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Start with our international schools in Abu Dhabi directory for the full list by curriculum and stage. The schools below all run an examined sixth form and publish their results and university destinations, which is the evidence that matters most for university preparation. If you are weighing the qualification, our guide to the International Baccalaureate explains how the Diploma is examined and recognised, and our best schools for sixth form in Abu Dhabi shortlist covers post-16 pathways in more detail. This is a shortlist to research, not a ranking.
Results move year to year and cohorts differ, so treat published figures as one input rather than a verdict, and confirm the latest outcomes and the structure of each school's guidance team directly before you decide.
The shortlist
The British School Al Khubairat
The British School Al Khubairat, or BSAK, consistently reports strong sixth form results and a wide spread of university destinations, with the UK its most popular route given the make-up of the student body, alongside the United States, Europe and the UAE. Its broad A-level and BTEC offer means students can build a profile suited to different countries' entry requirements, supported by an established university guidance programme.
Brighton College Abu Dhabi
Brighton College Abu Dhabi publishes its A-level results each summer and reports a high volume of Russell Group university offers; in 2025 the college reported 149 such offers across its cohort, with around 44 per cent of grades at A* or A. With careers and university guidance built into the sixth form, it is a strong shortlist entry for families targeting selective UK universities while keeping international options open.
Cranleigh Abu Dhabi
Cranleigh Abu Dhabi, on Saadiyat Island, reports rising A-level outcomes, with the school noting around 52 per cent of entries at A or A* in 2025, and publishes university destinations that include St Andrews, UCL, King's College London, McGill and the University of Virginia. That mix of UK and North American placements makes it a good fit for families considering universities on both sides of the Atlantic.
American International School in Abu Dhabi
The American International School in Abu Dhabi offers the IB Diploma alongside Advanced Placement, so students can present either a full Diploma or an AP profile to universities. Its US high school structure and college counselling are geared to American and international applications, making it the natural shortlist choice for families whose first target is the United States while keeping worldwide options in play.
How we chose
We included only Abu Dhabi schools that run an examined sixth form and publish their senior results and university destinations, and we confirmed each is a real, operating school in the city. Where we cite a figure, it is the school's own published result for the stated year. We did not rank the schools, score them or attach ratings, because the best school for university preparation depends on your child's subjects, target countries and learning style. Verify the most recent results and guidance arrangements directly, as cohorts and provision change each year.
Shortlist Abu Dhabi schools for university prep
Tell us your child's stage, curriculum and target countries and the school finder returns a matched Abu Dhabi shortlist.
Start the school finderFees and next steps
Schools with strong university outcomes tend to sit in the premium fee band, and the sixth form is the most expensive stage. Rather than quote figures that move each year and are reviewed by ADEK, we keep the live bands in our guide to international school fees in Abu Dhabi. From there, use the school finder to shortlist, browse the full Abu Dhabi schools directory, or compare related shortlists for sixth form and the most affordable international schools in Abu Dhabi.
Common questions
The British School Al Khubairat, Brighton College Abu Dhabi, Cranleigh Abu Dhabi and the American International School in Abu Dhabi all publish strong A-level or IB outcomes and report where their leavers go, including UK Russell Group, US and other international universities. The right school still depends on your child's target countries and subjects.
Yes. The schools on this shortlist run dedicated careers and university guidance, supporting UCAS applications for the UK, the Common Application and standardised tests for the United States, and references for universities elsewhere. Ask each school how many counsellors it has and how early guidance begins.
Both lead to top universities worldwide. A-levels let a student specialise in three or four subjects while the IB Diploma keeps a broad profile of six subjects plus the core. The better fit depends on your child's strengths and the entry requirements of their target universities, which a school's guidance team can map out.
Schools with strong university outcomes tend to sit in the premium fee band, and the sixth form is the most expensive stage. Figures are reviewed annually by ADEK, so see our international school fees in Abu Dhabi guide for current bands rather than a number that dates quickly.
No. Published results and destinations are useful evidence, but cohorts differ year to year and the best school is the one that fits your child's subjects, ambitions and learning style. Use the results as one input, visit, and speak to the university guidance team before deciding.