Abu Dhabi International Private School - KaramahPrincipal & Leadership Team

Abu Dhabi International Private School - Karamah is led by School Principal Ms. Pamela Maria Salah Issa, who brings over 22 years of combined teaching and administrative experience, including more than 10 years leading a K-12 school offering both American and British curricula. Born and raised in the UAE, Ms. Issa began her career teaching Kindergarten in Lebanon before returning to lead one of Abu Dhabi's longest-standing independent schools. The Karamah campus operates alongside the MBZ Campus, which is led by Mr. Boghos Terzian, a principal with over 15 years of leadership experience, a Master's degree in Educational Leadership and Policy from the University of Toronto, and current candidacy for a Doctor of Education. His certifications from the Ontario College of Teachers and the Ontario Principal's Council add an internationally recognised layer of professional credibility to the leadership team.

Governance is provided by a Board of Directors chaired by H.E. Abdulla Humaid Ali Al Almazrouei, with board membership including H.H. Sheikh Suroor bin Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Nahyan and Mrs. Jihan Nasr, the school's founder, who has guided the institution since its origins in the early 1980s. ADEK's 2025 inspection rated governance Very Good, noting that the Governing Board exerts a positive influence on the school's leadership and strategic direction. An advisory Board of Trustees further reinforces community accountability. This layered governance structure, anchored by a founder still actively involved, signals an unusual degree of institutional continuity for an independent school of this size.

The school's 2025 ADEK inspection rated overall leadership and management Very Good — a rating held consistently since at least 2022. Inspectors found that leaders articulate a clear vision aligned with UAE national priorities and demonstrate secure knowledge of curriculum and best practice. However, ADEK specifically recommended that AIS establish a dedicated campus leadership team at the Karamah site to strengthen focused monitoring and follow-up — a structural gap parents should note. Middle leadership capacity was also flagged as requiring development, with inspectors calling for stronger systems to evaluate teaching quality and track the progress of different student groups.

On staffing, the school employs 76 teachers across a student body of 1,193 pupils, producing a student-teacher ratio of 1:16. This sits above the Abu Dhabi city average of 1:13.6 among private schools, meaning class sizes at AIS Karamah are somewhat larger than the norm — a factor worth weighing when considering individual attention. Teacher nationalities are primarily Lebanese, South African, and Jordanian, and ADEK confirmed the school is appropriately staffed with suitably qualified teachers. [MISSING: specific staff qualification percentage, e.g. Masters or above]. No significant staff turnover concerns were flagged in the 2025 inspection report.

Parent engagement is a demonstrable strength. ADEK rated partnerships with parents and the community Very Good, with inspectors noting that parents express high levels of satisfaction with the school's communication — specifically its clarity, timeliness, and responsiveness. Structured engagement mechanisms include a formal Parent Committee, PTA meetings, WhatsApp communication, surveys, focus groups, Read-Aloud Fridays, and a Parent Reader Program. The school is independently owned, with no affiliation to a larger operator group, which means strategic decisions rest with the founding family and board rather than a corporate network — a distinction that shapes both the school's culture and its accountability structures.