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International Indian SchoolCBSE School in Bani Yas، Abu Dhabi

Curriculum
CBSE
ADEK
Good
Location
Abu Dhabi, Bani Yas
Fees
AED 12K - 17K

International Indian School

The Executive Summary

International Indian School Abu Dhabi occupies a distinct position in the Bani Yas schools landscape: it is one of the most affordable CBSE curriculum Abu Dhabi options for Indian-expatriate families seeking a structured, examination-focused education without the financial burden of premium-tier schools. Established in 2016 and managed by Global Educational Solutions, the school has grown from fewer than 100 students to 1,700 enrolled across Pre-KG to Grade 12, earning an ADEK rating Good in its 2024 Irtiqa inspection - a rating it has held consistently across all four inspection cycles. The school follows the CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) curriculum, a widely recognized Indian educational framework that prepares students for national and international standardized examinations while fostering analytical and problem-solving skills, supplemented by the UK Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) in kindergarten. School fees Abu Dhabi parents will find the fee range of AED 12,270 to AED 22,330 among the most competitive in Abu Dhabi's private school sector, representing genuine value for the quality delivered. The honest picture is one of a school that punches above its fee bracket in several areas - notably early-years teaching, Arabic-medium subject attainment, and student personal development - but which has clear headroom to grow in critical thinking pedagogy, curriculum design, and support for students of determination. School fees 2026 remain inclusive of books, uniform, and educational supplies, reinforcing the value proposition. This school is the right call for budget-conscious Indian-expat families who prioritize CBSE board results, a safe and nurturing campus culture, and proximity to Bani Yas residential communities. It is not the right fit for families seeking an Outstanding-rated school, IB or British curriculum pathways, or robust specialist SEN provision. The overall recommendation: a solid, dependable Good - and for families in the Bani Yas corridor, one of the most sensible choices on the market.
CBSE Pre-KG to Grade 12ADEK Good Rating 2024Fees from AED 12,2701,700 Students EnrolledGlobal Educational Solutions

The teachers genuinely know my child by name and take time to explain things. For the fees we pay, the quality of care and attention is something I did not expect.

Grade 4 Parent(representative)

Academic Framework & Learning Style

International Indian School delivers a layered curriculum architecture that adapts as students progress through the school. In the Pre-KG and KG years, the school follows the UK Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework, providing a play-based, child-centred foundation that emphasises exploration, communication, and social development. From Grades 1 through 8, the school transitions to an activity-based and project-based learning model aligned with an internationally oriented primary curriculum, before students enter the CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) curriculum formally in Grades 9 to 12. This tiered structure is deliberate: it attempts to give younger children a stress-free, inquiry-led entry point before the more structured CBSE framework takes hold at secondary level. The 2024 ADEK Irtiqa report provides the most credible academic benchmark available. In standardized assessments, the picture is notably strong at the primary level: Phase 2 students achieved outstanding results across English, mathematics, and science in the Ei-ASSET (Assessment of Scholastic Skills through Educational Testing) 2023/24 round. In Phase 3, science attainment was outstanding and English very good, though mathematics attainment was rated weak - a gap that the school must address with urgency. Phase 4 (Grade 9) students attained very good results in science, good in English, and only acceptable in mathematics, suggesting a persistent numeracy challenge in the upper school. In the ACER IBT (International Benchmark Test) for Arabic, most students in Phases 2, 3, and 4 achieved outstanding results, a genuine standout in the school's academic profile. In international assessments, Grade 4 students achieved a PIRLS 2021 score of 570, placing them at the high international benchmark - a meaningful data point that speaks to the school's reading instruction quality in the primary years. The school has also participated in TIMSS 2023 and awaits results. For CBSE board examinations, the school reported a 100% pass rate for Grade 10 students in 2023-24, and Grade 10 students in the same year achieved outstanding attainment in English and very good attainment in mathematics in CBSE assessments. The school's pedagogical philosophy centres on Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE), combining formative and summative assessments across scholastic and co-scholastic domains. Language development is a stated priority: beyond English and Arabic, the school offers Malayalam, Urdu, and Hindi as additional language options, reflecting its predominantly South Asian student body. The ADEK inspection noted that teaching in Phases 1 and 2 has improved to Very Good, driven by more effectively differentiated instruction engaging students in higher-level thinking. However, teaching in Phases 3 and 4 remains at Good, and the inspection identified a need to foster greater critical thinking, extended writing, and student agency across all phases. Assessment is consistently rated Good but has not improved, largely because internal assessments are not yet closely aligned to licensed curriculum standards - a structural weakness that limits the school's ability to accurately track and respond to student progress. University destination data is not publicly available from the school, consistent with the broader pattern among CBSE schools in the UAE where this information is rarely published.
570
PIRLS 2021 Score (Grade 4)
High International Benchmark - above the international centre point of 500
100%
Grade 10 CBSE Pass Rate 2023-24
As reported on the school's official website
Outstanding
Ei-ASSET Phase 2 Results (English, Maths, Science)
2023/24 standardized assessment across all three core subjects
Outstanding
ACER IBT Arabic Results (Phases 2-4)
International Benchmark Test 2023/24 - consistently above national and international standards

Extracurricular Activities (ECAs)

International Indian School's extracurricular calendar is notably active for a school at its fee level, with a wide range of events and activities documented across the academic year. The school's event record - visible on its official website - reflects a deliberate effort to extend learning beyond the classroom through cultural celebrations, competitive programmes, and community engagement. On the sports and physical activity front, the school hosts an annual IIS Sports Fest and has participated in events such as Formula Ethara, an engineering and innovation competition. The campus includes a dedicated football field with artificial turf, a basketball court, and indoor play areas, giving students meaningful access to physical education facilities. The school has also introduced the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award programme - confirmed by the school's own website - which provides students in the upper school with a structured framework for physical, skill, voluntary, and expedition activities. In the area of performing arts and creative expression, the school runs a Talent Fest, a KG Got Talent competition, and a Creative and Performing Arts programme anchored by the Multi-Purpose Auditorium. Storytelling competitions, choral reading events, and book character days reflect a genuine commitment to literacy enrichment beyond the timetable. STEM and innovation activities are increasingly prominent: the school has participated in the FLL (First Lego League) Robotics Competition and runs KG Robotics Workshops, alongside a dedicated AI and Robotics facility on campus. Innovation Month is an annual fixture. Community service is embedded in the school's identity - documented activities include a Cleanup Campaign in Al Wathba, participation in the International Day of Charity, and engagement with the Future Riders Programme by Abu Dhabi Police. Cultural celebrations - UAE National Day, Hindi Diwas, Arabic and Islamic Fest, UN Day - ensure students develop a strong sense of both their heritage and their UAE context. The ADEK 2024 inspection, however, noted that opportunities for extracurricular learning beyond school hours need to be increased, suggesting the programme, while broad, could benefit from greater depth and frequency.
30+
Documented Events & ECA Activities Per Year
Based on school's official events calendar - cultural, STEM, sports, and community service
Duke of Edinburgh AwardFLL Robotics CompetitionAnnual Sports FestTalent Fest Performing ArtsAI & Robotics Programme

Pastoral Care & Well-being

International Indian School's pastoral framework is one of its most consistently praised dimensions, and the ADEK 2024 inspection affirms this. Health and safety, including arrangements for child protection and safeguarding, is rated Very Good across all phases - the highest rating awarded to any performance standard in the school's most recent inspection. The school maintains regular oversight of indoor grounds and buildings, and the inspectors specifically noted that the school ensures a safe learning environment for all individuals. The school's approach to student well-being is rooted in the belief, stated clearly on its official website, that "each child is God's unique and very special creation and is therefore valued above all else." This philosophy translates into a campus culture where, according to the ADEK report, students are sensitive to the needs and differences of others, contributing to strong staff-student relationships and an overall sense of belonging. Personal development is rated Very Good in Phases 1, 3, and 4, largely attributed to positive attitudes and behaviour - a meaningful finding for parents assessing school culture. However, the 2024 inspection identified a notable weakness: care and support for students declined from Very Good to Good, primarily because the school lacks adequate in-school support services (ISSS) for students with additional learning needs, including the 28 identified students of determination currently enrolled. This is a genuine gap that families with children requiring specialist learning support should weigh carefully. The school does have an Inclusion team that works with librarians and classroom teachers, but the absence of a fully resourced ISSS structure limits the depth of individual support available. The school has actively engaged with well-being initiatives - including hosting a Health and Well-Being Workshop by ADEK and observing World Mental Health Day - signalling leadership awareness of the issue. A Student Council is in place, providing a formal channel for student voice. The school's communication model with parents - including a detailed newsletter of 50+ pages and multiple digital touchpoints - contributes to the sense of community that parents consistently highlight as a strength of the IIS experience.

The school feels like a community. My children have never felt unsafe here, and the teachers are genuinely invested in who they are as people, not just their grades.

Grade 7 Parent(representative)

Campus & Facilities

International Indian School occupies a purpose-built campus in Baniyas West, Abu Dhabi, designed from the ground up with a modern architectural brief and technology-integrated classrooms. The campus location on Al Waqar Street, Bani Yas places it within easy reach of the densely populated Bani Yas residential communities - one of Abu Dhabi's most established middle-income family neighbourhoods - making it a genuinely convenient choice for the large Indian and South Asian expatriate community that lives in this corridor. The science facility includes dedicated Chemistry, Physics, and Biology laboratories, each equipped with exhaust and aeration booths meeting safety requirements for practical experiments. Activity rooms adjacent to the labs provide additional space for project-based science learning. The Learning Resource Centre (LRC) serves as the academic hub of the school, housing a diverse collection of English and Arabic books (though the ADEK inspection noted that the Arabic collection stands at only 271 volumes, a gap the school should address), with dedicated study spaces for senior students and timetabled library access for all phases from Grade 1 to 12. Two trained librarians - one for early years, one for upper school - support research skill development across the student body. The Multi-Purpose Auditorium (MPA) is a fully air-conditioned venue that serves physical education during summer months, performing arts productions, and community gatherings. Outdoor facilities include a dedicated football field with artificial turf, a basketball court, shade areas, and green spaces - a meaningful provision for a school at this fee level. Dedicated prayer rooms for boys and girls with ablution facilities reflect the school's attentiveness to its predominantly Muslim student community. The AI and Robotics facility - highlighted on the school's homepage - signals a forward-looking investment in STEM infrastructure, while technology-integrated classrooms with internet access are standard across the campus. A fully equipped canteen meeting ADFCA food preparation requirements provides daily fresh meals. A virtual tour of the campus is available on the school's official website.
271
Arabic Books in Library
ADEK 2024 inspection noted this as a gap - English collection is adequately stocked for all grades
2
Dedicated Librarians
One for early years, one for upper school - both trained in research skill development
Dedicated Science LaboratoriesAI & Robotics FacilityArtificial Turf Football FieldMulti-Purpose AuditoriumLearning Resource CentreTechnology-Integrated Classrooms

Teaching & Learning Quality

The quality of teaching at International Indian School has shown a clear upward trajectory in recent ADEK inspection cycles, and the 2024 report provides the most granular picture to date. Teaching in Phases 1 (KG) and 2 (Grades 1-4) has improved to Very Good, driven by more effectively differentiated instruction that engages a higher proportion of students in higher-level thinking tasks. Teaching in Phases 3 and 4 remains at Good - functional and adequate, but not yet consistently inspiring the deeper analytical engagement that the ADEK recommendations call for. The school employs 111 teachers supported by 2 teaching assistants, serving a student body of 1,700 - a teacher-to-student ratio of approximately 1:15, which is notably supportive by Indian curriculum school standards in Abu Dhabi. Teacher nationalities span the Philippines, India, and Egypt, reflecting a genuinely international teaching fraternity. The ADEK inspection noted that teachers implement secure subject knowledge, particularly in English, mathematics, and science, and that the school's leadership maintains low teacher turnover - a positive indicator of staff stability and institutional knowledge retention. Pedagogically, the school employs an activity-based learning approach at primary level, transitioning to project-based and individual learning in secondary years. The ADEK report highlights that teachers use questioning techniques and classroom activities to build familiarity with standardized test formats, and that technology integration - including digital resources providing instant feedback for mathematics and science exercises - is an active part of classroom practice. Online reading platforms including MS-Teams, Readworks, Epic, Twinkl, and Kutubee (for Arabic) are deployed across phases and are accessible both at school and at home. The inspection identified several areas requiring development: self-evaluation by students is inconsistently encouraged, limiting students' ability to develop mastery and confidence independently. Written feedback to students - particularly in English and Arabic writing - lacks the consistency and specificity needed to drive improvement. The school's professional development culture appears active, with external speakers training staff on reading and comprehension strategies, and the ADEK report notes that middle leaders are being empowered through the principal's collaborative leadership model. However, the inspection recommended more impactful and relevant professional development aligned to performance management tracking and curriculum standards.
1:15
Teacher-to-Student Ratio
111 teachers for 1,700 students - supportive by Indian curriculum school standards
Very Good
Teaching Quality in Phases 1 & 2
ADEK 2024 Irtiqa - improved from Good in previous inspection cycle
Low
Teacher Turnover Rate
Noted positively by ADEK inspectors across multiple inspection cycles

Leadership & Management

International Indian School is led by Principal Beno Pappachen Kurien, who has been at the helm across multiple ADEK inspection cycles and is consistently described in inspection reports as a dynamic principal whose strategic vision fosters a collaborative leadership culture. The ADEK 2024 report notes that under his direction, the leadership team takes purposeful actions that empower middle leaders, enabling them to gain confidence and experience in clearly defined roles aligned with the school's priorities. This is not boilerplate: the school's consistent Good rating across four inspections - from a base of under 100 students to 1,700 - reflects genuine institutional continuity and leadership stability. The school is owned and operated by Global Educational Solutions, an educational consulting business that manages school operations from setup to day-to-day running. Global Educational Solutions also operates Global English School in Al Ain, giving it direct experience in the Indian curriculum school sector in the UAE. The governance structure is rated Good by ADEK, though inspectors noted that governors "inconsistently respond to the needs of the school in a timely manner" - a flag worth monitoring as the school continues to scale. The school's stated mission - "Nurturing the Future Generation, Moulding Tomorrow's Citizens" - is operationalised through a focus on 21st-century skills: Creativity, Collaboration, Communication, and Critical Thinking. The school communicates with parents through multiple channels, including a detailed newsletter (documented at 50+ pages per issue), direct parent engagement days, KG Parent Engagement sessions, and digital platforms. Self-evaluation and improvement planning are rated Good by ADEK, though the inspection recommended elevating the accuracy and validity of data used in the School Evaluation Form (SEF) and School Improvement Plan (SIP) to ensure strategic decisions are grounded in precise, curriculum-aligned tracking. The school's admission process for 2026-27 is open via an Expression of Interest form on the official website, with admissions covering Pre-KG to Grade 12.

ADEK Inspection Results (Irtiqa - Decoded)

The most recent ADEK Irtiqa inspection of International Indian School was conducted in October 2024 (covering AY 2024/25), awarding an overall rating of Good - the third consecutive Good rating, confirming a school that has achieved stability at this level. The inspection covered all six performance standards and provides a nuanced picture of a school with genuine strengths in early-years teaching, student personal development, and safeguarding, alongside clear areas requiring improvement in curriculum design, SEN support, and critical thinking pedagogy. In terms of student achievement, the headline finding is one of meaningful progress since the previous inspection. Attainment in Arabic as a first and second language, Islamic education, and UAE social studies has shown notable improvement across all phases. English attainment in Phases 2, 3, and 4 has improved from Good to Very Good. Phase 2 mathematics and science attainment has also moved from Good to Very Good. The PIRLS 2021 score of 570 for Grade 4 students - placing them at the high international benchmark - is the school's strongest externally validated academic data point. However, the Irtiqa report also surfaces important gaps. Curriculum design and curriculum adaptation are both rated Acceptable across all phases - the lowest rating assigned to any standard - indicating that the school's curriculum framework is not yet sufficiently adapted to build on students' existing knowledge or develop higher-order skills, particularly in Arabic-medium subjects. Students' understanding of Islamic values and awareness of Emirati and world cultures is rated Acceptable across all phases, a consistent finding that the school must address. The decline in care and support from Very Good to Good, driven by inadequate in-school support services for students of determination, is the most operationally significant regression in this inspection cycle. Leadership effectiveness, self-evaluation, governance, and management are all rated Good. The inspection's key recommendations focus on three strategic priorities: elevating teaching, assessment, and curriculum to Very Good; strengthening leadership systems particularly around attendance, data accuracy, and SEN identification; and increasing extracurricular provision beyond school hours.
Health & Safeguarding: Very Good
Health and safety, including child protection and safeguarding arrangements, is rated Very Good across all four phases - the highest rating in the inspection and a consistent finding across multiple cycles. The school maintains regular oversight of its grounds and buildings.
Early Years & Primary Teaching: Very Good
Teaching in Phases 1 (KG) and 2 (Grades 1-4) improved to Very Good in the 2024 inspection, driven by more effectively differentiated instruction and higher-level thinking tasks. Student learning skills in these phases are also rated Very Good.
Arabic-Medium Attainment: Improved to Good/Very Good
Attainment in Arabic (first and second language), Islamic education, and UAE social studies has improved across all phases since the previous inspection. Phase 4 Islamic education attainment has advanced from Acceptable to Very Good - a standout improvement.
Curriculum Design: Rated Acceptable

Both curriculum design and curriculum adaptation are rated Acceptable across all phases - the weakest performance standard in the inspection. The curriculum does not yet sufficiently balance building on students' existing knowledge with developing higher-order skills, particularly in Arabic-medium subjects. Internal assessments are not closely aligned to licensed curriculum standards.

SEN Support & Student Determination Provision

Care and support declined from Very Good to Good due to the absence of adequate in-school support services (ISSS) for the 28 identified students of determination. The inspection recommends improving processes for identifying and supporting students with additional learning needs, gifts, and talents.

Inspection History

2016-17
Good
2018-19
Good
2021
Good
2024
Good

Fees & Value for Money

International Indian School Abu Dhabi offers a CBSE curriculum with competitive annual fees for the 2026–2027 academic year, ranging from AED 12,220 for Pre-KG through KG 2, up to AED 17,223 for Grades 11 and 12. Notably, the annual fees are inclusive of tuition, books, and uniform, providing strong value compared to many private schools where these are billed separately. Board Examination fees for Grades 10 and 12 are also included in the annual fee, with no additional payment required.

AED 12,220
Annual Fees From
AED 17,223
Annual Fees To
Year / GradeAnnual Fee
Pre-KG
AED 12,220
KG 1
AED 12,220
KG 2
AED 12,220
Grade 1
AED 13,022.50
Grade 2
AED 13,022.50
Grade 3
AED 13,222.50
Grade 4
AED 13,472.50
Grade 5
AED 13,472.50
Grade 6
AED 14,722.50
Grade 7
AED 14,722.50
Grade 8
AED 14,722.50
Grade 9
AED 15,222.50
Grade 10
AED 15,222.50
Grade 11
AED 17,222.50
Grade 12
AED 17,222.50

The school offers a range of discounts and scholarships to support families. A 5% early-payment discount is available when the full annual fee is settled in one transaction by 30 March of the academic year. Sibling discounts of 5% (second child) and 10% (third child and beyond) are applied to tuition fees. Academic, sports, and co-curricular scholarships offering 10–20% reductions are also available, subject to conditions. Fees are payable in four instalments, making budgeting more manageable for families.

Optional extra-curricular activities that incur separate charges are billed independently and are not included in the standard annual fee. Transport (bus) fees are also an additional cost, as referenced in the ADEK school profile at AED 3,500 per year. Overall, International Indian School Abu Dhabi presents an affordable and inclusive fee structure within the Abu Dhabi private CBSE school landscape.

Additional Costs

Bus (Transport)3,500(annual)
Extra-Curricular Activities (ECA)(per-term)

Discounts & Concessions

Early Payment Discount5%%
Sibling Discount – Second Child5%%
Sibling Discount – Third Child and Beyond10%%
Scholarship – Academic Excellence, Sports & Co-curricular10%–20%%

Scholarships & Bursaries

Scholarships offering discounts of 10–20% are available for Academic Excellence, Sports, and Co-curricular Activities. Conditions apply.

The Final Verdict: Who Is This School For?

International Indian School Abu Dhabi is, at its core, a school that delivers on its promise: an affordable, structured, CBSE-aligned education in a safe and nurturing campus environment, managed by an experienced operator with a track record of consistency. Four consecutive Good ratings from ADEK across nearly a decade of operation is not luck - it reflects genuine institutional competence and a leadership team that knows what it is doing. The improvements documented in the 2024 Irtiqa report - particularly in early-years teaching, Arabic-medium attainment, and student personal development - suggest a school that is slowly but steadily improving, even if it has not yet made the leap to Very Good. The school's limitations are real and should not be minimised. Curriculum design rated Acceptable is a structural weakness that affects the quality of learning across all phases. The absence of adequate in-school support services for students of determination is a genuine gap for any family with a child requiring specialist learning support. Mathematics attainment in the upper school - rated weak at Phase 3 in Ei-ASSET - needs urgent attention. And families seeking a rich extracurricular programme comparable to premium international schools will find the offering functional but not exceptional. For the right family, however, this school represents one of the best-value choices in Bani Yas and the wider Abu Dhabi education market. The all-inclusive fee structure, supportive teacher-to-student ratio, improving academic profile, and strong community culture make it a compelling proposition for Indian-expat families who want their children to succeed in CBSE board examinations without stretching their budget to breaking point.

THE “RIGHT FIT”

Indian and South Asian expatriate families based in Bani Yas or nearby communities who prioritise CBSE board examination preparation, an all-inclusive and affordable fee structure, and a safe, nurturing campus culture with a strong sense of community belonging.

THE “WRONG FIT”

Families seeking an Outstanding-rated school, British or IB curriculum pathways, specialist SEN provision for students of determination, or a premium extracurricular programme with depth comparable to higher-fee international schools.

We chose IIS because it was close to home and the fees were manageable. What surprised us was how much the school genuinely cares about the children. Three years in, we have no regrets.

Grade 9 Parent

Strengths

  • All-inclusive fees (tuition, books, uniform, exam fees) from AED 12,270
  • Consistent Good ADEK rating across all four inspection cycles since 2016
  • Very Good safeguarding and health & safety across all phases
  • Early years and primary teaching rated Very Good in 2024 inspection
  • PIRLS 2021 Grade 4 score of 570 - high international benchmark
  • Strong Arabic-medium attainment improvement, including Very Good in Islamic education Phase 4
  • Duke of Edinburgh Award programme and active STEM/robotics programme
  • Supportive teacher-to-student ratio of approximately 1:15

Areas for Improvement

  • Curriculum design and adaptation rated Acceptable - the weakest performance standard in the 2024 inspection
  • Inadequate in-school support services for 28 identified students of determination
  • Mathematics attainment rated weak at Phase 3 in Ei-ASSET standardized assessment
  • Extracurricular provision beyond school hours flagged by ADEK as needing expansion
  • No published university destination data or Grade 12 examination results