Emirates National Schools (ENS) first opened its doors in 2002 in Mohammed Bin Zayed City.

ENS was established by Presidential Decree and is owned by the Ministry of Presidential Affairs. Our schools currently consist of five campuses. Three of the campuses are in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi in the cities of Mohammed Bin Zayed City, Al Ain City, and Abu Dhabi City. Our two new campuses are in the Emirates of Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah.

This school year, 2016 -17, we have 9,200 students enrolled at the five campuses. Our established schools in the Abu Dhabi Emirate provide kindergarten through grade 12 education programs for students. Our new Schools, opened in 2015 -16, in Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah provide programs in kindergarten through grade 8. ENS instructional programs are based upon the educational requirements prescribed by the UAE Ministry of Education, for Arabic, Islamic and UAE Studies, and the Common Core Standards for our American curriculum content. We use an American based high school diploma model for students to earn their high school diploma in all ENS campuses.

All Abu Dhabi Emirate ENS primary schools are authorized as International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program (PYP) World Schools. This program authorization occurred in 2013. The primary schools in both Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah are candidates for IB Primary Years Program authorization. The Adu Dhabi Emirate Boy’s and Girl’s School in all three sites attained authorization to offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (DP) in June 2014. The Al Ain Boy’s and Girl’s schools were authorized to become IB Middle Years Program Schools (MYP) in April 2015. The Al Ain Campus became the first campus authorized by International Baccalaureate to offer the PYP, MYP and DP program in the City of Al Ain. Our Abu Dhabi City and Mohammed Bin Zayed City secondary schools became authorized IB Middle Years Program Schools (MYP) in December 2015. ENS had its first IB diploma graduates in 2016.

The Emirates National School system strives to provide a first-rate education to future leaders while preserving the beliefs that form the national identity. Common curriculum standards connect campuses in Abu Dhabi City, Al Ain City, Mohamed Bin Zayed City, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah. These common standards provide students with quality education preparation in content knowledge, learning skills, and for post-secondary studies.

In preparing future UAE and world leaders, ENS students acquire the knowledge and skills that enable them to navigate successfully in the rapidly changing world. English is the language of instruction for the rigorous American curriculum. Arabic is the language of instruction for Islamic and Arabic Studies in our schools. The ENS learning path begins in Preschool and continues through Kindergarten and Primary School where it rests on the framework of the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP). The journey continues through the secondary level (in separate Boys and Girls Schools), using the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (MYP) framework. Students in grades 11 and 12 have access to the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (DP), College Board Advanced Placement Program (AP) and Common Core Based American Diploma Curriculum. ENS offers the option of the College Board Advanced Placement Courses because it permits students to earn credits that are recognized by colleges in 58 different countries around the world. We are proud of the fact that our College Board and International Baccalaureate Programs were the first and currently the only authorized IB and College Board programs in the City of Al Ain.

Focused on the needs of each individual, ENS prepares students for working and living in the 21st Century. ENS prepares students to compete in an international marketplace where academic content is important but it is not enough. In this environment skills matter and determine the relative success of the individual in society. Inquiry, critical thinking, and international mindedness are essential skill sets that students must have to be successful as a leader and in the workforce. Our ENS students see how school connects with the world at large. Our goal is to help students achieve their dreams.

Learning at ENS is a continuous cycle of improvement. Internationally benchmarked learning standards set the target for what is to be learned in each grade. In the ever changing world in which we live, technology and other resources help facilitate the acquisition of learning within each content and skill area. In the classroom, teachers adjust instruction based on frequent progress monitoring. End-of-term assessments show the progress of students toward annual goals. Evaluation gauges system progress against international benchmarks. ENS is accredited by AdvancED, which sees learning as a continuous improvement process and is used to focus improved achievement for students and to certify the quality of an ENS education.

With tradition as its foundation, the Emirates National Schools strive to ensure students are proud of their heritage and fully prepared to be future leaders in the community, country and world.