How many secondary schools
Abu Dhabi has about 55 schools that run a complete secondary phase from Year 7 or Grade 6 through to Year 13 or Grade 12. Not every school carries a full sixth form; roughly a dozen finish at the IGCSE stage or US Grade 10, expecting pupils to transfer for sixth form to a partner school or to repatriate.
The curriculum split at secondary is similar to primary but with the IB Diploma Programme more concentrated at the top tier and A Level the dominant academic pathway. The largest providers are British international schools serving expatriate communities from the UK, South Africa, Australia and the wider Commonwealth. Indian CBSE and ICSE secondary schools serve a large resident community across Mussafah and the inland communities.
Selectivity tightens at secondary entry. The most established not-for-profit secondary schools in Abu Dhabi maintain selective Year 7 entry tests in English, mathematics and reasoning. A handful of the most academically selective schools have wait lists that run to two years for Year 7 and Year 12 entry, so plan early.
Fees and tiers
Secondary fees in Abu Dhabi rise sharply from Year 7. Entry tier secondary tuition starts at AED 60,000 for Indian and value bracket British schools, while the most premium British and IB providers reach AED 110,000 to AED 120,000 by Year 12. The median secondary tuition sits near AED 78,000.
The three tiers split as follows. Value tier, AED 60,000 to AED 75,000, covers Indian CBSE and ICSE secondary schools and several mid-market British providers. Mid tier, AED 75,000 to AED 100,000, captures the larger British and American secondary schools. Premium tier, AED 100,000 to AED 120,000, sits at the senior tier British and IB schools that consistently send graduates to leading UK, US, Canadian and Australian universities. Read the Abu Dhabi fees guide for the full breakdown including sixth form examination loadings.
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Illustrative example schools
The five schools below are illustrative, not a ranking. Each runs a complete secondary phase into a recognised sixth form qualification, holds an ADEK rating of Very Good or Outstanding, and graduates pupils to leading universities each year.
The British School Al Khubairat (Mushrif). Not-for-profit secondary with IGCSE and A Level. Strong Russell Group destinations. Highly selective at Year 7 entry.
Brighton College Abu Dhabi (Bloom Gardens). Pre-Senior and Senior schools running IGCSE then A Level. Smaller cohorts than the larger group operators.
Cranleigh Abu Dhabi (Saadiyat Island). British senior school with A Level sixth form on a single Saadiyat campus. Arts and sport heavy programme.
Repton School Abu Dhabi (Rose Campus). Reem Island secondary running both IB Diploma and A Level streams at sixth form.
GEMS American Academy Abu Dhabi (Khalifa City). US high school diploma with AP options. Strong feeder for North American university destinations.
Where families live
Secondary families in Abu Dhabi are less geographically constrained than primary families because school bus networks are strong and older pupils tolerate longer commutes. The main residential clusters are Saadiyat Island for the premium British senior schools, Al Reem Island for proximity to multiple secondary providers, Khalifa City for American and IB pathways, and Mushrif and Al Bateen for established British not-for-profit schools.
Sixth form pupils often switch schools at Year 12, sometimes moving with the curriculum from A Level to IB. Families considering that transition should pay attention to bus route coverage between their residential area and the new school, which is not always intuitive across the Yas Island, Saadiyat and downtown corridors.
Admissions calendar
Most Abu Dhabi secondary schools open their main September intake window in October of the previous year. Selective Year 7 entry tests are scheduled between November and February. Sixth form Year 12 applications are usually open from October to March, with offers from April. Mid-year transfers are accepted on a rolling basis where places exist, with most movement between November and February.
If you are committing to a specific tier 1 secondary school, apply nine to twelve months before your desired start. Late applicants are placed on waiting lists and offered places as withdrawals come through, typically between May and August. ADEK regulates registration deposits and refund timelines, with deposits non-refundable once a place is accepted in writing.
Frequently asked questions
How many secondary schools are there in Abu Dhabi?
Abu Dhabi has approximately 55 schools that operate a complete secondary phase from Year 7 or Grade 6 through to Year 13 or Grade 12. Not all of those run a full sixth form; some terminate at the IGCSE or Grade 10 stage and rely on partner schools for sixth form.
What is the difference between IB and A Level at Abu Dhabi schools?
A Level streams ask pupils to pick three or four subjects in Year 12 and 13 for in-depth study, while the IB Diploma keeps six subjects, a Theory of Knowledge course, an Extended Essay and a CAS portfolio. Both qualifications are accepted by UAE and overseas universities, but IB suits broader academic profiles and A Level suits decisive subject specialists.
How much does secondary school cost in Abu Dhabi?
Secondary tuition typically runs from AED 60,000 a year at the entry tier to AED 120,000 at the most premium British and IB schools. Sixth form attracts a further 5 to 10 percent for examination and lab loadings, plus university guidance fees at some providers.
Can my child transfer into an Abu Dhabi sixth form?
Transfers into Year 12 are common and accepted by most schools where places exist, particularly for A Level. Diploma Programme transfers after September of the first year become difficult because Internal Assessment work is already underway. Plan transfers around the August intake.
Do Abu Dhabi schools support university applications overseas?
Yes. Most established secondary schools run a dedicated higher education counselling office that supports UCAS, US Common App, Canadian, Australian and increasingly East Asian applications. The strongest counselling teams sit at not-for-profit schools and the senior tier British providers.
Is boarding available in Abu Dhabi?
Boarding is rare in Abu Dhabi but available at a small number of schools that maintain weekly or full boarding houses. Cranleigh Abu Dhabi was the first to offer it. Most Abu Dhabi families choose day attendance with school bus networks.
