At a glance
Cambridge International School Abu Dhabi, formally GEMS Cambridge International School Abu Dhabi, opened in 2013 and is one of the larger affordable British schools in the capital, with a roll of several thousand pupils. It is an all through school for boys and girls, running from the Foundation Stage to the sixth form, and is rated Very Good by the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge. As part of GEMS Education it shares group teaching standards and inspection scrutiny. Set it against the wider market of international schools in Abu Dhabi through our city hub.
| Detail | Summary |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and exam boards | British curriculum, IGCSE, A Level |
| Stages | Foundation Stage to Year 13 (ages 3 to 18) |
| Founded | 2013 |
| Accreditation | Rated Very Good by ADEK; part of GEMS Education |
| Fee band | Value to mid (see the Abu Dhabi fees guide) |
| Campus area | Baniyas, near Al Mafraq, eastern mainland Abu Dhabi |
Curriculum and academics
The school follows the National Curriculum for England across the full age range, from the Early Years Foundation Stage through Key Stages 1 to 3, then IGCSE in Years 10 and 11 and a two year A Level sixth form. As a high volume GEMS school it offers a broad subject menu at IGCSE and A Level, which gives pupils real choice without the premium fees of the established academies. The Cambridge name reflects the exam board heritage of the international IGCSE and A Level qualifications that British schools across the Gulf use. A Levels are read directly by universities in the United Kingdom, North America, Australia, India and across the Gulf, which matters to the school's largely South Asian and Arab intake. Ask the school for its most recent IGCSE and A Level results and university destinations, since we do not republish unverified outcome figures.
Cambridge International School Abu Dhabi fees
Cambridge International School Abu Dhabi fees sit in the value to mid band for the capital, which is the reason it is so popular with budget conscious families. Published annual tuition runs from roughly AED 23,060 at the youngest stages to about AED 40,340 in the sixth form, 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, all of which add to the headline figure.
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Admissions
Admission runs on a rolling basis across the academic year, which starts in late August. Because the school is large and affordable, popular year groups, especially the primary stages and the start of secondary, fill early, so families relocating to the eastern mainland should register as soon 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 subject specific requirements for the most demanding A Level courses.
Location and who goes there
The campus is in the Baniyas area, off Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Road near Al Mafraq, on the eastern mainland of Abu Dhabi well away from the island core. That location and the affordable fees draw a large South Asian community alongside Arab and other expatriate families who live in Baniyas, Mohammed Bin Zayed City and the surrounding mainland districts. For families weighing value against commute, the school is a practical option outside the premium island belt. 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 Cambridge 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 Cambridge International School Abu Dhabi fees?
GEMS Cambridge International School Abu Dhabi fees sit in the value to mid band for the capital. Published annual tuition runs from roughly AED 23,060 to about AED 40,340, rising by year group. Budget separately for registration, a deposit, examination entry, uniform and optional transport.
Is Cambridge International School Abu Dhabi a good school?
GEMS Cambridge International School Abu Dhabi is rated Very Good by ADEK and is one of the larger affordable British schools in the capital. Whether it suits your child depends on budget, stage and proximity to the Baniyas area.
What curriculum does Cambridge International School Abu Dhabi follow?
It follows the British curriculum, the National Curriculum for England, with IGCSE in Years 10 and 11 and A Levels in the sixth form, as part of GEMS Education.
When do Cambridge International School Abu Dhabi applications open?
Admission is rolling across the academic year, which starts in late August, but popular year groups fill early, so register as soon as a place is foreseeable.
Where is Cambridge International School Abu Dhabi located?
The school is in the Baniyas area, off Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Road near Al Mafraq, in the eastern mainland of Abu Dhabi.
