The Model Private SchoolIndian School in Abu DhabiLast Updated: April 7, 2026
Curriculum
Indian
ADEK
Acceptable
Location
Abu Dhabi
Fees
AED 5K - 7K
The Model Private School
The Executive Summary
The Model Private School Abu Dhabi is one of Mohamed Bin Zayed City's longest-standing Indian curriculum institutions, founded in 1987 and carrying nearly four decades of community trust. Holding an ADEK rating of Good (2024 Irtiqa inspection), the school operates a dual-board framework - CBSE syllabus up to Grade X and the Kerala Board (HSE) for Grades XI and XII - making it a natural home for families from Kerala and broader South Asian communities who want board continuity alongside UAE residency. With school fees ranging from AED 4,920 to AED 6,770 annually, it is among the most affordable private schools in Abu Dhabi, positioning itself firmly as a value-driven community school rather than a premium international institution. For Indian expatriate families seeking familiar pedagogy, manageable school fees, and a culturally resonant environment in Mohamed Bin Zayed City, this school deserves serious consideration.
CBSE & Kerala BoardEst. 1987ADEK Good 2024AED 4,920 - 6,770 Fees
“The teachers are caring and always encourage the kids to do their best. My son loves going to school and comes home excited to share what he learned every day.”
— Primary School ParentAcademic Framework & Learning Style
The Model Private School operates a structured four-section academic framework: Pre-Primary (Kindergarten), Primary (Grades I-VII), Secondary (Grades VIII-X), and Higher Secondary (Grades XI-XII). The school follows the CBSE curriculum through Grade X, aligning students with the Central Board of Secondary Education's nationally recognised standards, before transitioning to the Kerala Higher Secondary Education (HSE) syllabus for Grades XI and XII. This dual-board approach is a defining - and somewhat unusual - structural choice that reflects the school's deep roots in the South Indian expatriate community. It suits families who anticipate higher education pathways in India, particularly Kerala, but parents with ambitions toward UK, US, or globally ranked universities should factor this into their planning, as the HSE qualification has limited international recognition compared to A-Levels or the IB Diploma.
The school's pedagogical approach is broadly traditional and teacher-led, with an emphasis on structured assessment cycles: class tests, monthly tests, and terminal examinations provide regular performance checkpoints that keep both teachers and parents informed. The school's own documentation highlights a commitment to developing the four core language skills - listening, speaking, reading, and writing - through seminars, group discussions, debates, and exhibitions, which suggests a meaningful attempt to move beyond rote learning. The classroom student-to-teacher ratio is stated as 30:1, which is at the upper boundary of what ADEK considers acceptable for effective differentiated instruction. Academic support provision for students with Special Educational Needs or those identified as Gifted and Talented is not detailed publicly on the school's website, which is a transparency gap that prospective parents of children with additional learning needs should probe directly during admissions. University placement data and specific board exam result percentages are not published on the school's website; however, the school's history notes consistent top rankings in SSLC, CBSE, and HSE examinations since its affiliation with the Kerala Board in 1989 and CBSE adoption in 2010.
30:1
Student-to-Teacher Ratio
Per classroom, as stated by the school
1987
Year Founded
One of Abu Dhabi's longest-established Indian curriculum schools
CBSE + HSE
Dual Board Framework
CBSE to Grade X; Kerala HSE for Grades XI-XII
2010
CBSE Affiliation Year
Previously Kerala Board only from 1989
Extracurricular Activities (ECAs)
The Model Private School positions extracurricular engagement as a meaningful pillar of student development, though the breadth of its formal ECA programme is not comprehensively catalogued on its public website. What is evident from school communications and events coverage is that the school actively participates in digital and technology competitions - notably hosting the 2nd Edition of the International Digital Fest in February 2024 and running Hackathon Competitions in the 2023-24 academic year. These technology-focused events signal a genuine investment in 21st-century skills that complements the CBSE curriculum's science and computing strands.
The school's website references student participation in seminars, group discussions, debates, and exhibitions as part of its academic enrichment model, blurring the line between curricular and co-curricular activity in a way that is common among Indian curriculum schools. Sports provision includes a school bus network that facilitates travel to external venues, though dedicated on-campus sports facilities are not described in detail. Performing arts, drama, and music programmes are referenced in the school's broader community narrative but are not formally listed with schedules or achievement records. The school maintains an Alumni Network and a Parent Council, both of which contribute to a sense of community continuity beyond the classroom. Parents seeking a school with a rich, formally structured ECA calendar - akin to British curriculum schools with 60+ clubs - should temper expectations; this school's strength lies in its academic and community focus rather than an expansive extracurricular menu.
2024
International Digital Fest
2nd Edition hosted by the school, February 2024
International Digital FestHackathon CompetitionsDebate & Seminar CultureActive Alumni NetworkParent Council
Pastoral Care & Well-being
The pastoral ethos at The Model Private School is built on the school's four core values: Commitment, Consistency, Consideration, and Compassion. These are not merely decorative words - parent testimonials on the school's own website consistently reference the warmth and attentiveness of the teaching staff, suggesting that the school's caring culture is felt on the ground. The principal, Mr. Ilyas Jumat Nasari, sets an inclusive and encouraging tone in his public communications, emphasising that the school is a place where every child is valued and supported.
Formal pastoral structures - such as a named house system, dedicated school counsellors, or a published anti-bullying policy - are not detailed in publicly available materials. This is an area where the school's digital transparency lags behind its evident community warmth. The school does operate a Local Advisory Board and a Parent Council, which provide structured channels for parent engagement and school governance input. Student voice mechanisms are not formally described, though the school's emphasis on debate, seminars, and exhibitions suggests students are given platforms to express themselves academically. For families with children who may require formal mental health support or structured SEN pastoral pathways, the absence of published provision details warrants a direct conversation with the school before enrolment.
“I truly appreciate all the teachers for their hard work and dedication. We have chosen a wonderful school - our child is in safe hands. The Model School is indeed one of the best Indian schools.”
— Primary School ParentCampus & Facilities
The Model Private School is located in Mohamed Bin Zayed City, a well-established residential district in Abu Dhabi that serves a large South Asian expatriate population. The campus hosts dedicated laboratory facilities across four science disciplines - Computer Lab, Chemistry Lab, Physics Lab, and Biology Lab - each described as fully equipped with modern apparatus, safety equipment, and structured for both experimental and theoretical integration. The computer lab specifically supports coding, programming, and robotics, reflecting an investment in digital literacy that goes beyond basic IT instruction.
The school's library is described as well-stocked with an extensive reference and lending collection. From Grade IV onwards, students may borrow books for home reading, with two-week loan periods and dedicated weekly library periods built into the timetable. Audio-visual aids, video presentations, and digital learning tools supplement traditional classroom instruction. The school also operates a fleet of school buses covering multiple routes across Abu Dhabi, with trained drivers and supervisors on board, compliant with ITC/DOT safety regulations - a practical asset for families across the emirate.
The school's campus specifics - total area in square metres or acres, number of classrooms, sports courts, or dedicated arts and music spaces - are not published. The absence of an auditorium, swimming pool, or dedicated sports field in the school's own facility descriptions is notable and should be confirmed with the school directly. For a school operating since 1987, the facilities described are functional and fit-for-purpose for a value-tier Indian curriculum school, but families accustomed to the sprawling campuses of premium Abu Dhabi schools should calibrate their expectations accordingly.
4
Specialist Science & Tech Labs
Computer, Chemistry, Physics, Biology
ITC/DOT
Transport Safety Compliance
School bus fleet with trained supervisors
Computer Lab with RoboticsChemistry, Physics & Biology LabsWell-Stocked LibraryMulti-Route School BusesDigital Learning ToolsMohamed Bin Zayed City Location
Teaching & Learning Quality
The school's website describes its faculty as qualified and caring educators committed to student success, and parent testimonials broadly corroborate a teaching culture that is encouraging and attentive. However, specific data on staff qualifications - the proportion holding postgraduate degrees, the ratio of Indian-trained versus internationally trained teachers, or average years of experience - is not published. This limits an objective assessment of teaching quality beyond the ADEK inspection finding of Good.
The stated classroom ratio of 30:1 is a meaningful data point: it is at the higher end of what allows for genuine differentiated instruction, and in the absence of published data on teaching assistants or support staff ratios, it is reasonable to infer that highly individualised learning support may be constrained. The school's pedagogical approach blends structured assessment with active learning modalities - debates, seminars, group discussions - which suggests teachers are not purely transmission-based in their methods. The integration of audio-visual aids and digital tools across subjects indicates a blended learning environment rather than a purely chalk-and-talk model. Teacher retention and turnover data are not publicly available, though the school's long community history and stable leadership suggest reasonable continuity. The school's professional development culture is referenced implicitly through its alignment with CBSE and Kerala Board training frameworks, but no formal CPD programme details are published. The ADEK Good rating in 2024 confirms that teaching quality meets regulatory standards, but prospective parents should ask directly about how the school supports teachers in improving practice.
30:1
Classroom Student-Teacher Ratio
Upper boundary for effective differentiation
Good
ADEK Teaching Quality Rating
Irtiqa Inspection 2024
Blended
Pedagogical Approach
Structured assessment + active learning + AV tools
Leadership & Management
The school is led by Principal Mr. Ilyas Jumat Nasari, whose public messaging reflects a student-centred philosophy that emphasises curiosity, character, and lifelong learning alongside academic achievement. His tenure length is not specified in available materials, but his tone in the school's published communications is measured and community-oriented - the hallmarks of a leader who understands the school's cultural context and parent expectations.
The school's governance structure includes a Local Advisory Board, which the school describes as guiding school growth through expertise and community collaboration, and a Parent Council that formalises the school-home partnership. These structures suggest a governance model that is more consultative than purely top-down, which is appropriate for a community school of this profile. The school's ownership details are not publicly disclosed, though its registration with ADEK under school number 9122 confirms regulatory oversight.
The school's strategic direction is articulated through a clear vision - equipping students with 21st-century skills in an inclusive environment - and a mission centred on value-based, inclusive education. The school communicates with parents through its website, a contact portal, and direct phone access at +971 2 552 7200. The admissions page was not functional at the time of review, which is a minor but notable gap in digital communication infrastructure that the leadership team should address as a priority.
ADEK Inspection Results (Irtiqa - Decoded)
The Model Private School received an overall ADEK Irtiqa rating of Good in its most recent inspection, conducted in 2024. In the context of Abu Dhabi's private school landscape, a Good rating places the school in the middle tier of the regulatory framework - above Acceptable and Weak, but with clear headroom to reach Very Good or Outstanding. It signals a school that is meeting its core obligations competently and providing a satisfactory educational experience, while acknowledging that there are meaningful improvements still to be made.
A Good rating typically reflects adequate attainment levels, satisfactory progress relative to students' starting points, and functional inclusion provision - but inspectors will have identified specific areas where practice needs to deepen. For Indian curriculum schools in Abu Dhabi, a Good rating is not unusual; the CBSE framework is well-understood by ADEK inspectors, and schools that deliver it consistently tend to cluster in the Good band. The school's long track record since 1987 and its dual-board structure suggest institutional stability, but the absence of a Very Good or Outstanding rating indicates that teaching quality, inclusion provision, or leadership impact has not yet reached the highest levels of ADEK's evaluation criteria. Parents should view this rating as honest confirmation of a reliable, community-focused school - not a high-performance academic powerhouse.
Established Community Stability
Nearly four decades of continuous operation under ADEK oversight demonstrates institutional resilience and consistent delivery of the CBSE and Kerala Board curricula.
Functional Academic Programme
The school's structured assessment cycle - class tests, monthly tests, and terminal examinations - provides a reliable framework for tracking student progress, recognised positively in the Good rating.
Safe, Inclusive Environment
The Good rating confirms that the school meets ADEK's safeguarding and inclusion standards, providing a secure learning environment for its diverse student community.
Transparency in Inclusion Provision
Publicly available information on SEN support, Gifted and Talented programmes, and EAL provision is limited. Deepening and communicating inclusion frameworks would strengthen the school's pathway toward a Very Good rating.
Digital Communication Infrastructure
The school's admissions page returned a 404 error at the time of review, and several policy pages lacked substantive content. Improving digital transparency would support both parent confidence and ADEK's governance criteria.
Inspection History
2024
Good
Fees & Value for Money
The Model Private School offers a CBSE curriculum with tuition fees for the 2025–2026 academic year ranging from AED 4,920 for KG 1 through to AED 6,770 for Grades 11 and 12. This positions the school as an affordable private education option in Abu Dhabi, particularly for families seeking a structured Indian curriculum pathway from kindergarten through to senior secondary level.
AED 4,920
Annual Fees From
AED 6,770
Annual Fees To
Year / GradeAnnual Fee
KG 1
AED 4,920KG 2
AED 4,920Grade 1
AED 4,920Grade 2
AED 4,920Grade 3
AED 4,990Grade 4
AED 4,990Grade 5
AED 4,990Grade 6
AED 4,990Grade 7
AED 4,990Grade 8
AED 5,320Grade 9
AED 5,320Grade 10
AED 5,240Grade 11
AED 6,770Grade 12
AED 6,770In addition to tuition, families should budget for transportation, books, and uniform costs. The school charges a standardised annual bus fee of AED 4,037 across all year groups. Book fees vary by grade, ranging from approximately AED 337 in KG 1 to AED 733 in Grade 10, while uniform costs range from AED 278 in the early years to AED 499 in the senior grades. These additional costs are clearly defined and regulated through the ADEK fee framework.
Overall, The Model Private School represents strong value for money within the CBSE private school segment in Abu Dhabi. The transparent, ADEK-approved fee structure ensures families can plan their education expenditure with confidence, with total annual costs (including tuition, bus, books, and uniform) remaining competitive across all grade levels.
Additional Costs
Bus (Transport)4,037(annual)
Books & Materials – KG 1337(annual)
Books & Materials – KG 2386(annual)
Books & Materials – Grade 1497(annual)
Books & Materials – Grade 2574(annual)
Books & Materials – Grade 3622(annual)
Books & Materials – Grade 4652(annual)
Books & Materials – Grade 5675(annual)
Books & Materials – Grade 6672(annual)
Books & Materials – Grade 7700(annual)
Books & Materials – Grade 8726(annual)
Books & Materials – Grade 9613(annual)
Books & Materials – Grade 10733(annual)
Books & Materials – Grade 11630(annual)
Books & Materials – Grade 12723(annual)
Uniform – KG 1 & KG 2278(annual)
Uniform – Grade 1305(annual)
Uniform – Grade 2310(annual)
Uniform – Grade 3 & Grade 4341(annual)
Uniform – Grade 5 & Grade 6368(annual)
Uniform – Grade 7378(annual)
Uniform – Grade 8383(annual)
Uniform – Grade 9389(annual)
Uniform – Grade 10, 11 & 12499(annual)
The Final Verdict: Who Is This School For?
The Model Private School is a community-anchored, value-driven institution with an honest track record stretching back to 1987. Its ADEK Good rating, affordable fee structure, dual CBSE and Kerala Board curriculum, and warm school culture make it a compelling choice for a specific type of family - but it is emphatically not the right school for every family in Abu Dhabi. The school's greatest strength is the alignment it offers to South Indian expatriate families who want their children educated within a familiar academic framework at a cost that does not strain a household budget. Its greatest limitation is the ceiling that the Kerala HSE qualification places on post-18 international university pathways, and the relative lack of published data on outcomes, inclusion provision, and extracurricular breadth.
For families making a school fees Abu Dhabi decision on a constrained budget, or for those whose children will pursue higher education in India, The Model Private School delivers genuine value. For families with children who have complex learning needs, ambitions for top global universities, or expectations of an expansive ECA programme, this school is likely to fall short. The Mohamed Bin Zayed City location is convenient for the large South Asian residential community in that district, and the school's long-established community network - including its Alumni Network and Parent Council - adds social value that is difficult to quantify but genuinely felt.
THE “RIGHT FIT”
South Indian expatriate families in Mohamed Bin Zayed City seeking affordable, CBSE/Kerala Board education in a warm, culturally familiar community environment, particularly those with children planning higher education in India.
THE “WRONG FIT”
Families seeking a pathway to UK, US, or globally ranked universities via internationally recognised qualifications; children with complex SEN needs requiring documented specialist support; or parents expecting a wide formal ECA programme comparable to premium Abu Dhabi schools.
“
The Model Private School has been an amazing experience for my child. The caring teachers and supportive environment have boosted confidence and academic growth through innovative teaching.
— Secondary School Parent
Strengths
- Among Abu Dhabi's most affordable private school fees: AED 4,920-6,770 annually
- Established in 1987 - nearly four decades of community trust and stability
- Dual CBSE and Kerala Board framework suits South Indian families
- ADEK Good rating (2024) confirms regulatory compliance and adequate standards
- Specialist science labs: Computer, Chemistry, Physics, and Biology
- Active Parent Council and Alumni Network build strong community ties
- Technology-focused events including International Digital Fest and Hackathons
- ITC/DOT compliant school bus network covering Abu Dhabi routes
Areas for Improvement
- Kerala HSE qualification limits pathways to globally ranked international universities
- 30:1 student-teacher ratio constrains personalised learning support
- Limited published data on SEN provision, ECA breadth, and exam results
- School website has significant content gaps including non-functional admissions page
- No published scholarship, bursary, or formal financial assistance programme