At a glance
The British International School Abu Dhabi opened in 2009 and is part of Nord Anglia Education, the global group of premium international schools. It is an all through school for boys and girls, running from the Foundation Stage to the sixth form on a single campus in Zayed City. BISAD is consistently recognised as Outstanding by the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge, the highest rating a school can achieve in the emirate, and draws families from more than ninety nationalities. Set it against the wider market of international schools in Abu Dhabi through our city hub.
| Detail | Summary |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and exam boards | English National Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, A Level, IB Diploma, BTEC |
| Stages | Foundation Stage to Year 13 (ages 3 to 18) |
| Founded | 2009 |
| Accreditation | Rated Outstanding by ADEK; part of Nord Anglia Education |
| Fee band | Premium (see the Abu Dhabi fees guide) |
| Campus area | Zayed City, between Khalifa City B and Mohammed Bin Zayed City |
Curriculum and academics
BISAD teaches the English National Curriculum across the primary and lower secondary years, leading to Cambridge IGCSE in Years 10 and 11. The sixth form is unusually broad: students can choose A Levels, the IB Diploma Programme or a BTEC pathway, which lets the school offer both the depth of three or four A Level subjects and the breadth of the IB. The school reports IB Diploma averages above the global figure, alongside strong IGCSE and vocational results, though we do not republish unverified outcome data. As a Nord Anglia school, BISAD adds global enrichment links, including collaborations associated with Juilliard for the performing arts and MIT for STEAM, which broaden the core academic programme. Teaching staff are described as native English speakers with UK qualified teacher status or equivalent. Ask the school directly for its most recent results and university destinations.
BISAD fees
| Stage | Annual tuition |
|---|---|
| FS1 (age 3) | AED 54,204 |
| FS2 | AED 56,090 |
| Year 1 onward | AED 68,259 |
| Years 5 to 10 | AED 69,881 |
| Years 12 to 13 | AED 76,952 |
Source: BISAD, Nord Anglia (nordangliaeducation.com). ADEK-regulated annual tuition. Fees are the most recent published figures and exclude one-off costs such as registration, deposits and capital levies. Always confirm current fees directly with the school.
BISAD fees sit in the premium band for the capital, in line with the other top rated British schools. Published annual tuition runs from roughly AED 54,204 in the early years to about AED 76,952 in Years 12 and 13, rising by year group, and the school revises this schedule each year. You can sense check the band against our guide to international school fees in Abu Dhabi. Beyond tuition, budget for a registration or assessment fee, a seat deposit, examination entry fees in the senior years, uniform and optional transport. Sibling discounts on tuition are offered for larger families, which softens the premium for households with several children.
Working out the real cost of a place?
Use our fee calculator to add tuition, registration, deposit and bus into one budget. Free, independent, no school pays to appear.
Admissions
Admission runs on a rolling basis across the academic year, which starts in late August. As an Outstanding rated school in a popular family district, the early years, Year 7 and the sixth form are the most competitive entry points, and waiting lists form well ahead of time, so families relocating to Abu Dhabi should register as early as a place is foreseeable. Assessment is age appropriate: a settling session for the youngest children and curriculum based assessment in English and mathematics, with school reports and references, for older applicants. Sixth form entry is conditional on IGCSE or GCSE grades, with the IB Diploma and the most demanding A Levels carrying subject specific requirements.
Location and who goes there
The campus is in Zayed City, between Khalifa City B and Mohammed Bin Zayed City, on Al Ain Road behind Abu Dhabi University, in the fast growing eastern belt of the capital. That location suits the many British, other European, Arab, North American and Asian families who live in the villa communities of Khalifa City, Al Raha and Mohammed Bin Zayed City. The breadth of more than ninety nationalities makes for a genuinely international intake rather than a single dominant community. For the wider picture of where families settle across the capital, return to the Abu Dhabi city hub.
Reviews
No verified reviews yet. GlobalSchoolGuide is independent and no school pays to be listed, so we publish parent reviews only once they are verified. If your child attends or has attended the British International School Abu Dhabi, you can submit a review to help other relocating families. We never display a star rating without real, checked reviews behind it.
Frequently asked questions
How much are British International School Abu Dhabi (BISAD) fees?
BISAD fees sit in the premium band for the capital. Published annual tuition runs from roughly AED 54,204 in the early years to about AED 76,952 in Years 12 and 13, rising by year group. Budget separately for registration, a deposit, examination entry, uniform and optional transport.
Is British International School Abu Dhabi a good school?
BISAD is consistently rated Outstanding by ADEK, the highest rating in the emirate, and reports IB Diploma averages above the global figure. Whether it suits your child depends on budget, stage and proximity to Zayed City.
What curriculum does British International School Abu Dhabi follow?
It teaches the English National Curriculum with Cambridge IGCSE in Years 10 and 11, then offers both A Levels and the IB Diploma Programme, plus a BTEC pathway, in the sixth form, as part of Nord Anglia Education.
When do British International School Abu Dhabi applications open?
Admission is rolling across the academic year, which starts in late August, but the early years, Year 7 and the sixth form are competitive, so register as soon as a place is foreseeable.
Where is British International School Abu Dhabi located?
The school is in Zayed City, between Khalifa City B and Mohammed Bin Zayed City, on Al Ain Road behind Abu Dhabi University in the east of the capital.
