International school admissions in Abu Dhabi follow a structured calendar shaped by the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK). For expat families, that means a parallel set of steps: ADEK transfer certificates, school-led English assessments, security cheques for tuition deposits and a paper trail signed in three places. This 2026 step-by-step guide walks through the timeline, the documents you must collect, the schools where competition is fiercest, and the fee deposits you should budget for before signing a contract.
The Abu Dhabi admissions calendar in one page
Most international schools in Abu Dhabi follow an August-to-June academic year. Open houses begin in October. Main intake decisions are issued from January through March, with assessment days clustered between November and February.
- September to October: Open houses, virtual tours, scholarship interest.
- November to January: Online application forms, document upload, payment of assessment fees (500 to 1,500 AED).
- December to February: CAT4, MidYIS or in-house English assessment day.
- February to March: Offers issued, tuition deposit due (typically 5,000 to 10,000 AED).
- April to June: ADEK transfer certificate, security cheque or bank guarantee, uniform fitting.
Documents every Abu Dhabi school will ask for
The exact list varies by school, but the master pack expat families should prepare in advance is consistent:
- Child's passport copy and Emirates ID (once issued).
- Parent passport copies plus visa pages.
- The last two years of school reports, in English or with certified translation.
- An ADEK-approved transfer certificate from the previous school (mandatory for transfers within the UAE).
- Vaccination records, signed by a licensed doctor.
- Birth certificate, attested if issued outside the UAE.
- Six recent passport-size photographs.
Top-tier schools also request reference letters from the previous head of school for Year 7 and above. Allow two to four weeks for attestation if you are coming from outside the GCC.
Top international schools in Abu Dhabi recognised on ISA
The British International School Abu Dhabi
Part of the Nord Anglia family, BIS Abu Dhabi delivers the English National Curriculum from FS1 through to A Level and the IB Diploma. Admissions are competitive at Year 7 and Year 12. Apply at least nine months before your target start date.
View The British International School Abu Dhabi profile on ISA
Nord Anglia International School Abu Dhabi
A second Nord Anglia campus on Al Reem Island, this school combines British curriculum delivery with the group's STEAM and Juilliard performing arts partnerships. Admissions accept rolling applications subject to year-group capacity.
View Nord Anglia International School Abu Dhabi profile on ISA
Repton School Abu Dhabi
Linked to Repton in Derbyshire, this school runs an IGCSE and A Level pathway with optional weekly boarding from Year 7. The Rose campus on Reem Island and the Al Reem campus split provision by age. Pre-school sibling priority applies in Reception and Year 7.
View Repton School Abu Dhabi profile on ISA
Brighton College Abu Dhabi
The Bloom Education campus follows the English National Curriculum to A Level, with strong sport and Arabic provision. Admissions issue offers in waves: an early decision wave in November and a main wave in January for the following August intake.
View Brighton College Abu Dhabi profile on ISA
Cranleigh Abu Dhabi
Located on Saadiyat Island, Cranleigh runs FS1 to Year 13 with IGCSE and A Level. Year 7 and Year 12 are the most competitive entry points. Assessment days include written tasks, group activities and parent interviews.
View Cranleigh Abu Dhabi profile on ISA
Language assessment, EAL and ADEK approvals
Children entering Year 3 / Grade 2 and above must sit an English language assessment, typically CAT4 or an in-house written and oral test. Schools may decline applications where English is below the year-group benchmark, or accept conditionally with an EAL programme that adds 5,000 to 12,000 AED to annual fees. ADEK approval is the final hurdle: schools cannot register a child without a valid transfer certificate from the previous UAE school or a Ministry-attested set of foreign reports.
Tuition deposits, security cheques and refunds
Once an offer is issued, families must pay a non-refundable seat-securing fee (often 5,000 to 10,000 AED) within ten working days. The balance of the first term is then due before the start of the academic year, usually backed by a security cheque or post-dated cheques covering the year's tuition. ADEK rules cap registration fees at five per cent of annual tuition, and unused deposits are refunded on a sliding scale if a family withdraws before the start of term.
Compare more Abu Dhabi schools
Browse the full curated ranking of top international schools in the United Arab Emirates on ISA, with side-by-side comparison of curriculum, fees and parent reviews.
Frequently asked questions
When should I apply to international schools in Abu Dhabi?
For an August intake, apply between October and January of the same academic year. For oversubscribed schools such as Cranleigh, Repton, BIS and Brighton College, apply twelve to eighteen months ahead, especially for Year 7 and Year 12.
What documents do I need for ADEK approval?
You need an ADEK-approved transfer certificate (for UAE transfers), the last two years of school reports translated into English, vaccination records, passport and Emirates ID copies, and an attested birth certificate if issued outside the UAE.
Are tuition deposits in Abu Dhabi refundable?
Seat-securing fees are usually non-refundable. The balance of tuition is partially refundable on a sliding scale if you withdraw before the start of term, in line with ADEK consumer-protection rules.