At a glance
The International School of Choueifat Khalifa City opened in 2006 and has grown into one of the largest private schools in the capital, with several thousand pupils drawn from dozens of nationalities. It belongs to the global SABIS Network, which runs a tightly structured academic model used in schools across the Gulf, Europe and North America. The school is English medium and teaches a continuous range from KG1 to Grade 12, so a family can place a young child and keep them on one campus to graduation. As an Abu Dhabi private school it carries the Ministry of Education subjects in Arabic, Islamic studies and social studies. Set it against the wider market of international schools in Abu Dhabi through our city hub.
| Detail | Summary |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and exam boards | SABIS curriculum (English medium); core English, maths, science, Arabic and French; MoE subjects |
| Stages | KG1 to Grade 12 (kindergarten to age 18) |
| Founded | Opened 2006 |
| Accreditation | SABIS Network member; licensed by ADEK |
| Fee band | Value to mid (see the Abu Dhabi fees guide) |
| Campus area | Khalifa City, eastern Abu Dhabi |
Curriculum and academics
Choueifat follows the proprietary SABIS curriculum rather than a national framework, so it differs in method from the IB schools in Abu Dhabi and from the British and American schools nearby. The model concentrates on a small set of core disciplines, mainly English, mathematics and science, taught to a consistent global standard, with world languages including the required Arabic and French. Its signature is the SABIS point system, a frequent low stakes testing routine that tracks each pupil against measurable targets and uses senior students as prefects in a structured support network. Families who like clear, data driven progress monitoring tend to respond well to it; those who want a more inquiry led or project based style may prefer an International Baccalaureate setting. The school does not publish exam averages in a form we can independently verify, so we do not republish unverified outcome data. Ask the school for its most recent results and university destinations.
Choueifat Khalifa City fees
| Stage | Annual tuition |
|---|---|
| Pre-KG / FS1 | AED 23,420 |
| Grade 1 | AED 26,260 |
| Grade 6 | AED 29,080 |
| Grade 9 | AED 35,210 |
| Grade 11 | AED 40,820 |
| Grade 12 | AED 41,370 |
Source: ISC Khalifa City fee schedule (SABIS, via WhichSchoolAdvisor). Khalifa City campus. Figures from the published fee schedule; confirm with the school. 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.
International School of Choueifat Khalifa City fees sit in the value to mid band for the capital, which is part of the appeal of a SABIS place. Published annual tuition has run from roughly AED 21,000 in the kindergarten years to about AED 41,000 in the senior grades, rising by year group, with recent published bands in the low twenties to low forties of thousands of dirhams. 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, books and materials, uniform and optional transport, none of which the headline figure includes.
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Admissions
Admission runs across the academic year, which begins in late August. Placement at Choueifat is assessment led: applicants sit tests in English and mathematics so the school can position them correctly within the SABIS levels, which do not always map one to one onto a child's age based grade elsewhere. Given the school's scale and steady demand, families relocating to the eastern suburbs should apply early for the grades in highest demand. The admissions team will confirm the current registration fee, the assessment format and the documents required for your child.
Location and who goes there
The campus sits in Khalifa City, the large residential district on the eastern side of the capital between central Abu Dhabi and the airport, an area of villas and family compounds popular with households that prefer suburban space to island high rise living. The intake is broad and international, reflecting both the size of the school and the mixed Emirati, Arab expatriate and South Asian community around it, with the value fee band widening the catchment further. 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 International School of Choueifat Khalifa City, 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 International School of Choueifat Khalifa City fees?
Fees sit in the value to mid band for Abu Dhabi. Published annual tuition has run from roughly AED 21,000 in the kindergarten years to about AED 41,000 in the senior grades, rising by year. Budget separately for registration, books, uniform and optional transport.
Is International School of Choueifat Khalifa City a good school?
The school follows the structured SABIS academic model and is one of the largest schools in the capital by enrolment. Whether it suits your child depends on how well they respond to the intensive SABIS point system and your commute to Khalifa City.
What curriculum does International School of Choueifat Khalifa City follow?
It follows the proprietary SABIS curriculum, an English medium programme that concentrates on English, mathematics, science and world languages including Arabic and French, alongside the UAE Ministry of Education subjects required by ADEK.
When do International School of Choueifat Khalifa City applications open?
Admission runs across the academic year, which starts in late August, with placement assessment in core subjects. Given the school's size and popularity, families should register early for the grades in highest demand.
Where is International School of Choueifat Khalifa City located?
The campus is in Khalifa City, the established residential district on the eastern edge of Abu Dhabi near the airport.
