Why Choose The British International School Abu Dhabi | Outstanding ADEK School

Why Choose The British International School Abu Dhabi Outstanding ADEK School

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Choosing the right school is one of the most important decisions a family makes. At BIS Abu Dhabi, education goes beyond academics, it’s about creating a vibrant community where every learner feels supported and inspired. We believe true success comes from balance, where students excel academically while growing emotionally, socially, and physically, all within a culture that prioritises wellbeing. Here’s why BIS Abu Dhabi is recognised as one of Abu Dhabi’s leading schools.

A Proud History and Proven Excellence

Founded in 2009, The British International School Abu Dhabi built a reputation for academic excellence and a nurturing environment. Recognised by independent platforms such as Yalla Abu Dhabi and WhichSchoolAdvisor, we are consistently celebrated as a top choice for families. Our Outstanding ADEK rating and distinction as the only international school in Abu Dhabi to achieve a full mark in ADEK’s National Identity inspection, reflect our commitment to Emirati culture and values.

This recognition, combined with strong academic foundations and a personalised approach to learning, ensures that BIS Abu Dhabi offers an education that is both globally minded and locally rooted.

Academic Pathways for Every Future

We follow the English National Curriculum through IGCSE, then offer two distinct senior pathways:

This flexibility ensures every student has a suitable route to success, whether aiming for top universities worldwide or pursuing vocational excellence. Our results speak for themselves: BIS Abu Dhabi students consistently achieve outstanding GCSE, IB and BTEC scores, with graduates attending leading universities such as Oxford, Imperial College, McGill, EPFL, and The University of Hong Kong.

Holistic Development Beyond the Classroom

Families consistently praise BIS Abu Dhabi for its holistic approach to education. With close to 200 co-curricular activities offered across Primary and Secondary, students explore passions beyond academics, from robotics and coding to Model United Nations, sports, and performing arts. These experiences help students build confidence, leadership, resilience, and teamwork, supporting their growth as well-rounded individuals.

Personal development and service are embedded throughout the student journey through the BISAD Diploma, which all students complete. From Year 9, students can also pursue the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award (DofE), while IB students in Years 12 and 13 take part in Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS). Together, these programmes encourage independence, commitment, and social responsibility. Community service opportunities, leadership roles, and collaborative projects allow students to make a meaningful impact both within school and the wider Abu Dhabi community.

Student wellbeing is central to life at BIS Abu Dhabi. Our comprehensive pastoral care programme includes mental health and resilience support, age-appropriate physical education, and mindfulness activities woven into daily routines. This ensures every child feels safe, supported, and ready to learn.

Independent parent feedback from the WhichSchoolAdvisor survey reinforces these strengths. Families highlight exceptional levels of belonging and enjoyment, with 76% of parents reporting their child feels a “tremendous amount” of belonging (vs 53% UAE average) and 66% saying their child “tremendously” enjoys going to school (vs 56%). Parents also note confidence-building, strong public speaking skills, inclusive sports, and top-tier performing arts as standout features, while 88% would recommend BIS Abu Dhabi to another family.

Independent parent survey feedback from Term 1 2025-2026 further reinforces these strengths across every phase of the school. Parents consistently highlight a nurturing environment, strong relationships with teachers, and children who are happy, confident, and thriving both academically and socially, from EYFS through to Secondary.

Global Opportunities and Events That Build Belonging

As part of Nord Anglia Education, BIS Abu Dhabi opens doors to a world of possibilities that go far beyond the classroom. Students benefit from exclusive collaborations with MIT, Juilliard, IMG Academy, and UNICEF, access to the Global Campus for online learning experiences with peers worldwide, and life-changing international expeditions from Tanzania to Switzerland that foster global citizenship.

They also take part in regional events such as our NAE Middle East Games and Middle East Performing Arts Festival where hundreds of students from Nord Anglia schools across the region come together to compete, perform, and celebrate teamwork, resilience, and belonging. These experiences create friendships across borders and showcasing the strength of our global learning community.

Take a look at this video featuring Nord Anglia’s regional events, where our Year 7 student Freddie shares his excitement about life at BIS Abu Dhabi and the incredible opportunity to participate in the Middle East Performing Arts Festival:

A Warm, Inclusive Community Guided by Our Values

With over 90 nationalities, BIS Abu Dhabi is a true global community where families feel a genuine sense of belonging. Parents often describe the school as a “home from home”, and independent reviews reinforce this, rating us 4.6/5 on the International Schools Database for our nurturing environment and exceptional pastoral care. Our commitment to strong family-school relationships has earned us ADEK’s Best Parent Engagement Award and the Parent Partnership Award at the MENA School Excellence Awards. Initiatives like “Window Into Learning” and “Heads Together” ensure parents feel connected and involved, with 94% saying they feel heard and valued. At the heart of everything we do are our core values, Kindness, Honesty, and Respect, which shape every interaction, every lesson, and every event, creating a culture where students and families truly thrive.

Why Families Choose BIS Abu Dhabi

Families choose BIS Abu Dhabi for the genuine sense of warmth, care, and belonging they feel from the moment they join. Parents consistently describe the school as having a homely, safe environment, where children are known, supported, and able to grow as part of a close-knit community. Many highlight the friendly, welcoming teachers, the strong relationships built with staff, and the confidence their children develop in their learning. Several families also share how quickly their children settle and thrive, particularly noting significant progress in English and overall confidence within just the first few months. Parents also consistently highlight our commitment to wellbeing and balance, through dedicated pastoral care and mental health support, alongside extensive sports and arts programmes, so every child is happy, healthy, and ready to learn. Combined with impressive facilities, including swimming pools, grass sports fields, an auditorium and Eco Edventure, parents frequently recommend BIS Abu Dhabi as a school where children truly flourish.

Independent platforms such as uaestories.com and parent opinion survey responses on WhichSchoolAdvisor reflect these experiences, describing BIS Abu Dhabi as “a school that inspires students to exceed expectations” and “a nurturing environment where academic excellence meets personal growth.” Together, these perspectives, alongside our strong academic outcomes and global opportunities, highlight why BIS Abu Dhabi is a trusted choice for families seeking an education that empowers students for long-term success.

Don’t just take our word for it, hear directly from our students and parents about their BIS Abu Dhabi experience:

Watch parent and student testimonials here