At a glance
The British School Al Khubairat opened in 1968, which makes it the oldest British curriculum school in the capital, and in 1980 it moved to purpose built facilities on Airport Road in Al Mushrif, where it has grown into one of the largest schools in the emirate. It is run as a not for profit institution, teaching pupils from Foundation Stage right through to Year 13 across a single all through campus. You can place it within the wider market of international schools in Abu Dhabi through our city hub.
| Detail | Summary |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and exam boards | National Curriculum for England; GCSE in Years 10 and 11, A Level in Years 12 and 13 |
| Stages | Foundation Stage to Year 13 (ages 3 to 18) |
| Founded | 1968 |
| Accreditation | Rated Outstanding in its British Schools Overseas inspection; not for profit; licensed by ADEK |
| Fee band | Mid to premium (see the Abu Dhabi fees guide) |
| Campus area | Al Mushrif, Airport Road, Abu Dhabi |
Curriculum and academics
BSAK delivers the British curriculum built on the National Curriculum for England, taught in English alongside the Arabic and Islamic Studies the UAE requires. Children begin in the Foundation Stage, work through the primary years and Key Stage 3, then sit GCSEs in Years 10 and 11 before A Levels in Years 12 and 13, the standard British route into universities in the United Kingdom and beyond. The school does not run the IB Diploma, so it suits families committed to the GCSE and A Level pathway rather than the IB. BSAK is the only school in the capital to hold an Outstanding rating in its British Schools Overseas inspection, the framework that benchmarks UAE based British schools against the standards expected in England, and it carries more than fifty years of institutional history in the city. Ask the school for recent GCSE and A Level results and university destinations to judge outcomes in detail.
The British School Al Khubairat fees
The British School Al Khubairat fees sit in the mid to premium band for the capital, which is competitive for a long established not for profit school with a strong inspection record. Annual tuition rises by year group, with the senior years the most expensive stage. We do not print a single headline figure here because the school revises fees each year and issues the current schedule to applicants, and you can sense check the band against our guide to international school fees in Abu Dhabi. As a not for profit school, fee income is reinvested in the campus and programme rather than distributed. Beyond tuition, budget for a registration or assessment fee, a seat deposit, examination entry fees in the GCSE and A Level years and optional transport.
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Admissions
Admission runs across the academic year, which starts in late August, with the main intake at the start of the year and rolling entry where places exist. As a long established and consistently full school, waiting lists form at busy year groups, so families relocating to Abu Dhabi should register as soon as the move is confirmed and ask about the position on the list for the year group they need. Assessment is age appropriate, with informal observation for the youngest children and curriculum based testing in English and mathematics for older applicants, plus reports from the previous school. Entry to the Sixth Form is guided by GCSE grades and the subject prerequisites the school sets for each A Level.
Location and who goes there
The campus sits in Al Mushrif on Airport Road, a central inland district that puts it within reach of much of the city rather than tied to a single island. The location suits families living across the central districts, Khalifa City and the bridges who want an established British school with deep roots in the community. The cohort is broad and international, with a large British contingent alongside European, Arab, Asian and other expatriate families, reflecting the school's long history as a community anchor for English speaking families in the capital. 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 School Al Khubairat, 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 The British School Al Khubairat fees?
The British School Al Khubairat fees sit in the mid to premium band for the capital. Tuition rises by year group, with the senior years the most expensive stage. As a not for profit school, fee income is reinvested. Budget separately for registration, a deposit, examination entry fees and optional transport. The school issues current rates to applicants.
Is The British School Al Khubairat a good school?
BSAK is the oldest British school in Abu Dhabi, founded in 1968, run not for profit and rated Outstanding in its British Schools Overseas inspection. Whether it suits your child depends on budget, the British pathway you want and proximity to Al Mushrif.
What curriculum does The British School Al Khubairat follow?
It follows the National Curriculum for England from Foundation Stage to Year 13, leading to GCSEs in Years 10 and 11 and A Levels in Years 12 and 13, alongside the Arabic and Islamic Studies required by the UAE.
When do The British School Al Khubairat applications open?
Admission runs across the academic year, which starts in late August, with the main intake at the start of the year. As a long established and popular school, waiting lists form at busy year groups, so register as early as possible.
Where is The British School Al Khubairat located?
The school is on Airport Road in Al Mushrif, a central inland district of Abu Dhabi, where it moved to purpose built facilities in 1980.
