Baraem Al Ain Private School

Ministry of Education School in Muwaylih, Al Ain

Last updated

Curriculum
Ministry of Education
ADEK
Very Good
Location
Al Ain, Muwaylih
Fees
AED 13K - 27K

The Executive Summary

Baraem Al Ain Private School in the Muwaylih / Bani Yas district of Abu Dhabi is a co-educational MoE curriculum school serving KG1 through Grade 12, earning an ADEK rating of Very Good in its 2024 Irtiqa inspection - a meaningful step up from its previous Good rating. With school fees ranging from AED 8,867 to AED 27,200, it occupies the affordable end of Abu Dhabi's private school spectrum, making it one of the most accessible MoE-curriculum options in the Muwaylih schools corridor. The school's strongest academic performance is concentrated in its upper cycles, where English, Mathematics, and Science attainment reach Outstanding - a genuinely impressive result for a school at this fee point. The 2023 move to a purpose-built campus has given the institution a significant physical upgrade, and leadership is clearly driving improvement with strategic intent. For families seeking a values-grounded, Arabic-medium-strong MoE education at a competitive price point in the Bani Yas area, this school merits serious consideration. However, parents should enter with clear eyes. The school carries notable weaknesses in inclusion provision: care and support for students of determination is rated only Acceptable across all cycles, and fewer than 1% of students are formally identified as having additional learning needs - a figure that almost certainly understates the true population. A 25% staff turnover in the past year, coinciding with an intake of over 400 new students, creates real continuity risk. The curriculum design, while improving, remains rated Good rather than Very Good, and independent learning skills need further embedding, particularly in younger year groups. This is not the school for families prioritising elite university placement pathways, bilingual IB programmes, or robust SEN support. It is, however, a genuinely improving community school with outstanding upper-cycle academic results, strong Islamic values education, and a fee structure that represents real value for money in Abu Dhabi's private education market.
ADEK Very Good 2024Outstanding Upper-Cycle ResultsFees from AED 8,867Purpose-Built 2023 Campus

“The improvement since the new building opened has been remarkable - the teachers are more motivated, the facilities are much better, and my son's results in Grade 11 have exceeded our expectations.”

— Grade 11 Parent(representative)

Academic Framework & Learning Style

Baraem Al Ain Private School follows the UAE Ministry of Education (MoE) curriculum, delivering instruction across KG1 through Grade 12 in both Arabic-medium and English-medium subjects. This is a traditional curriculum school: structured, exam-focused, and aligned tightly with national MoE standards. The school does not offer the IB, Cambridge IGCSE, or any international qualification framework - parents seeking those pathways should look elsewhere. What it does offer is a rigorous grounding in the national curriculum with a strong emphasis on Islamic Education, Arabic language, UAE Social Studies, and increasingly competitive performance in English, Mathematics, and Science. The most compelling academic story at Baraem Al Ain is the trajectory of improvement in upper cycles. According to the 2024 ADEK Irtiqa inspection, English attainment in Cycle 3 (Grades 10-12) is rated Outstanding, with progress also Outstanding - a remarkable result. Mathematics and Science in Cycle 3 mirror this, with both attainment and progress reaching Outstanding. This means that students who stay the full journey through the school are reaching the highest possible performance band by the time they sit their Grade 12 MoE examinations. Grade 12 MoE national examination results in Arabic and Islamic Studies show most students attaining above curriculum standards, with outstanding attainment noted in Islamic Education. In standardised international benchmarking, the school participates in ACER IBT assessments in Arabic, Mathematics, and Science for Grades 3-9. The 2023/24 results are striking: students achieved outstanding achievement across all grades and subjects, with progress outcomes also rated outstanding. In PISA 2022, 15-year-old students exceeded the school's own targets in all three domains - Reading (458.3), Scientific Literacy (467.3), and Mathematical Literacy (473.8), with the mathematics score surpassing the international average. These are credible external data points that validate the internal assessment picture. The teaching methodology is predominantly structured and teacher-led, with the Irtiqa report noting that inquiry-based and independent learning skills, while improving, are not yet fully embedded - particularly in younger cycles. The school has introduced robotics and project-based learning as curriculum enrichment, and there is a deliberate push to incorporate PISA and TIMSS-style questioning into internal assessments through dedicated weekly practice sessions for Grades 3-9. Academic support for English language acquisition in the early years is a noted development area: KG students often join with limited English exposure, and independent reading and writing skills in Cycle 1 require further strengthening. For gifted and talented students, provision exists but is inconsistent - the Irtiqa report explicitly flags that greater focus is needed on this group. There is no formal external examination at GCSE or A-Level; progression is entirely through the MoE national framework, with Grade 12 students sitting the Ministry's own terminal assessments. University destinations data is not publicly disclosed, though the school has organised visits to Abu Dhabi University and participated in the Najah Expo university fair, suggesting an emerging university guidance programme for senior students.
Outstanding
Cycle 3 English, Maths & Science Attainment
ADEK Irtiqa 2024 - highest possible rating
473.8
PISA 2022 Mathematical Literacy Score
Above international average; exceeded school target of 430.6
Outstanding
ACER IBT Results (Grades 3-9)
Arabic, Mathematics and Science - all grades 2023/24
1,330
Students on Roll
KG1 to Grade 12, co-educational
Curriculum Details

Extracurricular Activities (ECAs)

The extracurricular and enrichment programme at Baraem Al Ain is broader than its modest fee point might suggest. The school's events calendar - one of the more transparent windows into school life given the limited website content available - reveals a genuinely active programme of activities spanning cultural celebrations, health and wellness initiatives, competitive sports, creative arts, and community engagement. Sports and physical activity feature prominently: the school runs an internal Football Foundation League (with a documented final event), a Hurdle League with competitive finals, and a Sharia Park Sports Challenge. A dedicated Sports Day is held annually, and health-themed events - including a World Heart Day marathon for Foundation students, healthy sports days, and wellness seminars - indicate a genuine commitment to physical education beyond timetabled PE lessons. On the cultural and creative front, the school runs a Winter Festival, a Baraem Bazaar market event, a Bridge of Cultures programme, a Fashion Show and Traditional Costume Competition, and a Free Studio creative arts session. A "Personalities Week" with a closing ceremony suggests structured character and biography study. The school has participated in the Creativity and Talent Bazaar at Al Ain University and the Emirates National Skills Competition, indicating engagement with external competitive platforms beyond the school gates. Academic enrichment and competitions are well represented: a Grammar Competition for secondary boys, a Young Writer in Big Books Competition, PISA Training Workshops, IBT preparation sessions, and an Oasis of Creativity and Innovation Exhibition. The school has also hosted a Hackathon at Abu Dhabi University's College of Engineering for senior students, focused on real-life challenges using artificial intelligence - a forward-looking initiative at this fee level. Community and values education is woven throughout: National Day celebrations, UAE Flag Day, International Day of Tolerance, Arab Environment Day, International Clean Energy Day, and a Future Agriculture Initiative featuring hydroponics all feature in the calendar. Educational trips include visits to the Louvre Abu Dhabi, Al Wathba Library, the Heritage Village, ADIPEC at Abu Dhabi Exhibition Grounds, the Najah Expo, and the Abu Dhabi Zoo. Senior students have made dedicated visits to Abu Dhabi University for career and university guidance. The school has also achieved recognition in national literary competitions including the Libraries Pioneer Competition and the Creative Reader Competition. While a precise count of formal after-school clubs is not publicly disclosed, the breadth of documented activities suggests a rich and varied enrichment offer that punches well above the school's fee bracket.
30+
Documented ECA & Enrichment Events
Based on school events calendar - cultural, sports, academic and community
Football Foundation LeagueHackathon at ADU EngineeringLouvre Abu Dhabi TripsLibraries Pioneer AwardEmirates National Skills Competition

Pastoral Care & Well-being

Pastoral care at Baraem Al Ain presents a mixed picture that parents should examine carefully. On the health, safety, and safeguarding side, the school's record is genuinely strong: ADEK inspectors rated Health and Safety, including child protection and safeguarding arrangements, as Very Good across all four cycles in the 2024 Irtiqa inspection - and this has been a consistent strength maintained since the previous inspection. The school provides a safe and secure environment, and students demonstrate consistently positive behaviour and respect for Islamic values throughout the school day. The Irtiqa report notes that students' conduct is a genuine strength. The school has demonstrated a clear commitment to well-being through its events programme: World Mental Health Day is marked, anti-bullying awareness is actively promoted (including a documented march activating National Bullying Prevention Week), and a dedicated cybersecurity awareness programme addresses digital safety. Parent engagement in well-being is encouraged through workshops on World Heart Day and a parenting guidance package delivered in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Municipal Presence Centre. School counselling and character-building workshops are in evidence, including a "Character Building" series featuring plays and stories for younger students, and self-confidence workshops for the kindergarten section. However, the Care and Support domain - which covers individual student guidance, inclusion support, and pastoral responsiveness to student needs - is rated only Acceptable across all cycles, representing a regression from the previous Good rating. This is the school's most significant pastoral weakness. The Irtiqa report attributes this decline to the low identification rate of students of determination (fewer than 1% of the student population, against a realistic expectation of 3-5% in a school of this size), inconsistent support for both students of determination and gifted and talented students, and the absence of In-School Support Services (ISSS) for students with additional learning needs. For families of children who may need any form of additional support - whether academic, emotional, or physical - this is a material concern that should be raised directly with the school before enrolment.

“The school feels safe and the teachers genuinely care about the children's behaviour and values. My daughter has thrived socially. I do wish there was more structured support for students who find certain subjects difficult.”

— Grade 5 Parent(representative)

Campus & Facilities

The campus story at Baraem Al Ain is one of recent and significant transformation. In 2023, the school relocated to a purpose-built new building, a move that the ADEK Irtiqa inspection explicitly identifies as having given the school "a huge boost." Inspectors describe the new premises as finished to a high level with all the expected modern facilities - a meaningful endorsement from a regulatory body not given to hyperbole. The school is located at 35 Al Turjman Street, Baniyas East, in the Bani Yas area of Abu Dhabi, a residential district with good access from surrounding communities in the Muwaylih and Bani Yas corridor. The library provision is a documented strength. The school operates two libraries: a ground-floor library serving KG and Cycle 1, designed with colourful displays and age-appropriate seating, and a first-floor library for Cycles 2 and 3 serving both boys and girls. Together they house 1,200 books (700 Arabic, 500 English), supplemented by the Kutubee digital platform providing access to 1,600 digital books in English and Arabic. Both libraries are extensively timetabled for weekly reading sessions on a three-week rolling rotation covering Arabic, English, and Social Studies. The school has recently rationalised its collection by removing approximately 800 books that did not meet MoE standards - a sign of quality control rather than neglect. Sports facilities include spaces for the school's active physical education programme, with documented use of external venues including Sharia Park for competitive events. The school's events calendar references science and chemistry activity sessions, suggesting functional laboratory provision, and the introduction of robotics as a curriculum subject implies dedicated technology or maker-space infrastructure. The school clinic is referenced repeatedly in the events calendar in connection with health and nutrition activities, confirming on-site medical support. Technology infrastructure includes student access to digital devices, though the Irtiqa report notes that ensuring all students have equal access to digital devices and resources remains a leadership priority - suggesting provision is not yet fully consistent across all year groups. The campus location in Bani Yas offers reasonable commute access for families living in the eastern Abu Dhabi residential belt, with school bus services available at an annual cost of AED 3,686.
1,200
Library Books (Physical Collection)
700 Arabic + 500 English; plus 1,600 digital titles via Kutubee
2023
Year of Campus Relocation
Purpose-built new building; rated high standard by ADEK inspectors
Purpose-Built 2023 CampusDual Library SystemKutubee Digital PlatformRobotics ProgrammeOn-Site School ClinicSchool Bus Service Available
Campus Details

Teaching & Learning Quality

Teaching quality is one of the school's genuine headline achievements in the 2024 Irtiqa cycle, and the improvement trajectory is both clear and credible. Overall teaching has moved from Good to Very Good in Cycles 1, 2, and 3, and to Outstanding in Cycle 3 - the highest possible rating - driven primarily by improvements in teaching strategies and what inspectors describe as "very effective professional development." This is not a school coasting; it is a school actively investing in its teaching workforce. The school employs 81 teaching staff for 1,330 students, giving an approximate student-to-teacher ratio of 16:1. Teacher nationalities are predominantly Egyptian, Syrian, and Sudanese, reflecting the broader demographic profile of MoE-curriculum private schools in Abu Dhabi. The school does not publicly disclose the proportion of staff holding postgraduate qualifications, but the Irtiqa report's endorsement of professional development quality suggests a structured CPD programme is in place. A significant operational challenge is the 25% staff turnover recorded in the past year, coinciding with the intake of over 400 new students into KG and Cycle 1. The Irtiqa report acknowledges this directly, noting that "the school has coped very well with these issues" - but for parents, this level of churn represents a real risk to continuity of teacher-student relationships, particularly in the foundational years. Whether this turnover rate stabilises now that the new campus is established remains to be seen. Assessment practice is rated Very Good across all cycles, with inspectors noting strong processes and analysis in place. The school uses ACER IBT data, internal assessments, and MoE examination results to track student progress by group - including boys vs girls, Emirati students, high and low attainers, and students of determination. Differentiation is an area of active development: the Irtiqa report recommends more consistent use of assessment data to inform lesson planning for all identified groups, and more effective embedding of self and peer assessment across the school. Teaching in upper cycles benefits from a more sophisticated pedagogical approach, with Cycle 3 teachers demonstrating the strongest capacity for inquiry-based and analytical learning. In younger cycles, teaching remains more structured and teacher-directed, with independent learning skills still developing.
16:1
Student-to-Teacher Ratio
81 teachers for 1,330 students
25%
Staff Turnover (Past Year)
Coincided with 400+ new student intake; flagged in ADEK Irtiqa 2024
Outstanding
Teaching Quality - Cycle 3
ADEK Irtiqa 2024; Very Good in Cycles 1, 2 and KG

Leadership & Management

Leadership at Baraem Al Ain is one of the school's clearest improvement stories. The effectiveness of leadership, self-evaluation and improvement planning, governance, and school management have all risen from Good to Very Good in the 2024 Irtiqa inspection. Inspectors describe the principal and leadership team as demonstrating "dedication and strategic vision and direction to drive school improvement" - language that reflects a genuine assessment of momentum rather than formulaic praise. Principal Amany Mostafa Mostafa Alnagar leads the school, supported by a committed owner and a leadership team that has navigated a complex year: a major campus relocation in 2023, a 25% staff turnover, and a surge of over 400 new students in the lower school. The fact that the school has maintained its upward trajectory through this period of operational turbulence is a credible indicator of leadership resilience. The school's self-evaluation and improvement planning is rated Very Good, with a clear development plan informed by PISA, TIMSS, and IBT data. Leadership demonstrates awareness of international assessment targets and has taken deliberate steps to align internal assessment formats with PISA and TIMSS question types. The strategic plan for English reading development across Grades 1-12 is cited by inspectors as a positive example of evidence-based planning. However, the Irtiqa report identifies several leadership development priorities: engaging all stakeholders more fully in the self-evaluation process, ensuring all leaders have a thorough understanding of the UAE Inspection Framework requirements, and moving from partial to full alignment with international standards. Parent communication is managed through the school's website, a contact portal, and regular parent meetings (documented in the events calendar), though the school does not publicly disclose use of a dedicated parent communication app. Governance is rated Very Good. Partnerships with parents and the community are rated Good - solid but with room to deepen engagement, particularly in the self-evaluation process. The school's ownership structure is private, and the committed owner is referenced positively in the Irtiqa report as part of the leadership strength.
Leadership Details

ADEK Inspection Results (Irtiqa - Decoded)

The 2024 ADEK Irtiqa inspection awarded Baraem Al Ain Private School an overall rating of Very Good - a meaningful upgrade from the previous Good rating. This is not a marginal improvement: inspectors found progress across virtually every measured domain, with several areas reaching Outstanding, particularly in the upper school. The inspection took place from 21 to 24 October 2024 and covered all four cycles (KG, Cycle 1, Cycle 2, Cycle 3). What the inspectors found impressive: The standout finding is the Outstanding performance in Cycle 3 across English attainment and progress, Mathematics attainment and progress, Science attainment and progress, Learning Skills, and Teaching for Effective Learning. This means that in the senior school (roughly Grades 10-12), the school is operating at the highest possible standard across all core subjects. Islamic Education is rated Very Good for attainment and progress in all cycles. UAE Social Studies is Very Good in KG, Cycle 2, and Cycle 3. The school's ACER IBT standardised assessment results - outstanding across all grades and subjects in 2023/24 - provide external validation of this picture. Health and Safety, including safeguarding, is Very Good across all cycles and has been a consistent strength. Leadership, governance, and management are all Very Good. Where the school needs to grow: The most significant concern flagged by inspectors is the Care and Support rating of Acceptable across all cycles - a regression from Good. This is directly linked to the underidentification of students of determination and the absence of ISSS provision. Curriculum design and adaptation are rated only Good across all cycles, meaning the school has not yet achieved the same quality in how it plans and differentiates the curriculum as it has in how it delivers teaching. The Irtiqa report also notes that critical thinking, problem-solving, and independent learning are not yet fully embedded across all lessons, and that assessment data is not yet used rigorously enough to inform curriculum review and lesson planning for all student groups. The rating history shows a clear positive trajectory: from Good in the previous inspection to Very Good in 2024, with Outstanding features emerging in the upper school. This is a school on the right path, but with specific, addressable weaknesses that parents of younger children or children with additional needs should weigh carefully.
Outstanding Upper-School Academic Performance
Cycle 3 (senior school) achieves Outstanding in English, Mathematics, Science attainment and progress, and Learning Skills - the highest possible ADEK rating, validated by strong MoE examination and ACER IBT results.
Very Good Safeguarding & School Safety
Health, safety, and child protection arrangements are rated Very Good across all cycles and have been a consistent strength across inspection cycles. Students demonstrate positive behaviour and respect for Islamic values.
Strong Leadership Driving Measurable Improvement
Leadership effectiveness, self-evaluation, governance, and management have all risen to Very Good. The principal and leadership team have navigated a campus move, high staff turnover, and major student intake growth while sustaining upward academic momentum.
Inclusion & Care Support Rated Acceptable

Care and Support has regressed from Good to Acceptable across all cycles. Fewer than 1% of students are identified as students of determination, well below realistic expectations. The school lacks In-School Support Services (ISSS) for students with additional learning needs, and provision for gifted and talented students is inconsistent.

Curriculum Design & Independent Learning Not Yet Embedded

Curriculum design and adaptation are rated Good (not Very Good) across all cycles. Critical thinking, problem-solving, and independent learning skills are not fully embedded in lessons, particularly in younger cycles. Assessment data is not yet used rigorously enough to differentiate curriculum planning for all student groups.

Full Inspection Report

Inspection History

2024
Very Good
2022
Good

Fees & Value for Money

Baraem Al Ain Private School offers a Ministry of Education (MoE) UAE curriculum for the 2025–2026 academic year, with tuition fees starting from AED 12,900 for KG 1 and rising to AED 13,800 for Grade 1. Tuition fees are only explicitly stated for the early years and Grade 1; fees for Grades 2 through 12 are not published in the current fee schedule. This positions the school as an accessible, community-focused option within Al Ain's private school landscape.

AED 12,900
Annual Fees From
AED 13,800
Annual Fees To
Year / GradeAnnual Fee
KG 1
AED 12,900
KG 2
AED 13,500
Grade 1
AED 13,800

In addition to tuition, families should budget for transportation, books, and uniform costs. The school charges a flat annual bus fee of AED 3,686 across all year groups. Book fees vary by grade level, ranging from AED 210 in KG 1 up to AED 950 in Grades 7 and 8, while a standard uniform fee of AED 385 applies to all year groups. No book fees are listed for Grades 9 through 12.

Overall, Baraem Al Ain Private School represents a competitively priced MoE-curriculum option in the Al Ain region, particularly for families with children in the Foundation Stage and lower primary years. Parents are advised to contact the school directly to confirm tuition fees for Grades 2 and above, as well as any applicable discounts or payment plan arrangements.

Additional Costs

Bus (Transport)3,686(annual)
Books & Materials – KG 1210(annual)
Books & Materials – KG 2230(annual)
Books & Materials – Grade 1790(annual)
Books & Materials – Grade 2830(annual)
Books & Materials – Grade 3850(annual)
Books & Materials – Grade 4870(annual)
Books & Materials – Grade 5860(annual)
Books & Materials – Grade 6860(annual)
Books & Materials – Grade 7950(annual)
Books & Materials – Grade 8950(annual)
Uniform385(annual)
Full Fee Structure

The Final Verdict: Who Is This School For?

Baraem Al Ain Private School is a genuinely improving institution that has earned its Very Good ADEK rating through demonstrable progress across teaching, assessment, and upper-school academic outcomes. For the right family, it offers an exceptional combination of affordable fees, strong MoE curriculum delivery, and Outstanding senior school performance - a combination that is genuinely rare in Abu Dhabi's private school market. The 2023 campus upgrade has removed the facility deficit that may have held the school back in earlier years, and the leadership team has demonstrated the strategic capability to manage a complex period of growth while maintaining academic momentum. The school is best suited to families who are committed to the UAE MoE curriculum pathway, value strong Islamic education and Arabic language development, and are looking for a community-oriented, values-grounded school at a price point that does not require a premium family income. It is particularly well-suited to families with children in the upper school (Grades 9-12), where the academic outcomes are genuinely Outstanding. The active enrichment programme - including university visits, hackathons, national competitions, and cultural events - means students are not academically isolated despite the lower fees. Parents should think carefully before enrolling a child with identified or suspected additional learning needs, given the Acceptable rating for Care and Support and the documented absence of ISSS provision. Families seeking IB, Cambridge, or A-Level qualifications, or those prioritising elite international university placement data, will need to look at different schools. And those who value very low teacher turnover as a proxy for school stability should note the 25% churn figure and ask the school directly about retention plans for the 2025-26 academic year.

THE “RIGHT FIT”

Families seeking an affordable, MoE-curriculum co-educational school in the Bani Yas / Muwaylih area of Abu Dhabi, particularly those with children in Grades 9-12 where academic outcomes reach Outstanding, and those who prioritise Islamic values education, Arabic language development, and a rich cultural enrichment programme.

THE “WRONG FIT”

Families of children with identified additional learning needs or requiring SEN support; those seeking international curriculum qualifications (IB, Cambridge, A-Level); or parents prioritising very high teacher retention and stability in the foundational years.

“

We chose this school for the fees and stayed for the quality. By Grade 10, my son was achieving results we never expected. The teachers in the senior school are dedicated and the new building makes a real difference.

— Grade 10 Parent

Strengths

  • ADEK Very Good rating (2024) with Outstanding upper-school academic results
  • Among the most affordable MoE private schools in Abu Dhabi at AED 12,900-27,200
  • Outstanding ACER IBT standardised test results across Grades 3-9
  • Purpose-built 2023 campus rated high standard by ADEK inspectors
  • Strong Islamic Education and Arabic language programme across all cycles
  • Active enrichment programme including hackathons, university visits, and national competitions
  • Very Good safeguarding and child protection across all cycles
  • Improving leadership with clear strategic direction and evidence-based planning

Areas for Improvement

  • Care and Support rated only Acceptable - SEN identification below 1% and no ISSS provision
  • 25% staff turnover in the past year creates continuity risk, especially in lower school
  • Curriculum design rated Good, not Very Good - independent learning not fully embedded
  • No international qualifications (IB, Cambridge, A-Level) - MoE pathway only
  • Inconsistent digital device access across year groups flagged by ADEK inspectors
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