Rosary Private School Branch Abu Dhabi Al NahyanPrincipal & Leadership Team

Rosary Private School Branch Abu Dhabi Al Nahyan is led by Principal Zuha Saleh Ibrahim Dababneh, whose strategic direction is clearly evident in the school's sustained performance. The 2024/25 Irtiqaa inspection confirms that all aspects of leadership are rated Very Good, with inspectors noting a clear commitment to UAE national and Emirate priorities across all aspects of the school's work. Governance is also rated Very Good, reflecting sound oversight structures for an independent school regulated by ADEK (school number 9114). Notably, the school's overall rating has held at Very Good across both the 2022 and 2024/25 inspection cycles, signalling meaningful continuity rather than volatility at the top.

The school's leadership vision is articulated around producing lifelong learners who are proud of their UAE identity — a philosophy that has been in place since Rosary first opened in 1969, making it one of Abu Dhabi's longest-established private schools. Inspectors found that the school's ethos and values are actively recognised and supported by parents, contributing to a Parents and Community rating of Very Good in the 2024/25 inspection. International assessment targets have been shared with stakeholders, and structured action plans are in place — a sign of transparent, outward-facing leadership.

On teaching quality, the 2024/25 inspection rates Teaching for Effective Learning as Very Good across KG and all three Cycles — an improvement from Good to Very Good in KG since the previous inspection. The school employs 159 teachers supported by 14 teaching assistants, serving a roll of 2,632 students. This produces a student-to-teacher ratio of 1:17, which is notably higher than the Abu Dhabi city average of 1:14 across MoE curriculum schools and above the broader Abu Dhabi private school average of 1:13.6. Parents should weigh this when considering classroom attention levels. [MISSING: staff qualification percentages — no data on Masters-level or higher qualifications provided in inspection or school sources]

One area requiring honest attention is staff turnover. The 2024/25 inspection explicitly recommends that the school reduce staff turnover to support continuity and sustained school improvement — a flag that suggests instability in the teaching workforce has been identified as a risk to progress. The inspection also calls for an increase in the number of specialists and inclusion staff, particularly to support the 19 enrolled students of determination. These are structural challenges that leadership will need to address visibly in the coming cycle. Despite these concerns, the school's self-evaluation and improvement planning processes are rated Very Good, and inspectors acknowledge a genuine strategic commitment to improvement.