Nord Anglia International School Abu Dhabi, Al Reem Island — School Guide (2026)

School: Nord Anglia International School Abu Dhabi (NAS Abu Dhabi)

Area: Al Reem Island

Emirate: Abu Dhabi

Opened: 2023

Operator: Nord Anglia Education

Curriculum: National Curriculum of England; UK EYFS, IGCSE, A Level

Year groups: FS1 to Year 12, extending to Year 13 from August 2026 (ages 3 to 18)

Language of instruction: English

ADEK rating: Very Good

Students: Approximately 970 to 1,000

Overview

Nord Anglia International School Abu Dhabi is a co-educational British curriculum school that opened on Al Reem Island in 2023. It is part of the Nord Anglia Education global network and was built from scratch as an all-through school, taking pupils from age three to eighteen on a single campus.

It is the newer of the island’s two British curriculum schools, arriving a decade after Repton School Abu Dhabi established itself in Shams Abu Dhabi. The school currently teaches roughly 970 to 1,000 pupils across FS1 to Year 12, with Year 13 added from August 2026 to complete the age range. It holds a Very Good rating from the Department of Education and Knowledge.

For the residential market, the school’s significance is straightforward: it added meaningful British curriculum capacity to an island where places had become difficult to secure. Together with Repton and, at tertiary level, Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, it gives Al Reem Island one of the deepest education offers in the emirate, spanning nursery through to doctorate without a bridge crossing.

Nord Anglia International School Abu Dhabi opened in 2023 as the island’s second British curriculum school, easing a places bottleneck that had shaped family rental decisions across Al Reem Island for most of the preceding decade.

Location and Setting

The campus sits on Al Reem Island, the island immediately north-east of the Abu Dhabi mainland, reached by three bridge crossings. As with the island’s other institutions, the practical advantage is that families living on the island complete the school run without leaving it — a material daily saving compared with commuting to Saadiyat Island or the mainland.

Residents of Marina Square, City of Lights and Najmat Abu Dhabi are within a short drive, while the towers of Shams Abu Dhabi sit a little further depending on which end of the development. The island’s road network handles two separate school runs each morning, and the timings of the two schools do not fully overlap, which spreads the load more evenly than a single institution would.

Amenities are close at hand. Reem Mall provides retail, dining, a cinema and the indoor snow park Snow Abu Dhabi; Shams Boutik Mall covers convenience shopping; and Reem Central Park is the island’s principal green space for after-school use.

Curriculum and Qualifications

The school delivers the National Curriculum of England throughout, beginning with the UK Early Years Foundation Stage framework in FS1 and FS2 and progressing through primary and secondary phases. English is the language of instruction, with Arabic and Islamic Studies taught as required by the UAE Ministry of Education.

At Key Stage 4 pupils sit IGCSE examinations, and the sixth form offers A Levels. The school has also signalled the introduction of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, which would give sixth formers a choice of post-16 pathway rather than a single route — a point worth confirming directly with admissions, as the timetable for introduction may shift.

Being part of the Nord Anglia Education network gives pupils access to the group’s international programmes and collaborations, which operate across its schools worldwide rather than being specific to the Abu Dhabi campus. The network also operates The British International School Abu Dhabi in Zayed City, so the group has an established presence in the emirate predating this campus.

Year Groups and Growth

The school opened in 2023 and, like most new all-through schools, has been adding senior year groups progressively rather than opening at full capacity. It currently runs FS1 through Year 12, with Year 13 arriving in August 2026 to complete the range to age eighteen.

This staged growth has a practical consequence for families. Younger year groups have been established longest and are the most settled; the senior end of the school is still building its cohort and its examination track record. Families with a child entering sixth form should weigh that against a school with a longer results history, while those entering at primary level are joining year groups that have now run for several cycles. Current enrolment sits at roughly 970 to 1,000 pupils.

Admissions and Fees

Published tuition for the 2025-26 academic year runs from AED 65,000 in FS1 and FS2 to AED 95,000 in Years 12 and 13*. The intermediate steps are approximately AED 75,000 for Years 1 and 2, AED 82,000 for Years 3 to 6, AED 85,000 for Years 7 to 9, and AED 90,000 for Years 10 and 11. Fees are typically payable across three terms, weighted towards the first with roughly forty per cent due in Term 1 and thirty per cent in each of Terms 2 and 3.

A non-refundable application fee of approximately AED 3,000 is payable to secure a place and is credited against the Term 1 tuition invoice*. A re-enrolment deposit of similar value applies annually. This positions the school in the upper fee bracket for Abu Dhabi — above Repton School Abu Dhabi at most year groups. Fee schedules are revised annually and published figures vary between sources depending on the academic year they reference, so current figures should be confirmed directly with the school before budgeting.

Healthcare Nearby

On the island itself, Reem Hospital provides multi-specialty care and Burjeel Day Surgery Center handles outpatient and day-surgery cases. For specialist treatment, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi on Al Maryah Island is roughly ten minutes away by road, and Sheikh Khalifa Medical City on the mainland operates the emirate’s principal trauma centre. Corniche Hospital remains the main maternity facility for families growing while resident on the island.

Nord Anglia and Repton — Choosing Between Them

Families moving to Al Reem Island with British curriculum requirements are usually deciding between these two schools, and the distinctions are practical rather than philosophical since both follow the National Curriculum of England.

Repton is the older institution, operating since 2013 across two campuses with a longer examination record and an Outstanding ADEK rating. Nord Anglia opened in 2023 on a single all-through campus, holds a Very Good rating, and sits at a higher fee point across most year groups. Repton’s two-campus structure suits families with children at very different stages; Nord Anglia’s single site removes the need for two drop-offs entirely.

In practice, availability often settles the question. Repton’s Foundation Stage and Year 7 entry points fill early, and the arrival of a second school materially improved the odds of securing a place somewhere on the island. Off-island alternatives include Cranleigh Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat, Brighton College Abu Dhabi at Bloom Gardens, and Raha International School near Al Raha Beach — each requiring a bridge crossing.

Getting Around

By Car

The island connects to the mainland via three crossings. Al Salam Street is the most direct route to the central business district and the Corniche, the Sheikh Khalifa Bridge serves traffic from the north, and Airport Road and Sheikh Zayed Road link to the airport corridor and the Dubai highway. Morning congestion on the island’s internal roads builds from roughly 07:15, with a second peak from 14:30.

By Bus

Al Reem Island is served by Abu Dhabi’s public bus network, with island routes connecting to the mainland system. Route numbers and timetables are published by the Integrated Transport Centre through the AdMobility and Darbi services and change periodically, so current schedules should be checked there rather than relied on from third-party listings.

By School Bus

The school operates a bus service covering the island and a number of mainland districts. Coverage, routing and cost are arranged separately from tuition. For families based in Khalifa City or on Yas Island, bus availability on a given route is frequently the factor that decides whether the school is workable day to day.

What the School Means for Al Reem Island Property

The clearest effect has been on supply rather than price. Before 2023, families committed to British curriculum schooling on Al Reem Island were dependent on a single institution, and a rejected application often meant either a bridge commute or a move off the island entirely. A second school changed that calculation.

Sale Prices

Apartment values across Shams Abu Dhabi and Marina Square continue to be driven principally by view, floor level, tower age and service charge. Sea-facing units in Sky Tower and Sun Tower hold the strongest premium, while newer stock such as Meera Towers and Pixel Tower competes on specification. School provision registers as a factor in the depth of the buyer pool rather than in headline price per square foot. Asking prices should be verified against live market data at the time of enquiry*.

Rental Prices

Three-bedroom apartments remain the tightest segment on the island and the one most affected by school demand. Family-sized units in The Bridges, Mangrove Place and Oceanscape let readily through the May to August season. In Marina Square and City of Lights, larger layouts in Tala Tower, MAG 5 Residences, Horizon Towers and Addax Tower offer comparable space at a modest discount. Rental indications vary by unit, floor and condition*.

Investment Perspective

Abu Dhabi operates no school catchment system, so no address confers any admissions advantage. What a second school on the island delivers is reduced risk of a family tenant leaving because they could not secure a place — a quieter benefit than a price premium but a more durable one.

For landlords holding two and three-bedroom stock, the practical consequence is a deeper tenant pool and shorter voids. Combined with the academic segment supported by Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi and the professional demand generated around ADGM Square, the island now draws from three distinct tenant types on different renewal cycles. Buyers weighing districts may find Al Reem Island vs Saadiyat Island and Al Reem Island vs Yas Island useful for a fuller comparison.

FAQ — Nord Anglia International School Abu Dhabi

Where is Nord Anglia International School Abu Dhabi located?

The campus is on Al Reem Island, the island immediately north-east of the Abu Dhabi mainland and connected to it by three bridge crossings. It is a single all-through campus taking pupils from age three to eighteen, rather than being split across separate sites. Families living on the island complete the school run without crossing a bridge, which is the practical advantage that drives much of the demand for family-sized rental units nearby. Residents of Marina Square, City of Lights and Najmat Abu Dhabi are within a short drive. Access from the mainland is most direct via Al Salam Street, with the central business district roughly ten minutes away outside peak hours.

When did the school open?

Nord Anglia International School Abu Dhabi opened in 2023, making it one of the capital’s newer purpose-built British curriculum schools. It was designed from the outset as an all-through school covering ages three to eighteen on a single campus, rather than converting or expanding an existing site. Like most new all-through schools it opened without its full senior complement and has been adding year groups progressively — it currently runs FS1 through Year 12, with Year 13 arriving in August 2026 to complete the range. Enrolment stands at approximately 970 to 1,000 pupils. Its arrival was significant for the island because it was the first new British curriculum provision there in roughly a decade, following Repton School Abu Dhabi, which has operated since 2013.

What curriculum and qualifications does it offer?

The school delivers the National Curriculum of England from the UK Early Years Foundation Stage framework in FS1 and FS2 through the primary and secondary phases. English is the language of instruction, with Arabic and Islamic Studies taught as required by the UAE Ministry of Education. Pupils sit IGCSE examinations at Key Stage 4, and the sixth form offers A Levels. The school has additionally signalled the introduction of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, which would give sixth formers a choice between two post-16 pathways rather than a single route — an unusual offer among British curriculum schools in the emirate. Because introduction timetables for new programmes can shift, families considering this specifically should confirm current status directly with the admissions office rather than relying on published announcements.

How much are the fees?

Published tuition for 2025-26 runs from AED 65,000 in FS1 and FS2 to AED 95,000 in Years 12 and 13*. The steps between are approximately AED 75,000 for Years 1 and 2, AED 82,000 for Years 3 to 6, AED 85,000 for Years 7 to 9, and AED 90,000 for Years 10 and 11. Payment is typically structured across three terms weighted towards the first, with roughly forty per cent due in Term 1. A non-refundable application fee of around AED 3,000 secures a place and is credited against Term 1 tuition, with a re-enrolment deposit of similar value applying annually. This places the school in the upper fee bracket for Abu Dhabi. Published figures vary between sources depending on the academic year referenced, so confirm the current schedule directly with the school.

What is the school’s ADEK rating?

The school holds a Very Good rating from the Department of Education and Knowledge. That sits one band below Outstanding, which is the rating held by Repton School Abu Dhabi across both its campuses. Context matters when reading this: inspection ratings reflect a school’s track record, and a school that opened in 2023 has had considerably less time to build one than an institution operating since 2013. New schools commonly enter at Good or Very Good and progress upward across subsequent inspection cycles as cohorts mature and examination results accumulate. Families should weigh the rating alongside the school’s stage of development rather than treating it as a straight comparison with long-established institutions. Ratings are reassessed periodically and current status should be confirmed with ADEK.

How does it compare with Repton School Abu Dhabi?

Both follow the National Curriculum of England, so the differences are practical rather than philosophical. Repton School Abu Dhabi has operated since 2013 across two campuses, holds an Outstanding ADEK rating and has a longer examination record. Nord Anglia opened in 2023 on a single all-through campus, holds a Very Good rating and sits at a higher fee point across most year groups. Repton’s two-campus structure can suit families with children at very different stages, while Nord Anglia’s single site eliminates the need for two separate drop-offs. In practice, availability frequently settles the decision — Repton’s Foundation Stage and Year 7 entry points fill early, and the arrival of a second school materially improved the odds of a family securing a place somewhere on the island rather than commuting off it.

Is there a school bus service?

Yes. The school operates a bus service covering Al Reem Island and a number of mainland districts, arranged and charged separately from tuition. Coverage varies by route and by year, so a district served one year is not guaranteed the next. For families living on the island itself the service is often unnecessary given the short distances involved, but for those based in Khalifa City, on Yas Island or elsewhere on the mainland, bus availability on their specific route is frequently the deciding factor in whether the school is practical day to day. Anyone relocating from outside the island should confirm route coverage before committing to a tenancy, since a school place without transport can prove unworkable alongside two working schedules.

Does the school affect property prices on Al Reem Island?

Not directly in terms of price per square foot, which continues to be driven by view, floor level, tower age and service charge across Shams Abu Dhabi and Marina Square. The effect is on the depth and stability of the tenant pool. Before 2023 a family committed to British curriculum schooling on the island depended on a single institution, and an unsuccessful application often meant a bridge commute or a move off the island altogether. A second school reduced that risk substantially. For landlords holding two and three-bedroom stock, the measurable consequence appears in shorter void periods and higher renewal rates rather than in headline rent growth. Abu Dhabi operates no catchment system, so no specific address confers any admissions advantage.

Which towers do families attending the school typically rent in?

Family demand concentrates on three-bedroom and larger layouts, which are scarcer across the island than one and two-bedroom stock. Within Shams Abu Dhabi, The Bridges, Mangrove Place and Oceanscape see consistent family interest and let readily through the May to August season. Slightly further out, Tala Tower and MAG 5 Residences in Marina Square, and Horizon Towers and Addax Tower in City of Lights, offer comparable space at a modest discount in exchange for a short drive rather than a walk. The trade-off most families weigh is space against proximity, and with two schools now on the island the proximity premium has softened slightly.

What else is on Al Reem Island for families?

Reem Mall provides the island’s main retail, dining and leisure offer including a cinema, a hypermarket and the indoor snow park Snow Abu Dhabi. Reem Central Park is the principal open green space and the natural counterpart during the cooler months, while Shams Boutik Mall covers convenience shopping. Healthcare on the island is provided by Reem Hospital and Burjeel Day Surgery Center. At tertiary level Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi occupies a large campus on the island, meaning families can in principle move a child from nursery through to a degree without relocating. Beyond the island, The Galleria on Al Maryah Island is a short drive for higher-end retail and dining.

Summary

Nord Anglia International School Abu Dhabi is a co-educational British curriculum school operated by Nord Anglia Education, opened in 2023 on a purpose-built all-through campus on Al Reem Island and currently teaching approximately 970 to 1,000 pupils from FS1 to Year 12, with Year 13 arriving in August 2026 to complete the range from age three to eighteen. It delivers the National Curriculum of England through the UK Early Years Foundation Stage, IGCSE and A Level, with the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme signalled as an additional post-16 pathway, and holds a Very Good rating from ADEK. Published tuition for 2025-26 runs from AED 65,000 in Foundation Stage to AED 95,000 in Years 12 and 13, with a non-refundable application fee of approximately AED 3,000 credited against Term 1*. Healthcare nearby runs from Reem Hospital on the island to Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi roughly ten minutes away, and the island connects to the mainland via Al Salam Street and the Sheikh Khalifa Bridge. Its principal effect on the Shams Abu Dhabi and wider island rental market has been to ease a British curriculum places bottleneck that previously pushed families off the island altogether, deepening the tenant pool for three-bedroom and larger stock rather than lifting headline rents*.

Enquire About Property Near the School

Address Point Properties advises families and investors across Al Reem Island and the wider Abu Dhabi market. For current availability in family-sized units near the campus, or advice on timing a move around the academic year, contact the team on WhatsApp or through approperties.ae.

*All fee figures, prices and rental indications are approximate, are drawn from market research, and are provided for general guidance only. School fees, year-group structures and inspection ratings are set by the school and the regulator and are revised periodically — confirm current figures and status directly with Nord Anglia International School Abu Dhabi and ADEK before making any decision. Property figures do not constitute a valuation, an offer or financial advice. Availability and pricing change without notice. Information on this page is provided in good faith.