistently positive when current families weigh in.
- Standing in the British curriculum market. Local peer comparison treats Nord Anglia as one of the leading British curriculum choices in Abu Dhabi, mentioned in the same breath as BSAK, Brighton and Repton when families shortlist.
- Campus and facilities. A large purpose-built Reem Island site with deep specialist provision: multiple swimming pools, science labs, libraries and a rooftop pool that opened in 2025. Resourcing is generous for a school still ramping up enrolment.
Considerations
- Curriculum scope. British curriculum from FS1 through to A Level, with sixth form launched in 2025 and the first cohort sitting A Levels in 2027. The school does not offer the IB Diploma, which sits at sister school BISAD instead.
- Young school, still filling in. Roll has climbed from around 300 at opening to roughly 970 by spring 2025, against a 2,500 capacity. Year groups remain bottom-heavy and the upper school is new, so older cohorts are smaller and the social scene is still bedding in.
- Fees and value. Annual tuition runs from roughly AED 65,000 to AED 95,000, which sits in the ultra-premium band for Abu Dhabi. Most current families call it justified by the campus and teaching; some flag the price as steep.
- Location and commute. The Reem Island campus works well for families already living on Reem, where families talk about a village feel and short school runs. From other parts of Abu Dhabi the morning commute is heavy, and several local families say they would only pick this school if they also lived nearby.
- Parent communication channels. Recurring parent feedback flags the number of apps and channels the school uses to communicate, which some find hard to keep on top of day to day.
- Leadership transition. Founding principal Liam Cullinan leaves at the end of the 2025-26 year, with Thomas Kinnersley taking over for 2026-27. Current parent voice reflects the Cullinan era; how the school feels from September 2026 onwards will be a fresh read.
Leadership
Mr. Liam Cullinan
Liam leads Nord Anglia International School Abu Dhabi (NAS Abu Dhabi) as Executive Principal. During his eight years at NAS Dubai, Liam’s strong leadership saw the secondary school grow into one of the top 100 schools in the world. Before joining Nord Anglia, Liam was Deputy Headteacher at Perry Beeches – The Academy (UK) from 2007 to 2014. He is a visionary leader with a wealth of global experience and a passion for building schools where young people have a chance to flourish.
Accreditations
- Council of International Schools 01
- New England Association of Schools and Colleges 02
- ISI 03
Academic results
- IB Diploma 2025 pass rate 92%
- Average IB score 2025 39.8 points
- % of students scoring above 40 points 24%
- % A*–C grades at IGCSE 93%