Most popular international schools in United arab emirates

Al Nahda National Schools is a private English-medium day school in Abu Dhabi with separate Boys' and Girls' campuses for ages 4–18. Established in 1983, ANNS offers British and American Curricula, including Cambridge IGCSE and Pearson Edexcel IGCSE, plus Advanced Placement. The British Program and American Program cover languages, mathematics, sciences, humanities, information technology, Islamic studies, physical education, music, drama and art. The school is licensed by ADEK and the UAE Ministry of Education and accredited by NEASC, CIS, ECIS, Cambridge International Examinations, Pearson-Edexcel, and the SAT Center. Examinations include IGCSEs, GCSEs and A-levels, alongside the BTEC suite. The SAT Center supports university admissions testing. With nearly 5,800 students, the school focuses on high-quality learning and global citizenship, while maintaining its two-campus, gender-segregated model. Extracurriculars feature sports, robotics, and debating, and the school's arts program integrates music, drama and art alongside National Day and Cultural Evenings. National Day celebrations foster cultural awareness.

The Indian International School Dubai Silicon Oasis provides the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) curriculum from Kindergarten 1 through Grade 10. Located within the Dubai Silicon Oasis technology park, the campus features specialized physics, chemistry, and biology laboratories, an indoor auditorium, a dedicated library, and outdoor sports grounds. A unique signature initiative at the school is the "Happy Home" program for early years, which utilizes structured play-based learning spaces specifically designed to ease young learners into the school environment. Students participate in regular co-curricular activities, including performing arts, ICT workshops, and language clubs teaching Arabic, Hindi, French, and Malayalam. The school operates an organized student bus network across Dubai to transport pupils to and from the campus. Classrooms are equipped with interactive digital boards to support daily instruction, creating a technologically integrated learning environment for all enrolled pupils.

Summit International School in Abu Dhabi delivers the American Curriculum, strictly aligned with California Common Core standards, for students from Kindergarten through Grade 12. The downtown, four-building campus features a regulation football pitch, a multi-use gymnasium, a swimming pool, and a theater. Instruction replaces traditional textbooks with a 1:1 Chromebook learning model and utilizes Exact Path adaptive software to create individualized learning paths based on NWEA MAP assessment data. A unique hallmark of the school is its unified "Climber" identity. Students, parents, and staff are all referred to as Climbers ascending "Mount Summit," and daily interactions frequently incorporate the school’s signature call-and-response motto, "To the Top!" Students begin in co-educational classrooms until Grade 4, transitioning to gender-segregated instruction from Grade 5 onward. The school provides a technology-driven, data-informed environment focusing on individual student growth, robotics, and strong core subject foundations.

GEMS School of Research and Innovation (SRI) in Dubai Sports City offers the British Curriculum from Foundation Stage through Year 13. The 47,600-square-meter campus features specific zones designed for specialized learning, including artificial intelligence laboratories, a food technology lab equipped with 3D printers, and a dedicated Esports academy. Students also have access to an Olympic-sized swimming pool, a FIFA-standard football pitch, and a 600-seat auditorium for the performing arts. A distinctive feature of SRI is its integration of advanced technology into daily learning, alongside a strong emphasis on sustainability and environmental contribution. Early years classes are capped at 16 students, ensuring highly personalized attention. The school provides a structured progression from early years to Sixth Form, combining standard English National Curriculum subjects with unique offerings like robotics and martial arts to cater to a wide range of student interests and future career paths.

Founded in 1982, Fujairah Private Academy is a fee-paying, co-educational day school serving students aged 4 to 18. Owned by the Government of Fujairah under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Hamad Bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, it is unique for its student body comprising 85% UAE nationals who receive a British education in a bilingual setting. The school follows the National Curriculum of England and Wales, preparing pupils for Cambridge and Edexcel GCSE, AS, and A2 level examinations, alongside the Thanawa Ama equivalency. For primary students, the school uses the specialized 'Read Write Inc.' literacy program. French is introduced as a mandatory subject from Year 4 onwards. Campus physical amenities include a swimming pool, a separate training pool, a multi-purpose sports hall, football pitches, and basketball courts. Instruction is delivered in English by qualified teachers, the majority of whom are British-trained, while Arabic staff conduct dedicated Arabic and Islamic Studies lessons.

Sharjah American International School Umm Al Quwain provides an American curriculum aligned with California State Standards from Kindergarten through Grade 12. The campus features dedicated science laboratories, information technology labs, art rooms, an outdoor sports field, and an on-site medical clinic. Students are prepared for high school graduation with options to take standardized assessments including MAP (Measures of Academic Progress), SAT, and TOEFL. The school emphasizes English language instruction alongside the mandatory United Arab Emirates Ministry of Education curricula for Arabic Language, Islamic Studies, and Moral Education. A distinctive offering at this campus is its structured college guidance framework, which systematically assists high school students in selecting and applying to regional and international higher education institutions. The school provides daily bus transportation across Umm Al Quwain and neighboring emirates to accommodate commuting families. Additionally, the school hosts annual events such as International Day and Science Fairs to foster peer collaboration.

Noya British School, located in the Noya Community on Yas Island, offers the English National Curriculum for students from FS1 to Year 9. The campus accommodates up to 3,000 learners, featuring dedicated performing arts spaces and extensive sports grounds. Students follow a thematic learning approach that connects core subjects to real-world global issues. The school is deeply committed to environmental responsibility and operates as a sustainability-focused campus with initiatives tied to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, guided by a dedicated Sustainability coordinator. Families benefit from wrap-around care available from 6:30 am to 5:30 pm and an extra-curricular program delivered with Infinite Sports, featuring robotics, rugby, and ballet. High Performance Learning principles are integrated into daily lessons, developing cognitive characteristics like resilience. Core academics are complemented by specialist instruction in physical education, music, and drama, ensuring varied opportunities for student engagement and personal development.

Modern Indian School Dibba is a CBSE-affiliated school in Dibba, Fujairah, established in 1982. The school serves Kindergarten through Grade 12 with the motto 'Liberation Through Wisdom', offering contemporary learning within a quality CBSE curriculum. It features a house system, student council, school counselling and learning assistance programmes alongside strong CBSE board results.

Abu Dhabi International School (AIS) operates across two campuses, the Abu Dhabi Campus at 121 Hadfah St, Al Manhal, and the MBZ Campus in Mohamed Bin Zayed City. Catering to students aged 3 to 18, AIS delivers three curricula under one private, coeducational K-12 umbrella: the British Program (IGCSE and A Levels) at the Abu Dhabi Campus; the American Program with Advanced Placement (AP) at the MBZ Campus; and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) also at MBZ for grades 11–12. The American track aligns English and Math with the Common Core, Science with NGSS, and Arabic with UAE Ministry standards. The High School offers Engineering, Medicine & Health Sciences, Economics & Business, and Liberal Arts tracks. Facilities span two campuses with libraries, theatres, laboratories, and sports grounds, plus spaces for co-curricular activities. AIS fosters nationalities (about 60) and a spectrum of clubs in science, arts, sports, service, and sustainability.