For families exploring international schools in Bahrain that combine an English medium academic route with a serious Arabic and Islamic Studies strand, Hawar International School is one of the established bilingual options. It blends the British curriculum with the IB Diploma in the senior years, a dual track that few schools on the island run. This profile sets out what GlobalSchoolGuide Editorial has verified about its curriculum, fees, admissions and location.
We are independent and no school pays to be listed here, so treat this as a reference rather than a sales page. Hawar was founded by Bahraini professionals who wanted a school that preserved local culture while opening international university doors, so the practical questions for parents are usually about how the bilingual model works and where the school sits on cost. Where we could not confirm a detail we mark it as not published.
At a glance
Curriculum and academics
Hawar teaches the Cambridge curriculum from Nursery and Kindergarten through to Year 8, introduced from the 2018 to 2019 year, with Cambridge IGCSE following from Year 9. In the senior phase the school adds the IB Diploma Programme as an authorised IB World School, so older students can sit IGCSE and then progress to the IB Diploma rather than a single examination track. Arabic subjects follow the standards set by the Bahrain Ministry of Education, which is what makes Hawar a genuinely bilingual school rather than an English medium school with token Arabic lessons.
That bilingual character is the point of difference. The founders set out to provide an education that preserves Bahraini culture and Islamic values while meeting international academic standards, and the curriculum reflects that balance. Parents choosing between Hawar and a fully British school should weigh the strength of the Arabic strand against the narrower English medium subject list a bilingual model can carry. For the comparative view against the anchor British schools, see our roundup of the best British schools in Bahrain.
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Hawar International School fees
Hawar sits in the value to mid band for Bahrain rather than the premium tier of the British anchor schools, which is consistent with its position as a bilingual Bahraini founded school. Our Bahrain international school fees guide places schools of this type well below the BD 6,500 to BD 7,500 charged by the premium senior years. Treat the line items below as the structure to budget for and confirm the current schedule with the school. Our fee calculator estimates the all in cost once the extras are added.
- Tuition: value to mid band by year group, rising into the senior phase; the exact schedule is set by the school and not published here
- Registration and assessment: an application and assessment charge applies before a place is confirmed
- External examination entry: IGCSE and IB Diploma examination fees fall in the senior years, so add these to a Year 11 to 13 budget
- Ancillaries: school bus, uniform, books and trips add to the total. As a planning rule, multiply published tuition by about 1.25 for the all in cost
Admissions
Hawar runs a September intake on the standard Bahrain academic calendar. Applicants sit an age appropriate assessment so the school can judge stage and, for a bilingual school, language readiness in both English and Arabic. A registration fee and deposit apply once a place is offered. Because the school spans Nursery to Grade 12 on one site, families can settle a child in the early years and keep them through to the IB Diploma without a second school search.
For September entry, applying from late in the preceding calendar year gives the best chance of a place in the year group you want. Mid year entry is generally more achievable in Bahrain than in the larger Gulf cities, but the most established year groups can fill, so register your interest early and book the assessment as soon as you have a relocation date.
Location and who goes there
The campus is in West Riffa, in the south of the island, set among the residential districts that have grown around Riffa and Riffa Views. The location suits the many Bahraini and expatriate families who live on the southern side of Bahrain, for whom the western Saar and Hamala schools mean a long cross island commute. Riffa is one of the largest population centres on the island, so the school sits close to its natural catchment.
The community is predominantly Bahraini with an international mix, reflecting the school's bilingual mission, which makes it a different proposition from the heavily expatriate British anchor schools. For how West Riffa compares with the western school clusters and where each community tends to settle, our international schools in Bahrain hub maps the catchments and commutes.
Reviews
We do not yet hold verified parent reviews for Hawar International School, so we are not showing a star rating. We would rather show an honest empty state than an unverified score. If your family attends or has attended Hawar, you can submit a first hand review through our school reviews hub and we will publish it once checked. Parent written reviews are the signal the next relocating family values most.
Frequently asked questions
How much are Hawar International School fees?
Hawar International School sits in the value to mid band for Bahrain rather than the premium tier. As a bilingual Bahraini founded school its tuition is set below the British anchor schools, with the senior years carrying external examination entry for IGCSE and the IB Diploma. Treat the band as a planning figure tied to our Bahrain fees guide and confirm the current schedule with the school.
Is Hawar International School a good school?
Hawar International School was founded in 2001 to offer a bilingual education that keeps Arabic and Islamic Studies alongside an international academic route, and it is an authorised IB World School with an IB Diploma offer layered on top of the Cambridge curriculum and IGCSE. That dual track suits families who want both English medium academics and a strong Arabic strand. We do not publish our own rating without verified reviews, so we suggest visiting and speaking to current families.
What curriculum does Hawar International School follow?
Hawar follows the Cambridge curriculum from Nursery and Kindergarten through to Year 8, with Cambridge IGCSE from Year 9. It is an authorised IB World School offering the IB Diploma Programme in the senior years. Arabic subjects follow the standards set by the Bahrain Ministry of Education, making it a genuinely bilingual school.
When do Hawar International School applications open?
The school runs a September intake on the standard Bahrain academic calendar. Applying from late in the preceding calendar year gives the best chance of a place, and applicants sit an age appropriate assessment. A registration fee and deposit apply once a place is offered.
Where is Hawar International School located?
The campus is in West Riffa, in the south of the island, which suits Bahraini and expatriate families living in Riffa, Riffa Views and the southern districts. It is further from the western Saar and Hamala clusters, so the commute favours families based on the southern side of Bahrain.
