Islamiya English School, Abu Dhabi
British School in Al Danah, Abu Dhabi
Last updated
Curriculum
British
ADEK
Good
Location
Abu Dhabi, Al Danah
Fees
AED 8K - 16K
The Executive Summary
Islamiya English School Abu Dhabi is one of the emirate's longest-standing private institutions, founded in 1978 and now serving over 2,100 students from KG1 through Grade 12 in the heart of Al Danah. Operating as a not-for-profit school under a Board of Directors chaired by Mrs. Khadija Darwish Alqubaisi, it follows the British curriculum - rooted in the UK National Curriculum and leading to IGCSE and A-levels - and has earned an ADEK rating of Good in its 2024 Irtiqa inspection, a meaningful step up from its previous Acceptable rating. With school fees Abu Dhabi parents will find genuinely accessible - ranging from AED 7,930 to AED 16,090 annually - and a location convenient to Al Danah residential communities, Islamiya occupies a distinct niche as an affordable, values-driven British-curriculum school within the broader Al Danah schools landscape. Its strongest suit is Arabic-medium subject delivery and a demonstrably caring school culture anchored in Islamic values; its clearest challenge is inconsistent performance in English-medium subjects, which the 2024 Irtiqa report flags as a priority for improvement.
ADEK Good 2024Not-for-Profit SchoolBritish Curriculum IGCSE & A-LevelEst. 1978 Al Danah
“The teachers are very cooperative and the school genuinely cares about each child's development. My son has grown in confidence since joining.”
— Year 6 Parent(representative)Academic Framework & Learning Style
Islamiya English School delivers the British curriculum across all phases, from the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) in KG1 and KG2 through to A-levels in Grades 11 and 12, with IGCSE examinations at Grades 10. The school has recently introduced the Cambridge framework into English-medium subjects (EMS) across secondary phases, a structural upgrade that the 2024 ADEK Irtiqa report acknowledges but notes requires additional time and staff training to reach full effectiveness. The curriculum also runs alongside FBISE (Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education) pathways, broadening qualification options for the school's predominantly South Asian student demographic.
Academically, the picture is genuinely two-speed. Arabic-medium subjects (AMS) - including Islamic Education, Arabic as a first and second language, and UAE Social Studies - are rated Good across all phases, with internal data showing attainment above Ministry of Education curriculum standards in most year groups. Islamic Education in particular has reached Outstanding in internal assessments for Phases 2 and 3. In contrast, English-medium subjects present a more uneven profile: English attainment sits at Acceptable in Phases 1 and 2, while Mathematics has improved to Good in Phases 1 and 2. Science attainment is Good in Phases 2 and 3 but Acceptable in Phase 1 and Phase 4. The school participates in GL Assessments (standardised international benchmarking) from Year 4 to Year 10; results in 2023/24 show pockets of strength - Outstanding science attainment in Year 4, Very Good in Years 9 and 10 - but Weak mathematics attainment in Years 5, 6, 7, 8, and 10 signals a significant area requiring targeted intervention.
In international benchmarking, the school participates in PISA, TIMSS, and PIRLS. PISA 2022 results show students exceeding the international average in reading (505.6 vs. average 476) and mathematics (490.5 vs. average 472), though falling below school targets. TIMSS 2023 Grade 4 mathematics (500.61) and Grade 4 science (514.87) both exceeded targets; Grade 8 science (544.53) exceeded the international average. PIRLS 2021 Grade 4 reading scored 542.73, a creditable result. The school's library holds over 12,000 books including 1,540 Arabic titles, and a dedicated reading programme runs from FS through Year 13, including buddy reading and the National Reading Challenge. Notably, a student from Islamiya holds a Guinness World Record for the youngest person to publish a book. On inclusion, the Irtiqa report identifies identification and support for students of determination and gifted and talented learners as an area requiring significant strengthening - IEP implementation is described as emerging rather than embedded. University destinations data is not publicly disclosed by the school.
505.6
PISA 2022 Reading Score
Above international average of 476
542.73
PIRLS 2021 Grade 4 Reading
International benchmark participation
514.87
TIMSS 2023 Grade 4 Science
Exceeded school target of 461.77
12,000+
Library Books
Including 1,540 Arabic titles
Extracurricular Activities (ECAs)
Islamiya English School operates a range of after-school clubs and activities under the banner of IES Clubs, which the school website identifies as covering a variety of interests across academic, creative, and physical domains. While the school does not publish a comprehensive numbered list of ECAs, the Irtiqa report and school communications confirm active programmes in sustainability and community initiatives, with students rated Good for social responsibility and innovation skills across all phases.
The school has a documented tradition of reading and literary competitions, including the National Reading Challenge, I Read Challenge, Arabic Writing Competition (Years 2-5), poetry competitions, and storytelling events. A school radio programme gives students a platform for public speaking and reading aloud. Cultural events tied to UAE national identity - including UAE Flag Day celebrations and Ramadan community programmes - form a meaningful part of the school calendar. The school has recently participated in the Darwish Bin Karam Environmental Award, signalling an active environmental education strand.
In terms of physical education, the school provides playground facilities for primary students and sports activities as part of the curriculum. Performing arts provision - drama, music, and dance - is referenced in the school's club offerings, though detailed programme information is not publicly available. The Irtiqa report notes that gifted and talented students are largely engaged through extracurricular activities, with the recommendation to embed more challenge within daily lessons as well. Community service is embedded in the school's Islamic values ethos, with students participating in sustainability projects and national initiatives. The school does not currently reference a Duke of Edinburgh programme or Model UN in its public communications.
Good
Social Responsibility & Innovation Rating
ADEK Irtiqa 2024 - all phases
IES Clubs ProgrammeNational Reading ChallengeEnvironmental Award ParticipantSchool Radio PlatformSustainability Projects
Pastoral Care & Well-being
Pastoral care at Islamiya English School is built on a foundation of Islamic values and a culture of belonging, which the 2024 ADEK Irtiqa report explicitly identifies as a strength: school leaders, including the principal and Board of Trustees, have cultivated a caring and nurturing environment where students feel a genuine sense of community. The school's commitment to UAE national identity is evident in its activities, with students demonstrating pride in Emirati heritage and Islamic principles.
Health, safety, and safeguarding are rated Good across all phases in the Irtiqa report - one of the school's most consistent high points. The school has enhanced its infrastructure to support mobility for students with physical disabilities, and safety protocols are described as well-established and effective. An on-site Qur'anic centre has been developed, reflecting the school's commitment to spiritual and moral development alongside academic progress.
However, the Irtiqa report raises two notable concerns in this area. First, personal development is rated only Acceptable across all phases, primarily due to persistent issues with student attendance - a flag that parents should take seriously when evaluating the school's pastoral effectiveness. Second, the overall care and support provision has declined from Good to Acceptable since the previous inspection, with identification and tailored support for students with additional learning needs identified as requiring urgent attention. The promotion of healthy living and student-led well-being initiatives also requires further development. The school does not publicly detail a formal house system, though its community-oriented ethos and Islamic values framework provide an informal structure for student identity and belonging.
“The school has a very warm atmosphere. My children feel safe and the teachers know them as individuals, not just as students in a class.”
— Primary School Parent(representative)Campus & Facilities
Islamiya English School is located at 23 Bumiyyah Street, Al Danah, Abu Dhabi - a central urban location within one of Abu Dhabi island's established residential and commercial districts. The campus is an urban school site consistent with the Al Danah area's built environment; it does not have the sprawling green-field footprint of newer suburban schools, but its central location makes it accessible from many parts of Abu Dhabi island without lengthy commutes.
The school has been operational since 1978, and the facilities reflect a combination of original infrastructure and ongoing upgrades. Key facilities confirmed by the school include fully equipped science laboratories, a school library housing over 12,000 books with a solar-powered facility, a sound booth for audiobooks, multiple computers for e-book access and research, and diverse seating including reading corners and a role-play section for younger students. Computer labs are available to support digital learning, and every classroom from KG through Grade 12 is stocked with books to maintain a print-rich environment. Playground facilities for primary students are provided, with physical health identified as a school priority.
The Irtiqa report notes that the school has enhanced its infrastructure to facilitate mobility for students with physical disabilities, an important accessibility improvement. A dedicated learning and testing room has been introduced to support PISA and TIMSS preparation. The school's gallery confirms a functional reception area, primary playground, and well-maintained library. Technology infrastructure supports curriculum delivery, though the Irtiqa report recommends deeper integration of digital technology into teaching and learning. The campus serves 2,144 students and 121 teaching staff, reflecting a high-density urban school environment. Families living in Al Danah, Al Markaziyah, and neighbouring central Abu Dhabi communities will find the location highly convenient.
2,144
Students on Campus
Urban campus, Al Danah Abu Dhabi
12,000+
Library Books
Including sound booth and e-book access
Science Laboratories12,000+ Book LibrarySolar-Powered LibraryComputer LabsCentral Al Danah LocationAccessible Campus Design
Teaching & Learning Quality
The 2024 ADEK Irtiqa report rates teaching for effective learning as Good across all phases (KG, Cycle 1, Cycle 2, and Cycle 3) - a meaningful improvement from the previous inspection where KG and Cycle 1 were rated Acceptable. This is one of the school's genuine bright spots, particularly in Arabic-medium subjects, where teachers demonstrate strong subject knowledge, plan engaging lessons, use resources creatively, and implement diverse activities that sustain student interest. Teachers in these subjects are noted for promoting responsible student attitudes, respect, and collaboration.
However, teaching in English-medium subjects is described as less consistent, and this directly impacts student progress in those areas. The Irtiqa report highlights that Phase 1 teachers demonstrate strong subject knowledge but that clarity on how young learners acquire knowledge varies. Across phases, opportunities for critical thinking, problem-solving, and suitably challenging tasks for both high and low attainers are not fully developed - a recurring theme in the recommendations. Assessment is rated Acceptable across all phases, with the report noting that the use of both internal and external data to inform instruction is inconsistent, and that data analysis to address the full range of student needs varies, limiting differentiation in lessons.
The school employs 121 teachers from primarily Indian, Pakistani, and Egyptian nationalities, supported by 19 teaching assistants. The overall student-to-teacher ratio is approximately 17.7:1 based on 2,144 students and 121 teachers - a manageable ratio for an urban school of this type. Staff professional development is acknowledged in the Irtiqa report as an area requiring strengthening, particularly around the teaching of reading skills, differentiated instruction, and the newly introduced Cambridge curriculum framework. The school does not publicly disclose teacher retention rates or the proportion of staff with postgraduate qualifications.
121
Teaching Staff
Plus 19 teaching assistants
~17.7:1
Student-to-Teacher Ratio
Based on 2,144 students / 121 teachers
Good
Teaching Quality Rating
ADEK Irtiqa 2024 - all phases (improved from Acceptable)
Leadership & Management
Islamiya English School is led by Principal Nazar Dawood Anwar, operating under the governance of a Board of Directors chaired by Mrs. Khadija Darwish Alqubaisi. The school is structured as a private not-for-profit institution, licensed under UAE economic sector licence No. CN-1000988 and educational licence No. 64 (ADEK school number 9109). The academic administration comprises the principal, a deputy director, and four department heads, providing a relatively lean leadership structure for a school of over 2,100 students.
The 2024 ADEK Irtiqa report rates the effectiveness of leadership as Good - an improvement from Acceptable in the previous inspection - reflecting the leadership team's success in raising standards in Arabic-medium subjects and implementing development strategies that moved the school's overall rating from Acceptable to Good since 2021. The principal and Board of Trustees are credited with cultivating a welcoming culture of kindness and belonging, guided by Islamic values and UAE national priorities. Leadership is described as increasingly inclusive in decision-making, engaging a wider range of stakeholders.
However, four of the five leadership and management sub-indicators remain at Acceptable: school self-evaluation and improvement planning, parents and the community, governance, and management, staffing, facilities and resources. The Irtiqa report is direct in its assessment: self-evaluation, improvement planning, and accountability require more consistent implementation. Parental communication is rated Acceptable, suggesting that while the school engages parents through its website, circulars, and news updates, the depth and consistency of home-school communication requires development. The school's website provides circulars, news updates, and registration information, but a dedicated parent portal or communication app is not referenced in available materials.
ADEK Inspection Results (Irtiqa - Decoded)
The most recent ADEK Irtiqa inspection of Islamiya English School was conducted between 20-23 January 2025, covering the 2024/25 academic year. The school received an overall rating of Good - its second consecutive inspection cycle showing improvement, having moved from Acceptable (2021) to Good (2024). This upward trajectory is the headline story: Islamiya is a school demonstrably moving in the right direction, though it has not yet reached the consistency required for a Very Good rating.
The inspection framework assessed performance across six performance standards. Students' achievement (PS1) is the school's strongest area, with Islamic Education, Arabic as a first language, Arabic as a second language, UAE Social Studies, Mathematics, and Learning Skills all rated Good across most or all phases. The standout weakness within PS1 is English attainment, rated Acceptable in Phases 1, 2, and 3, and Science in Phase 4 (Acceptable attainment). Personal and social development (PS2) is mixed: personal development is Acceptable due to attendance concerns, but understanding of Islamic values and social responsibility/innovation skills are Good across all phases. Teaching quality (PS3) is Good for teaching but Acceptable for assessment - a critical gap. Curriculum (PS4) is Acceptable across all phases for both design and adaptation, reflecting the early-stage implementation of the Cambridge framework. Protection, care, and guidance (PS5) shows health and safety as Good but care and support as Acceptable. Leadership (PS6) has the effectiveness of leadership at Good, with all other sub-indicators at Acceptable.
For parents, the decoded message is this: Islamiya is a safe, values-rich school with genuinely strong Arabic-language and Islamic education provision, improving leadership, and a clear upward trajectory. The gaps in English-medium attainment, assessment practices, inclusion support, and curriculum consistency are real and acknowledged - and the school's next inspection will be the test of whether improvement momentum is sustained.
Strong Arabic-Medium Achievement
Islamic Education, Arabic (first and second language), and UAE Social Studies are rated Good across all phases, with internal data showing attainment above MoE curriculum standards. Islamic Education reached Outstanding in Phases 2 and 3 in internal assessments.
Improved Teaching Quality
Teaching for effective learning is rated Good across all four phases in the 2024 Irtiqa report, an improvement from Acceptable in KG and Cycle 1 in the previous inspection. Arabic-medium teachers demonstrate strong subject knowledge and engaging lesson delivery.
Health, Safety & School Culture
Health, safety, and safeguarding are rated Good across all phases. The school has a well-established safety culture, effective behaviour management, accessible infrastructure, and a caring ethos grounded in Islamic values that inspectors explicitly commend.
English-Medium Attainment & Assessment
English attainment remains Acceptable in Phases 1, 2, and 3. Assessment practices are Acceptable across all phases, with inconsistent use of internal and external data to inform teaching. The newly introduced Cambridge curriculum requires full embedding and targeted teacher training to drive improvement.
Inclusion & Support for Additional Learning Needs
Care and support provision has declined from Good to Acceptable. Identification of students of determination and gifted/talented learners is described as emerging. IEP implementation is not yet SMART or consistently used in lesson planning. This is a key area requiring structural investment.
Inspection History
2021
Acceptable
2024
Good
Fees & Value for Money
Islamiya English School offers a British curriculum education in Abu Dhabi with tuition fees ranging from AED 7,930 for KG 1 through to AED 16,090 for Grades 11 and 12. The fee structure has been approved by ADEK for the 2025–2026 academic year, providing families with transparency and regulatory assurance. Fees increase progressively across year groups, reflecting the increasing complexity and resources required at each stage of education.
AED 7,930
Annual Fees From
AED 16,090
Annual Fees To
Year / GradeAnnual Fee
KG 1
AED 7,930KG 2
AED 8,260Grade 1
AED 8,260Grade 2
AED 8,260Grade 3
AED 8,360Grade 4
AED 8,680Grade 5
AED 8,680Grade 6
AED 8,680Grade 7
AED 8,680Grade 8
AED 10,920Grade 9
AED 10,920Grade 10
AED 10,830Grade 11
AED 16,090Grade 12
AED 16,090In addition to tuition, families should budget for bus transport (AED 3,510 per year), books (ranging from AED 345 to AED 2,160 depending on grade), and a uniform cost of AED 300 per year. These additional costs are clearly outlined and ADEK-approved, making it straightforward for families to plan their total annual expenditure. At the Foundation and Primary levels, the school represents a competitively priced option within the British curriculum private school sector in Abu Dhabi.
For Post-16 students in Grades 11 and 12, tuition rises to AED 16,090, reflecting the additional resources and specialist teaching associated with advanced-level British qualifications. Overall, Islamiya English School positions itself as an accessible and affordable British curriculum school, offering structured, ADEK-regulated fees across all year groups from KG 1 through to Grade 12.
Additional Costs
Bus Transport3,510(annual)
Books & Materials345(annual)
Books & Materials509(annual)
Books & Materials565(annual)
Books & Materials627(annual)
Books & Materials636(annual)
Books & Materials831(annual)
Books & Materials866(annual)
Books & Materials831(annual)
Books & Materials976(annual)
Books & Materials1,650(annual)
Books & Materials1,650(annual)
Books & Materials1,500(annual)
Books & Materials2,160(annual)
Books & Materials2,160(annual)
Uniform300(annual)
The Final Verdict: Who Is This School For?
Islamiya English School is a school that rewards clear-eyed assessment. It is not Abu Dhabi's most academically selective British-curriculum institution, nor does it offer the facilities portfolio or enrichment breadth of higher fee-band competitors. What it does offer is genuine: a Good-rated ADEK school with a demonstrable upward trajectory, exceptional Arabic and Islamic education, a safe and values-rich environment, and - critically - school fees that make a British-curriculum education accessible at AED 7,930-16,090 per year. The school's not-for-profit governance model and nearly five-decade track record in Al Danah give it a stability that many newer schools lack.
The honest caveats are equally important. English-medium subject attainment is below the level parents might expect from a Good-rated school, and the newly introduced Cambridge curriculum is still bedding in. Inclusion support for students of determination and gifted learners is underdeveloped. Assessment practices need strengthening. Parents who choose Islamiya should go in with eyes open to these gaps and engage actively with the school on their child's English-language progress in particular. The school is moving forward - the jump from Acceptable to Good is real - but it has not yet reached the consistency that would make it a straightforward recommendation for all families.
THE “RIGHT FIT”
Families seeking an affordable British-curriculum school in central Abu Dhabi with strong Arabic language and Islamic education, a caring community ethos, and a clear KG-to-A-level pathway - particularly South Asian expatriate families for whom the school's demographic and cultural environment feels familiar.
THE “WRONG FIT”
Families prioritising elite English-medium academic performance, extensive ECA programming, cutting-edge facilities, or strong university counselling for top-tier destinations; students with significant additional learning needs who require robust, structured inclusion support.
“
We chose Islamiya because of the fees and the Islamic environment. Our children have grown up here and we've seen the school improve year on year. It's not perfect, but the teachers care and that matters most.
— Secondary School Parent (Year 10)
Strengths
- Most affordable British-curriculum school in Abu Dhabi (AED 7,930-16,090)
- ADEK Good rating in 2024, improved from Acceptable in 2021
- Outstanding Arabic language and Islamic Education provision across phases
- Not-for-profit governance with nearly 50-year track record
- Health, safety, and safeguarding rated Good across all phases
- PISA and TIMSS participation with above-average reading scores
- Central Al Danah location - easily accessible from Abu Dhabi island
- Guinness World Record-holding student in reading/literacy
Areas for Improvement
- English-medium subject attainment rated Acceptable across multiple phases
- Inclusion and support for students of determination is underdeveloped
- Assessment practices rated Acceptable - data use to personalise learning is inconsistent
- Persistent student attendance issues affecting personal development rating
- Cambridge curriculum still in early implementation stages - not yet fully effective