Abu Dhabi International School – Al Rowdah Campus

📍 Al Rowdah, Abu Dhabi | 🏫 Established: 1992
💰 Fees: AED 15,160–32,280/year | 🎓 Grades: KG1 to Grade 12
🏷️ Type: Private | 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Co-educational | 🥈 Rated: Very Good

🌍 Overview

One of Abu Dhabi’s longer-established private schools, Abu Dhabi International School (AIS) has been delivering quality education since 1992. Situated in the traditional district of Al Rowdah, AIS blends US and UK curricula to offer students a flexible, globally recognized pathway, with IGCSE and A-Level options from Grade 9.

The school is home to 1,050+ students from over 40 nationalities, with the largest groups being Jordanian (21%), Egyptian (18%), Emirati, and Syrian. With a "Very Good" ADEK rating, AIS stands out for its academic rigor, personal development focus, and inclusive learning community.

📚 Curriculum

AIS runs a US curriculum from KG1 through Grade 8. From Grade 9, students can transition to UK qualifications (IGCSEs & A-Levels), while those interested in the IB programme continue at the sister MBZ campus.

📘 Curriculum Highlights:

• 🧪 Core subjects: English, Math, Science, Arabic

• 🇫🇷 French (Grades 3–12), preparing students for DELF certification

• 🖌️ Diverse electives: Robotics, Film Studies, Sculpture, and more

• 🧠 CAS Programme (Creativity, Action, Service) for personal development

• 🎓 SAT support and preparation included

AIS is accredited by the American International Accreditation Association (AIAA).

🏫 Campus & Facilities

Although located in an older building, the school has undergone recent renovations, with a state-of-the-art campus promised by August 2023. Improvements aim to enhance learning environments across all phases, especially in Science and Kindergarten.

🛠️ Key Facilities (under redevelopment):

• Classrooms and science labs

• Multipurpose activity spaces

• Resource-enhanced learning zones

• Specialized areas for Robotics, Drama, and Art

🧑‍🏫 Teachers & Community

AIS employs 77 qualified teachers (mostly from South Africa, Ireland, Lebanon, the US, and Jordan) and 7 teaching assistants. The teacher-student ratio averages 1:25, with extra classroom support in KG to Grade 1.

Teacher turnover is a manageable 18%, and the school fosters a stable, supportive teaching environment, focused on continual professional growth.

🧒 Student Life & Enrichment

AIS thrives on student engagement. A wide array of clubs and activities are offered, most included in tuition:

🎨 Co-Curricular (Free):
Robotics, Drama, Public Speaking, Film Club, Cooking, Debate, MUN, Chess, Choir, Book Club, Art, and more.

🥋 Extra-Curricular (Paid):
Ballet, Gymnastics, and Taekwondo.

🌍 International trips & community service are also part of the experience through the CAS programme.

📈 Inspection Highlights

🔍 ADEK noted impressive improvements under strong leadership, with praise for:
✅ Improved teaching quality across all grades
✅ High student achievement, especially in Islamic Education & Maths (Senior Phase)
✅ Excellent student behavior, engagement, and independence
✅ Caring, safe, and motivating school environment

🚧 Areas for improvement:

• More consistent differentiation in teaching

• Better integration of assessment and feedback

• Raise Arabic subject standards to match core subjects

AIS is making strong progress toward achieving an "Outstanding" rating.

💸 Fees & Value

• KG to Grade 12: AED 15,160 to 32,280

• 💡 Competitive pricing given dual-curriculum options

• 📍 Note: AIS MBZ campus (American/IB) charges higher fees (AED 26,500–46,600)

AIS remains a great value mid-range school offering diverse pathways and personalized growth.

🏆 Rankings

Abu Dhabi International School (Al Rowdah) is a Best of school, based on parent reviews:
⭐ #153 Best Schools in the UAE
⭐ #33 Best Schools in Abu Dhabi
⭐ #7 Best American Schools in Abu Dhabi

✅ Ideal for: Families looking for a flexible, value-driven school with both US and UK exit qualifications, and a warm, inclusive environment.
🚫 Not ideal for: Those needing immediate access to modern facilities (until redevelopment is complete) or full IB options (offered at the MBZ branch).