Update: 18,000 New Abu Dhabi School Places

First Published:

Wednesday 3 September, 2014

18,000 new private school places will be available for the 2014-2015 academic year in Abu Dhabi, according to the emirate's education regulator, ADEC.

The new seats come with 14 new schools, 11 of them in mainland Abu Dhabi, two of them on Abu Dhabi island, and one in Al Ain. One offers an American curriculum (Al Yasat International School), four an Indian curriculum (we believe Shining Star International School (CBSE), Mayoor International School, Indian Modern Science School and Indian International School), another four will offer a British curriculum (Cranleigh, Ajyal International School, Reach British School, and Giggles/Al Basma), one will offer a Canadian curriculum (Abu Dhabi Grammar School), and one a Philippines curriculum (The Philippine School of AD, replacing a previous villa school).

ADEC has released the information, as media in the emirate continues to highlight issues with availability, including one kindergarten's struggle with 700 applications for 88 places.

Hamad Al Daheri, Executive Director for Adec's Private Schools and Quality Assurance Sector, said, “There is a strategy plan to offer additional school seats in order to keep up with the growing student population rate. We are in the process of introducing 18 new private schools, some of which are currently being designed or under construction.”

“These schools will help accommodate 20,000 students and offer diverse options for parents as part of Adec’s plans to improve the quality of education across the private school sector,” he said.

Note, current Abu Dhabi new school availability: Cranleigh has places in all but FS1 and year 6. GEMS World Academy – AD grades 3 and 5, GEMS American Academy – KG2 and grades 2-12, Diyafah International School – FS1 to year 7 ( this is a sister to the Al Diyafah School Dubai). Of the established schools – GEMS Cambridge International School grades 1-6, Repton AD year 1 and 2, Raha International – grades 1, 2, 4 and 7-12.

Al Yasat International School - US curriculum. Offering KG to grade 6 (not strictly new, as they were a villa school previously, but one of the schools on Adec’s list). The new buildings have not yet received ADEC approval but will open in September, places available in all grades.