by Al Khail Real Estate Broker 
There is a significant Indian ex-pat population living in Abu Dhabi. Various Indian schools provide excellent education to the city’s sizable Indian community. These educational institutions are dedicated to enhancing the educational opportunities available to their student community through innovative educational practices and technological advancements. Look at the following list of the best Indian schools in Abu Dhabi if you want to enroll your kid in a respected institution for their education.
The best Indian schools in Abu Dhabi list includes details like annual fees, addresses, and courses.
What are the best Indian schools in Abu Dhabi?
There are several Indian schools in Abu Dhabi, most of which follow the CBSE curriculum. From kindergarten through high school, students have access to first-rate educational programs. Let’s take a peek at the city’s best Indian schools.
1- Abu Dhabi Indian School
The Abu Dhabi Indian School is a frontrunner for Indian-themed private schools in Abu Dhabi. The school is non-profit and is associated with the Central Board of Secondary Education in New Delhi.
Abu Dhabi’s Ministry of Education has granted the Abu Dhabi Indian School official status as an educational institution. Education is provided from kindergarten through the 12th grade.
Abu Dhabi Indian School features
Higher-level elementary and secondary students are divided into separate classes. At the SSC level, special Arabic, Hindi, and French are offered as language options.
The Abu Dhabi Indian School provides advanced placement options in a variety of disciplines at the HSC level, including the hard sciences (Science, Mathematics, Computer Science, Biology), the social sciences (Psychology, Sociology), and the business administration (Informatics). The Al Wathba campus is the institution’s second campus.
- Annual fees: AED 5,120–10,740
- Address: Shabia Muroor, Abu Dhabi
2- Sunrise English School for Indians in Abu Dhabi
There are several reputable CBSE schools in Abu Dhabi, and Sunrise English Private School is one of them. There are different levels of education available there, beginning with Kindergarten and ending with Class XII. This is the only one of several Indian schools in the Mussafah area that offers separate education for males and females.
At the senior secondary level, students can take language electives in French, Hindi, and Special Arabic. For the Higher School Certificate, students may focus on Science with Mathematics, Biology, or Computer Science; Commerce with Mathematics, Informatics Practices, Sociology, or Psychology; or Commerce without a focus.
- Annual fees: AED 7,000–11,010
- Address: Mussafah, Abu Dhabi
3- Emirates Future International Academy (EFIA)
Emirates Future International Academy, or EFIA, is considered a top CBSE institution in Abu Dhabi. The school has 170 educators committed to providing children with a world-class education.
Students are inspired to develop their full potential in a variety of disciplines via a series of contests and activities. Furthermore, EFIA students have consistently shown outstanding performance in various academic, athletic, and cultural arenas.
Most Indians come to this school to enroll their children. Besides Indians, Pakistanis also chose this school. It is better to say that if you are Pakistani and want to enroll your child in this school, you are doing the best. However, don’t forget to go for an online Pakistani passport renewal in Dubai & Abu Dhabi.
- Annual Fees: AED 7,520 – 13,460
- Address: Mussafah, Abu Dhabi.
4- Ryan International School; perfect for Indians living in Abu Dhabi
Middle school students at Ryan International School, Masdar Abu Dhabi, may continue their education at a Central Board of Secondary Education-accredited institution. Classes range from kindergarten through eighth grade and are open to both genders. The language of instruction is English.
Abu Dhabi’s Masdar neighborhood is home to the institution in question. Established in 2015, Ryan International School, Masdar is located in the city of Abu Dhabi. They oversee this private school as part of the Ryan International Schools network.
Ryan International School features
The school’s slogan is “Excellence in Education & All Round Development,” reflecting Ryan International School Masdar’s high standards. The school serves hundreds of boys and girls from kindergarten through eighth grade as a coed day school. In April of each year, students at Ryan International School are welcomed back for another year of learning.
If your house is in Masdar City or near the school, you can easily send your child to school, but if it is a little far away from you, you will need to drive there. Don’t forget that you can’t drive a car in Abu Dhabi without a driving license. So we’ve prepared a guide to getting a driving license in Abu Dhabi.
- Annual fees: AED 13,710–23,330
- Address: Masdar City, Abu Dhabi
5- Global Indian International School in Abu Dhabi
The Global Indian International School in Abu Dhabi is the second of two UAE campuses opened by the same organization, which originated in Singapore but now has a significant presence in India.
The school’s September 2015 opening was delayed from the April 2015 target date because it had to wait for approval from the ADEK to admit students in Kindergarten through Grade 8. Kindergarten and first grade started that year, although grades 1-6 didn’t join until April 2016. The school had around 1,700 learners and went up to grade 12 at the time of its second ADEK inspection in 2018-2019.
Global Indian International School features
Indian students made up the vast majority (88%), followed by those of Pakistani (6%) and Afghani (3%) descent. However, the report from ADEK’s inspection states, “Since the previous review, the number of students has grown by 27%, and they are just as transient as ever.” Twelve percent of the present student body has attended the school continuously since it first began.
At the kindergarten level, GIIS Abu Dhabi uses the Montessori Plus approach. For grades 1 through 12, the school follows the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), the standard Indian curriculum in the United Arab Emirates. Both are part of the school’s “9 Gems” curriculum, which “fits the changing demands of a developing kid and his/her expanding personality.”
- Annual fees: AED 10,600–12,550
- Address: Baniyas East, Abu Dhabi
6- International Indian School in Abu Dhabi
The International Indian School (IIS) is a sister school to the well-established Global English School in Al Ain. It has been in operation for over 30 years. Global Education Services owns both schools. This educational consulting business handles every aspect of school operations, from setting up to recruitment and day-to-day operations, for both other organizations and its own schools.
It’s undeniable that the companies’ founders have put a lot of money into both of them, what with all the shiny new facilities and the innovative way they’ve come up with to teach the CBSE curriculum. The institution’s official mission is to foster intellectual and personal growth via interdisciplinary coursework and active learning.
The International Indian School features
IIS has aspirations similar to those of many other UAE schools, including producing “tolerant to everyone and successful people capable of gaining chances that are beyond conceptions of today.”
In addition to the English National Curriculum-based Early Years Foundation Stage and the Montessori Method, which provide stress-free KG learning at IIS, students have access to the CBSE curriculum from Grades 1 through 12. The school aims to foster 21st-century abilities, including critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration, via an engaging and collaborative learning environment.
- Annual fees: AED 10,500–12,000
- Address: Baniyas West, Abu Dhabi
7- Bright Riders School; modern-method Indian school in Abu Dhabi
The Indian Community Kindergarten (ICK), which opened in 1975 and served 500 kids until it closed, inspired the creation of Bright Riders School (BRS), which opened in 1999. According to the ADEK inspection report from January 2019, there are now 3,300 students enrolled in BRS, another school managed by the same management organization. BRS opened in 2013.
The first Bright Riders School location was established in 2014 in Al Wathba South/Al Dhafra. The second location, in Dubai, was inaugurated in 2018.
Almost ninety-eight percent of learners are Indian, with the remaining two percent each being Pakistani and Sri Lankan.
Bright Riders School ratio
With a teacher-to-student ratio of 1:23 in KG, it seems that the school has not yet attained its goal of a maximum class size of 30 students, which is large according to many international school standards. The average teacher-to-student ratio from first grade and on is 16 to 1. Beginning in kindergarten through fourth grade, students of both sexes are placed in the same classroom.
If you live in Abu Dhabi and want to enroll your child in a school near your house, this school could be a good option. There are many top schools in Al Ain and Abu Dhabi if you live there. So you don’t need to send your child to school in Abu Dhabi if you live in Al Ain.
- Annual fees: AED 9,200–19,100
- Address: Mussafah, Abu Dhabi
8- Gems United Indian School in Abu Dhabi
The most recent addition to the GEMS family of schools in Abu Dhabi is the GEMS United Indian School. When Our Own English High School, which had existed for 25 years, moved to a brand-new site on the outskirts of Baniyas, it brought 400 students who had previously attended the school in villas.
Because of its rich history and impressive track record of achievement, this institution has moved to a new location while retaining its commitment to the same rigorous CBSE education it has always provided. The institution maintains the belief that it provides a first-rate education at a reasonable cost.
Naturally, the vast majority of students possess Indian passports. This is followed by a smaller number of Pakistani students (2%) and then a few students from neighboring countries like Nepal and Bangladesh.
Gems United Indian School’s advantages
There are creative studios, classes devoted to food technology, and the standard assortment of science labs stocked with cutting-edge apparatus. Music, recitation, debate, essays, plays, and arts & crafts are all examples of extracurricular activities.
Around 130 teachers and 13 aides are employed by the school, resulting in a staff-to-student ratio of 1:25 in kindergarten. It also has a ratio of 1:20 elsewhere due to the need for fewer but more highly trained specialists. Naturally, most students possess Indian passports, followed by a smaller number of Pakistani students (2%), and then a few students from neighboring countries like Nepal and Bangladesh.
- Annual fees: AED 9,570–19,030
- Address: Baniyas West, Abu Dhabi
9- Abu Dhabi Indian School (branch 1) Al Wathba
Rapid expansion can be seen in Al Wathba (ADIS Wathba). The school’s enrollment and faculty doubled between 2014 and 2016; this phenomenal development looks to have been superbly orchestrated. This school is a sibling to the original Abu Dhabi Indian School and has seen its enrollment expand from over 2,600 in 2017 to almost 3,200 at the time of its latest ADEK inspection in January 2019.
Class sizes average roughly 25 in KG and 20 throughout the remainder of the school, with a teacher: student ratio of 1:16. The school employs close to 200 teachers and an additional eight teaching assistants to help the students. The low turnover rate (10%) suggests that educators generally like their professions.
Arabic, Islamic Studies, and Moral Education are taught according to UAE Ministry of Education standards in addition to the CBSE curriculum.
Abu Dhabi Indian School features
This school strongly emphasizes innovation, which includes the creation of cross-curricular connections, which is in line with the goals outlined in Vision 2020. – Students in eighth grade combine their scientific understanding of sound with their music education by creating guitars out of discarded materials.
Students in 9th grade combine their knowledge of English and art by creating a fashion show based on the history of clothing. When educators foster a culture of innovation in the classroom, students are pushed to think more critically and creatively about how to solve issues. Creative 10th graders in English created an AI to aid in the education of other classes.
- Annual fees: AED 8,125–13,705
- Address: Al Wathba, Abu Dhabi
10- Dunes International School, an expanding Indian school in Abu Dhabi
The Shabia neighborhood of Mussafah is home to Dunes Foreign School (DIS), one of several international institutions that have recently opened to accommodate the area’s rapid expansion.
The institution’s past is fascinating. We estimate that Dunes International is the third version of the school to offer the CBSE curriculum. When it moved to its current location in Mussafah in 2014, it changed its name to Ryan Private School from its previous name, Indian Modern Science School.
In 2017, Ryan International dissolved the agreement with the management firm due to a commercial dispute between the owner and the management company. Ryan International School in Masdar City is still open.
To provide children with an education “based on the solid ideas and structure of Indian education,” DIS follows the CBSE curriculum and adds electives such as Hindi or French, ICT, Drama, Music, Art, and Physical Education.
- Annual fees: AED 12,000–23,500
- Address: Mussafah, Abu Dhabi
11- Mayoor Private School; Indian school in the modern Abu Dhabi neighborhood
Easily accessible from the Abu Dhabi -Al Ain motorway, the school can be found in the modern Abu Dhabi neighborhood of Al Wathba South.
According to the most recent ADEK inspection report (January 2019), the great majority of the school’s 1,520 learners are of Indian nationality, with the remaining 2% being made up of a sprinkling of other nationalities (Pakistani, Nepalese, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan, and Filipino).
It’s no surprise that most of the school’s 90+ faculty and 20+ aides are likewise Indian. The school’s staff-to-student ratio of 1:20 in kindergarten and 1:14 throughout the rest of the school is relatively low for an institution following the Indian curriculum. A turnover rate of 4% is relatively medium and indicative of a stable work environment.
Mayoor Private School features
There is a major emphasis on the development of 21st-century skills such as creativity, collaboration, communication, and critical thinking in the CBSE Curriculum offered at Mayoor School. Complemented by formative evaluations, project-based instruction and individualized study are used to convey the course material.
As we said, Filipino students can also study in this school. However, you need to remember that, as a Filipino, you need to renew your passport in Abu Dhabi to easily enroll your child. So before anything else, go for Philippine passport renewal in Dubai and Abu Dhabi to enroll your child in this school for the coming school year.
- Annual fees: AED 17,500–25,000
- Address: Al Wathba, Abu Dhabi
12- St. Joseph’s Indian School in Abu Dhabi
Located in the bustling district of Al Mushrif, St. Joseph’s School serves students in grades one through twelve in the city of Abu Dhabi. St. Joseph’s, like its sister school, St. Mary’s Catholic High School in Dubai, doesn’t begin its formal education of students until Grade 1; students enter from various nurseries. This is in accordance with UAE law requiring that all children begin formal education by the age of six.
This institution, which dates back to 1967 and is run by the Roman Catholic Church’s Apostolic Vicariate in Arabia, is a school for boys. St. Joseph’s School has long shared the Corniche strip as a Roman Catholic institution with the church. The school was forced to move because the Abu Dhabi Municipality decided to renovate the area. The current church and school facilities were dedicated to St. Joseph (whose feast day is observed on the same day) on March 19, 1981.
- Annual fees: AED 5,950–10,290
- Address: Al Mushrif, Abu Dhabi
13- Asian International School Madinat Zayed for Indians in Abu Dhabi
The Asian International Private School (AIS) in Madinat Zayed was founded in 1987 and relocated to its current location in Zayed City in May of 2012. Located in the United Arab Emirates, Asian International School Ruwais is one of three affiliated schools. However, it should not be mistaken with its bigger and more successful sister school, Asian International School Abu Dhabi.
Asian International School Madinat Zayed features
Approximately 45 children at this school have been classified as having special educational needs (SEN), while a smaller percentage have been designated as being gifted or talented. There are students from 21 different countries, with Indians making up 30% of the student body, Pakistanis 23%, and Bangladeshis 12%.
There are around 35 instructors and six teaching assistants at the school, for a total of 39 educators caring for the kids (teacher: student ratio = 1:19). The average annual turnover rate of teachers in UAE International Institutions is 20.2 percent; therefore the 7% rate shown here is rather low. However, the rate is much lower in Asian-led schools.
As you know, this school is located in Abu Dhabi, so if you want to send your child to this school, you’d better buy a property in Abu Dhabi.
- Annual fees: AED 4,000–5,650
- Address: Madinat Zayed, Abu Dhabi
14- Shining Star International School; New Indian school in Abu Dhabi
Now in its fifth year, SSIS may be considered a “new” school. The school’s mission is to provide a well-rounded education by exposing students to a wide range of academic and extracurricular opportunities. The school places a premium on using technology to educate its students so that they can adapt to a dynamic global environment. SSIS aims to help students grow into responsible citizens with competent brains and kind hearts.
Shining Star International School features
SSIS has monthly meetings of a Parent Council as a demonstrable effort toward openness and sound administration. Each year, parents are selected to serve on the council in an effort to locate a group of people with a wide range of abilities that can aid the school in running smoothly.
Additionally, the owner, the chairman, the dean, the school principal, one employee, and two community representatives make up the newly constituted Board of Trustees.
The curriculum at SSIS is taught using NCERT resources and is based on requirements set out by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). Each student’s academic and extracurricular pursuits are given equal importance.
The school boasts that its curriculum is research-based, rigorous, and accommodating to students of varying skill levels. The school’s mission is to help students reach their full potential in academics and life by encouraging critical reasoning and the free expression of ideas.
- Annual fee: AED 7,900-1,500
- Address: Abu Dhabi; Mussafah
17- The Model (New Indian) Private School Abu Dhabi
Beginning as a satellite of the New Indian Model School in Dubai and led by Dr. M.K. Kamaluddin, The Model School, Abu Dhabi opened its doors to students in April 1987. The Central School in Dubai is connected to two other schools, one of which is in Sharjah.
When it was first founded, the school’s principal objective was to build a good academic establishment to impart education to students on national lines and in consonance with the contemporary spirit. Moreover, the school decided to integrate the features of the old systems with the progressive trends of current times, responding to the requirements of Indian expatriates in Abu Dhabi. This was the fundamental goal of the school when it was first founded.
The Model Private School features
About 280 employees represent the wide variety of the student body. However, with a staff-to-student ratio of 1:17, it may be difficult to give each kid the attention they need or modify the curriculum to fit their needs. There is a very low rate of teacher turnover in Asian schools (about 10%), although this is still almost half the rate seen in foreign schools in the UAE.
- Annual fees: AED 4,300–7,200
- Address: Mussafah, Abu Dhabi
18- (Bhavans) Indian Private International English School in Abu Dhabi
Built-in 2010 as a branch of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, which was originally established in 1938 by Dr. K. M. Munshi, a prominent member of India’s constituent assembly, Private International English School (PIES), Abu Dhabi serves the local community and beyond. The group’s stated goal is to be a symbol of Indian culture and to uphold the values of Indian customs.
(Bhavans) Indian Private International English School features
The Bhavan currently oversees approximately 400 educational institutions in India and ten overseas hubs in the United Kingdom, the United States, Singapore, Australia, South Africa, Portugal, and the United Arab Emirates. As the first BVB-affiliated school in the UAE, Private International English School in Abu Dhabi was an early pioneer in the organization.
It is a CBSE, Delhi-affiliated, English-speaking day boarding school. Two more UAE-based educational institutions exist, Al Saad Indian School Al Ain and Wise Indian Academy, which seem to have evolved from the now-defunct Al Saad Indian School—Ajman campus.
- Annual fees: AED 9,700–17,000
- Address: Mussafah, Abu Dhabi
Best International Secondary Schools in Abu Dhabi for Indians
Now that you’re familiar with every Indian school in Abu Dhabi, it’s time to look at some of the largest and most prestigious secondary schools in Abu Dhabi.
1- Virginia International Private School
The city of Shakhbout in Abu Dhabi is home to Virginia International Private School. There are lessons for both sexes, from kindergarten through high school. The curriculum is based on the one used in the United States.
It was established in 2015, the same year that H.H. Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan proclaimed to be the “Year of Innovation.”
It’s a progressive institution that places a premium on group projects and encourages students to become involved in their communities. State-of-the-art resources are used to implement the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) pedagogy.
- Annual Fees: AED 25,170 – 39,800
- Address: Shakhbout City, Abu Dhabi
2- Horizon Private School, Khalifa City
The American curriculum is used at Horizon Private School, which is situated in Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi. The school serves as a primary educational institution for both genders and uses English as its primary language of instruction.
Horizon Private School, which opened in 2008, now enrolls over 1700 students in grades ranging from kindergarten to twelve (XII-XII).
It has an annual tuition of around AED 34,000, caters to each student’s individual requirements, maintains rigorous academic standards, and has several extracurricular activities. Standardized testing has shown that it conforms to the Common Core State Standards.
- Annual Fees: AED 23,490 – 44,080
- Address: Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi
3- British International School in Abu Dhabi
British International School is a day school that welcomes students from both genders. It is aligned with the International Baccalaureate (IB) program, the English National Curriculum, and the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE).
The school offers programs for students from kindergarten through high school (Grades XI, XII, and XIII, with the last offering a diploma).
Depending on a student’s family’s financial situation, tuition at this school may range from AED 40,000 to AED 60,000 per year. In exchange, students get access to a variety of extracurricular offerings and academic resources, including a swimming pool, a computer lab, a science lab, and a library. Additionally, the institution has cooperated with Nord Anglia Education and The Juilliard School in New York.
- Annual fee: AED 40,000 to AED 60,000
- Address: Zayed City – Abu Dhabi – United Arab Emirates
4- Emirates National School, Abu Dhabi
In Abu Dhabi, there is a daytime coeducational institution called Emirates National School. The school offers programs for children as young as three years old all the way up to high school seniors in the twelfth and twelfth grades, and it uses the curriculum outlined by the International Baccalaureate (IB).
The campus has a full complement of amenities, including a gym, a pool, a library, a few computer laboratories, and even a health center.
- Annual fee: AED 52,050 to AED 68,700
- Address: Mohamed Bin Zayed City, Abu Dhabi
5- ABC Private School, Al Shamkha, Abu Dhabi
Those in the Abu Dhabi area may send their children to ABC Private School, based out of Al Shamkha. It is a day school open to both sexes and offers various sports and clubs.
The school offers sessions for children as young as three years old up to those in their twelfth and thirteenth years, and it adheres to the curricula established by the United Kingdom.
- Annual fee: AED 21,500 to AED 26,000
- Address: Al Shamkha City, Abu Dhabi
which Indian school in Abu Dhabi should you send your child to?
Finally, we have compiled a list of the best Indian schools in Abu Dhabi. Expat parents in Abu Dhabi may get assistance in selecting the finest school for their kids from among the city’s various options, which include Indian schools. To help you make an informed choice, we’ve included information about every accredited Indian university.
Everyone knows that Dubai and Abu Dhabi are among the world’s most popular places. In fact, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is home to a large international community. On the other hand, those in this category who are interested in buying a house in Dubai or Abu Dhabi should definitely check out Al Khail Real Estate Company.
With its illustrious history, Al Khail Company can assist you in having the most positive experience possible while purchasing property in the UAE.
