The Main Schools, Area by Area
Every school below is on the School Finder that ADEK, the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge, publishes on TAMM, read on 1 October 2026: the Irtiqaa inspection rating with its year, and ADEK's listed fee range per year in dirhams, lowest year group to highest. Fees change with ADEK's approval each year.
| School and area | Curriculum and years | ADEK rating | Fees per year, AED |
|---|
| Cranleigh Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat | British, FS1 to Year 13 | Outstanding, 2025 | 71,500 to 105,980 |
| American Community School, Saadiyat | American, KG1 to Grade 12 | Outstanding, 2022 | 48,852 to 88,493 |
| Muna British Academy, Saadiyat Lagoons | British, FS1 to Year 9, growing to Year 13 | Outstanding, 2025 | 52,973 to 62,916 |
| Yas American Academy, Yas | American, Pre-KG to Grade 12 | Good, 2024 | 57,090 to 68,850 |
| Noya British School, Yas North | British, FS1 to Year 10 | Not yet rated | 32,000 to 47,000 |
| Repton Abu Dhabi, Al Reem | British, FS1 to Year 13, two campuses | Outstanding, 2025 | 63,740 to 83,390 |
| GEMS World Academy, Al Reem | British then IB Diploma, FS1 to Year 13 | Very Good, 2023 | 59,530 to 73,890 |
| GEMS American Academy, Khalifa City | American with IB Diploma, Pre-KG to Grade 12 | Very Good, 2024 | 57,850 to 80,610 |
| Raha International School, Al Raha Gardens | IB, EY1 to Grade 12 | Very Good, 2025 | 41,960 to 66,030 |
| Yasmina British Academy, Khalifa City | British, FS1 to Year 13 | Outstanding, 2025 | 49,740 to 67,270 |
| Canadian International School, Khalifa City | Canadian (Alberta), KG1 to Grade 12 | Outstanding, 2023 | 37,010 to 49,820 |
| The British International School, Zayed City | British then IB Diploma, FS1 to Year 13 | Outstanding, 2025 | 56,330 to 76,950 |
| Al Yasat Private School, Al Shamkha | American, KG1 to Grade 12 | Good, 2025 | 34,200 to 52,440 |
| Bateen World Academy, Al Bateen side | British then IB Diploma, FS1 to Year 13 | Outstanding, 2024 | 57,080 to 77,570 |
A rating is a snapshot: ADEK inspects on a cycle, and a new school carries no rating for its first years. Living next door guarantees no place either: the best known schools run waiting lists, so ask the school before you choose the home.
Saadiyat Island: Cranleigh, ACS and Muna
Saadiyat is the island families choose for the schools first and the beach second. Cranleigh Abu Dhabi, an Aldar Education school, runs the British curriculum from FS1 to Year 13 on a purpose built campus near Manarat Al Saadiyat, at the highest fee range in this guide. The American Community School, a non profit school, has moved from Al Bateen to a new Saadiyat campus and teaches KG1 to Grade 12. Muna British Academy, rated Outstanding, lists its new campus at Saadiyat Lagoons and takes children from nursery to Year 9 today, growing a year at a time to Year 13. The French Lycée Théodore Monod, three nurseries and New York University Abu Dhabi complete the island.
Cranleigh to Saadiyat Lagoons is 10 minutes and 5.5 km, and to Mamsha Al Saadiyat 5 minutes. We list the Lagoons villas from AED 7,964,550, resale Al Ghaf villas there from AED 8,000,000, Saadiyat Reserve The Dunes villas from AED 6,490,000 with keys since 2024, and Mamsha Al Saadiyat apartments from AED 3,000,000. Browse every villa for sale on Saadiyat Island and compare the islands in our island villas guide.
Yas Island: Yas American Academy, SABIS and Noya
Yas has three schools on ADEK's list and four nurseries. Yas American Academy, Aldar Academies' founding American school, follows the Massachusetts state curriculum from Pre-KG to Grade 12 and publishes 2026 to 2027 fees from AED 57,090 to 68,850. SABIS International School Yas Island teaches the SABIS programme from Pre-KG to Grade 12 at AED 40,540 to 63,840. Noya British School, also Aldar Education, opened in Yas North with the English national curriculum and runs from FS1 to Year 10, the newest and least expensive of the three, and still unrated.
Yas American Academy to Yas Acres is 7 minutes and 3.5 km; Noya British School to Yas Acres is 10 minutes. We list Yas Acres townhouses from AED 2,700,000 and The Dahlias from AED 4,000,000, both ready, Noya villas from AED 5,000,000 with keys since 2024, Al Deem townhouses from AED 3,100,000 for late 2027, and Yas Riva villas from AED 8,300,000 for 2028. See all townhouses for sale on Yas Island.
Al Reem Island: Repton, GEMS World Academy and Nord Anglia
Al Reem is the city option: the school a short drive from an apartment or a townhouse. Repton Abu Dhabi teaches the British curriculum on two campuses, the Rose Campus for FS1 to Year 2 and the Fry Campus for Year 3 to Year 13, both rated Outstanding, with 2026 to 2027 fees from AED 63,740 to 83,390. GEMS World Academy Abu Dhabi runs the British curriculum into the IB Diploma. Nord Anglia International School Abu Dhabi is the island's newest school, FS1 to Year 13, at AED 65,000 to 95,000 and not yet rated. ADEK lists ten nurseries on the island, and Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi is here too.
Repton's Fry Campus to Marina Square is 9 minutes and 2.3 km. For a garden, Reem Hills at the top of the island: we list a 3 bedroom Coast Way townhouse there at AED 4,200,000 and Reem Hills Apartments from AED 3,250,000. Ready apartments start near AED 840,000 on the resale market and Reflection from AED 900,000.
Khalifa City and Al Raha Gardens: The Biggest Cluster
If the school list is your first filter, Khalifa City wins on numbers: ADEK files 17 private schools and 20 nurseries under it, minutes apart. GEMS American Academy teaches an American programme with the IB Diploma from Pre-KG to Grade 12. Raha International School runs the IB on two campuses, the Gardens Campus in Al Raha Gardens and the Khalifa City Campus. Yasmina British Academy, rated Outstanding, moved into a new campus in Khalifa City A in September 2024 and publishes 2026 to 2027 fees from AED 49,740 to 67,270. Canadian International School teaches the Alberta curriculum from KG1 to Grade 12, also rated Outstanding. Lower in fees come the International School of Choueifat, Al Ittihad National Private School and the new Yasmina American School, and GEMS Founders School in Masdar City teaches the British curriculum from FS1 to Year 10.
The homes are the point: standalone villas with gardens at prices below the islands. Yasmina British Academy to Reportage Village Khalifa City, townhouses from AED 4,380,000 for 2028, is 7 minutes and 4 km. Masdar City adds Fay Valley homes from AED 3,140,000 a short walk from GEMS Founders. Browse the homes for sale in Khalifa City and read our Khalifa City A guide for the official prices and rents.
Al Raha Beach: The Waterfront Address for the Khalifa City Schools
Al Raha Beach has no school of its own on ADEK's list, only nurseries, and the small Future Leaders International Private School in neighbouring Rabdan takes Pre-KG to Grade 7. What it has is the Khalifa City cluster across the highway: Raha International School's Gardens Campus to Al Bandar is 10 minutes and 4 km, GEMS American Academy to Al Zeina is 16 minutes, Yasmina British Academy 18 minutes and Yas American Academy 16 minutes.
The homes are Aldar's finished waterfront communities, Al Zeina, Al Muneera and Al Bandar, and Al Nada apartments from AED 1,000,000. See the villas and townhouses for sale at Al Raha Beach.
Mohammed Bin Zayed City and Zayed City: The Widest Range of Fees
Mohammed Bin Zayed City carries the longest school list on ADEK's register, 39 schools, and the widest fee range: Indian curriculum schools such as Shining Star from AED 8,630 a year and Bright Riders, rated Very Good, from AED 10,550; British schools such as Merryland, rated Outstanding, Diyafah, Ajyal and Al Rabeeh Academy; and American and IB programmes at Abu Dhabi International School, rated Very Good, from AED 25,000. The British International School Abu Dhabi, a Nord Anglia school with the English curriculum and the IB Diploma, sits behind Abu Dhabi University and is filed by ADEK under Zayed City.
Our homes in this cluster are at Bloom Living in Zayed City: Cordoba villas, handed over in 2024 and listed resale at AED 5,700,000 for 4 bedrooms, Casares and Olvera townhouses from AED 2,750,000 for 3 bedrooms, and Granada 2 apartments from AED 690,000 for 2028. Be honest about the school run: Bloom Living is 19 minutes and 18.5 km from The British International School, 16 minutes from GEMS Founders and 20 minutes from Yasmina British Academy. Browse the homes for sale in Zayed City.
Al Reef, Al Shamkha and Al Bahia: The Airport Side
Al Reef has one nursery on ADEK's list and no school, so Al Reef families drive to Al Shamkha, Al Falah and Al Bahia. Al Yasat Private School in Al Shamkha, American, KG1 to Grade 12, is 17 minutes and 13.2 km from Al Reef Downtown. Wales International School and ABC Private School in Al Shamkha teach the British curriculum to Year 13 at the lowest fees in this guide. North on the highway, Al Bahia has Aspen Heights British School with the IB Diploma, 21 minutes and 15.5 km from Al Reef Villas, and Amity International School, rated Very Good.
These are the cheapest family homes in this guide: Al Reef Downtown apartments from AED 900,000 for 1 bedroom and AED 1,200,000 for 2, and in Al Shamkha Fay Al Reeman villas from AED 4,000,000 resale for 4 bedrooms, Fay Al Reeman II under construction, and Reeman Living Phase 2 apartments from AED 407,000, ready in 2026. Read our Al Reef guide and Al Reeman guide.
Hudayriyat Island: Schools Still on the Plan
No school is filed under Hudayriyat Island yet. Modon's pages list schools inside Al Naseem, two international schools at Wadeem Gardens and a private school at Hudayriyat Golf Estates, without names or dates. Until they open, the nearest rated school is across the bridge: Bateen World Academy, rated Outstanding, is 14 minutes and 8.8 km from Al Naseem. Fahid and Jubail are the same: Aldar plans King's College School Wimbledon at Fahid Island for September 2028, and Jubail Island plans Gordonstoun.
The homes are new: Al Naseem villas from AED 7,800,000 for late 2027, with resale 4 bedroom villas at AED 8,190,000, Nawayef Village townhouses and twin villas from AED 4,100,000 for 2029 and Wadeem Gardens from AED 8,700,000 for 2031. A family buying here is buying the school run of 2028 and later.
School to Home: Measured Drive Times
Google Maps fastest routes, checked on 1 October 2026 between 13:00 and 14:00 on a weekday. A school run at 7:15 is slower on the highways, so drive it once before you decide.
| School | Community | Drive | Distance |
|---|
| Cranleigh Abu Dhabi | Saadiyat Lagoons | 10 minutes | 5.5 km |
| Cranleigh Abu Dhabi | Mamsha Al Saadiyat | 5 minutes | 1.8 km |
| Yas American Academy | Yas Acres | 7 minutes | 3.5 km |
| Noya British School | Yas Acres | 10 minutes | 5.6 km |
| Repton, Fry Campus | Marina Square, Al Reem | 9 minutes | 2.3 km |
| Raha International, Gardens Campus | Al Bandar, Al Raha Beach | 10 minutes | 4 km |
| Yasmina British Academy | Reportage Village, Khalifa City | 7 minutes | 4 km |
| The British International School | Bloom Living, Zayed City | 19 minutes | 18.5 km |
| Al Yasat Private School | Al Reef Downtown | 17 minutes | 13.2 km |
| Aspen Heights British School | Al Reef Villas | 21 minutes | 15.5 km |
| Bateen World Academy | Al Naseem, Hudayriyat | 14 minutes | 8.8 km |
Our Homes Near Each Cluster
Starting prices on our project pages and asking prices of our resale listings on 1 October 2026. Prices move.
| Community | Cluster | Home | From, AED |
|---|
| Saadiyat Reserve The Dunes | Saadiyat | Villas, ready | 6,490,000 |
| Yas Acres | Yas | Townhouses, ready | 2,700,000 |
| Noya | Yas | Villas, ready | 5,000,000 |
| Reem Hills, Coast Way | Al Reem | 3 bedroom townhouse, resale | 4,200,000 |
| Reportage Village | Khalifa City | Townhouses, 2028 | 4,380,000 |
| Al Nada | Al Raha Beach | Apartments, ready | 1,000,000 |
| Cordoba, Bloom Living | Zayed City | 4 bedroom villa, resale | 5,700,000 |
| Granada 2, Bloom Living | Zayed City | Apartments, 2028 | 690,000 |
| Al Reef Downtown | Al Reef | 1 bedroom apartment, resale | 900,000 |
| Fay Al Reeman | Al Shamkha | 4 bedroom villa, resale | 4,000,000 |
| Al Naseem | Hudayriyat | Villas, 2027 | 7,800,000 |
| Nawayef Village | Hudayriyat | Townhouses and twin villas, 2029 | 4,100,000 |
How to Compare Neighbourhoods: A Family Checklist
Put the school place first: it is the one item you cannot buy later.
| Check | Why it matters | How to check it |
|---|
| A place at the school | Waiting lists for entry years | Ask the school before you view homes |
| The school run | Minutes at 7:15, not at midday | Drive it on a school day, both ways |
| Years covered | A school to Year 10 means a second move | ADEK's School Finder |
| Fees and the yearly rise | Two or three children change the budget | The school's fee page |
| Nursery and after school care | Younger siblings and working hours | ADEK's nursery list |
| Parks, clinics and shops | Daily life between the runs | Our area guides and a visit |
| Home size and garden | Bedrooms, a maid's room, parking for two cars | The floor plans on our pages |
| Budget and title | Down Payment, monthly cost, who may own there | Our calculator and the title check |
Two more points decide it. Commute: a home 7 minutes from school but 50 minutes from work only moves the problem. Rent or buy: many families rent a year near the school they have secured, then buy once they know the streets; our cost of living article gives the monthly picture and the compare tool sets two areas side by side.
How We Help a Family Choose
Masterpiece Property is an Abu Dhabi brokerage licensed by ADREC, with two offices in Al Zahiyah and advisors in English and Arabic. For families, the work starts from the school, not from the listing.
- A short list by school: name the school and we send only the homes within the drive time you set, ready or off-plan, with floor plans.
- Viewings around the school run: after drop off and before pick up, and we drive the run with you at the real hour.
- The paperwork before the deposit: the title and who may own in that community, the ADREC registration and handover date on an off-plan home, the service charge on a ready one; our guide to ADREC, DARI and Tawtheeq explains each document.
- The numbers: our affordability calculator turns a price into a Down Payment and a monthly payment, and our mortgage guide explains what a bank lends to a resident and to a non resident. Rates and prices move; we show today's figure and say so.
- Rent first if that is wiser: if the school place is secured but the right home is not on the market, we say so and help with a rental near the gate.
Contact Masterpiece Property or book a video call with the school name and the year group, and we send a first short list within a working day. For the wider choice, read our guide to villas for sale in Abu Dhabi.
FAQ
Which area of Abu Dhabi has the most schools?
Mohammed Bin Zayed City, with 39 schools on ADEK's School Finder, then Khalifa City with 17 private schools and 20 nurseries, including GEMS American Academy, Raha International School, Yasmina British Academy and Canadian International School.
Which schools are on Saadiyat Island?
Cranleigh Abu Dhabi (British, FS1 to Year 13), the American Community School (American, KG1 to Grade 12), Muna British Academy at Saadiyat Lagoons (British, nursery to Year 9 today) and the French Lycée Théodore Monod. The first three are rated Outstanding by ADEK.
Which schools are on Yas Island?
Yas American Academy (American, Pre-KG to Grade 12), SABIS International School Yas Island (Pre-KG to Grade 12) and Noya British School in Yas North (British, FS1 to Year 10), with four nurseries.
Is there a school on Al Reem Island?
Yes, three: Repton Abu Dhabi on two campuses (FS1 to Year 13, rated Outstanding), GEMS World Academy (British into the IB Diploma) and the new Nord Anglia International School, plus ten nurseries.
Is there a school inside Al Reef?
No. ADEK lists one nursery in Al Reef and no school. The nearest are in Al Shamkha (Al Yasat, Wales International, ABC), Al Falah (Ajyal International) and Al Bahia (Aspen Heights, Amity), 17 to 21 minutes away by car.
Is there a school on Hudayriyat Island?
Not yet. Modon lists schools in its plans for Al Naseem, Wadeem Gardens and Hudayriyat Golf Estates without names or dates. The nearest rated school is Bateen World Academy across the bridge, 14 minutes from Al Naseem.
How much are school fees in Abu Dhabi?
On ADEK's list, the schools in this guide range from AED 8,630 a year at Shining Star International School in Mohammed Bin Zayed City to AED 105,980 at Cranleigh Abu Dhabi in the top year group. ADEK approves every fee each year.
What does an ADEK Irtiqaa rating mean?
Irtiqaa is ADEK's school inspection programme. Each inspected school gets one of six grades, from Outstanding and Very Good through Good and Acceptable to Weak and Very Weak, with the year of the visit. New schools show no rating until their first inspection.
Can a foreign family buy a home near these schools?
On Saadiyat, Yas, Al Reem, Hudayriyat, Al Raha Beach, Al Reef and Masdar City, buyers of every nationality can own. In Khalifa City and Zayed City, ownership for non nationals is limited to the investment zones inside them, such as Reportage Village, so we check the title on each home before you commit.
How does Masterpiece Property help families choose a neighbourhood?
You name the school; we send a short list within your drive time, book viewings around the school run, check the title, the ADREC registration, the handover date and the service charge, and work out the Down Payment and monthly cost with you. If renting near the gate for a year is wiser, we say so.
