At a glance
Liwa International School for Girls and Boys is an American curriculum school serving Abu Dhabi from a campus in Al Mushrif, an established inner suburb of villas and family housing. It pairs the American academic model with a strong Arabic and English bilingual programme, which makes it a natural fit for Emirati and Arab expatriate families who want a Western pathway without losing depth in Arabic. The school carries the UAE Ministry of Education subjects in Arabic, Islamic studies and social studies that the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge requires, and it has held a Good rating across recent ADEK inspection cycles. Set it against the wider market of international schools in Abu Dhabi through our city hub.
| Detail | Summary |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and exam boards | American curriculum (US Common Core, NGSS); strong bilingual Arabic and English; MoE subjects |
| Stages | Kindergarten to Grade 12 |
| Founded | Not published |
| Accreditation | Licensed by ADEK; Good in recent inspections |
| Fee band | Value (see the Abu Dhabi fees guide) |
| Campus area | Al Mushrif, Abu Dhabi |
Curriculum and academics
Liwa delivers an American curriculum anchored in US Common Core State Standards and the Next Generation Science Standards, with a broad and balanced approach that emphasises inquiry, critical thinking and real world application. What sets it apart from a standard American school is the weight it gives to Arabic: the bilingual model runs Arabic and English in tandem rather than treating Arabic as a single timetabled subject, which suits families who want their children fluent and literate in both languages. The senior pathway leads toward a US High School Diploma, supported by the Ministry of Education subjects every Abu Dhabi private school teaches. The school does not publish standardised test averages in a form we can independently verify, so we do not republish unverified outcome data. Ask the school for its most recent diploma results and university destinations.
Liwa International School fees
Liwa International School fees sit in the value band for the capital, which is a large part of the school's appeal. Published annual tuition for the 2025/26 year runs from roughly AED 27,030 in kindergarten to about AED 32,440 in Grades 10 to 12, a notably narrow spread by Abu Dhabi standards. You can sense check the band against our guide to international school fees in Abu Dhabi. Beyond tuition, budget for books and learning materials in the region of AED 1,560 to AED 3,185 depending on grade, a uniform at around AED 595 to AED 655, and an optional transport fee of about AED 4,324 a year. The headline tuition figure includes none of these.
Compare Liwa with other Abu Dhabi schools
Put up to three schools side by side on curriculum, fees, stages and location, or take the five minute finder quiz. Free, no obligation.
Admissions
Admission runs on a rolling basis across the academic year, which begins in late August. Placement assessment is age appropriate, with a settling visit for the youngest children and curriculum based assessment in English and mathematics, supported by recent school reports, for older applicants. Because the value fee band keeps demand healthy, families relocating to Al Mushrif should register early for the grades in higher demand. The admissions team will confirm the current registration fee, the assessment format and the documents required for your child's grade.
Location and who goes there
The Abu Dhabi campus is in Al Mushrif, an established residential district close to the central island and the museum and embassy quarter, popular with families who want villa living within an easy drive of the city centre. The intake leans toward Emirati and Arab expatriate families drawn by the bilingual Arabic and English model and the value fees, alongside other international households settled in the inner suburbs. For the wider picture of where families settle across the capital and how the catchments compare, 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 Liwa International School for Girls and Boys, 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 Liwa International School fees?
Liwa International School fees sit in the value band for Abu Dhabi. Published annual tuition for 2025/26 runs from roughly AED 27,030 in kindergarten to about AED 32,440 in Grades 10 to 12. Budget separately for books, uniform and optional transport.
Is Liwa International School a good school?
Liwa International School has held a Good rating across recent ADEK inspections. Whether it suits your child depends on your budget, your preference for an American pathway with strong Arabic provision and your commute to Al Mushrif.
What curriculum does Liwa International School follow?
It delivers an American curriculum anchored in US Common Core and the Next Generation Science Standards, with strong bilingual Arabic and English teaching and the UAE Ministry of Education subjects required by ADEK.
When do Liwa International School applications open?
Admission runs on a rolling basis across the academic year, which starts in late August, with age appropriate placement assessment. Families relocating to Al Mushrif should register early for grades in higher demand.
Where is Liwa International School located?
The Abu Dhabi campus is in Al Mushrif, an established inner suburb of the capital known for its villas and family housing.
