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Al Ain British Academy
About Al Ain British Academy
Al Ain British Academy (AABA) is a private, co-educational British curriculum school in Al Sarooj, Al Ain, and part of Aldar Education. It opened in September 2011 with 300 students, in a former government school building, and was previously known as Al Ain Academy and before that Al Ain International School. The Academy delivers the National Curriculum for England from FS1 through to Year 13, with Pearson Edexcel IGCSE and A Level examinations in the secondary school and a BTEC Sport pathway alongside them. ADEK rated the school Very Good at its November 2025 inspection, sustaining the Very Good it was given in 2021/22, and graded every leadership and management indicator Outstanding. Its February 2023 British Schools Overseas inspection found the school meets the BSO standards and judged the quality of education overall good with many outstanding features, including outstanding premises and outstanding leadership and management. The school is an ACE School of Character, the first accredited within Aldar Education.
Fees read from the school's published 2026-27 fee schedule; ADEK rating from its 2025-26 inspection report. Last checked 10 August 2026. How Talem verifies →
Annual tuition fees
Fees for 2026/2027, per year group. Excludes registration, uniform, and transport.
ADEK approved tuition for 2026/27 is unchanged from 2025/26, as published on the school's fee page. The school's own Fee Policy sets its charged fees out as a "discounted tuition fee" against the ADEK approved rate: ADEK's letter of 18 April 2026 caps fees at AED 43,330 for preschool rising to AED 64,910 for Years 10-13, and the school charges below that ceiling at every year group. Tuition excludes uniform, food services, transport, examination fees and extra-curricular activities outside school hours. Bus transport is AED 5,000 per year for a return journey, operated by Emirates Transport and subject to change pending ADEK approval. External examinations carry a 15% administration fee on top of the exam board fees. Most teacher-led extra-curricular activities are free and included in tuition; those led by external providers are paid to the provider directly. Uniforms are bought online or at Magrudy, Bawadi Mall.
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ADEK Rating
ADEK 2025–2026 inspection
Stages & pathways
Foundation Stage
FS1-FS2The Early Years Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (DfE, September 2021), across 3 prime and 4 specific areas of learning with seventeen statutory Early Learning Goals. Al Ain British Academy is the first setting in Abu Dhabi to achieve Curiosity Approach accreditation.
Primary
Years 1-6The National Curriculum for England (Key Stages 1-2), with UAE Ministry of Education Arabic, Islamic Studies and Social Studies. Modern foreign languages are taught from Year 3.
Secondary
Years 7-11Key Stage 3 covers English, Mathematics, Science, Art, Computing, Drama, Geography, History, Modern Foreign Languages, Music and Physical Education. Students then narrow their choices through a guided options process for Pearson Edexcel or AQA GCSE and iGCSE courses at Key Stage 4, taking English, Mathematics and Physical Education as core plus five option subjects. Arabic, Islamic Studies, Social Studies and Moral, Social and Cultural Studies are studied throughout as UAE Ministry of Education subjects. Nine 40-minute lessons a day.
Sixth Form
Years 12-13A Levels and International A Levels through Pearson Edexcel or AQA, selected from option blocks after university and careers discussions with staff, with a BTEC Sport vocational pathway alongside and the option of an Extended Project Qualification. Supported by a dedicated Sixth Form centre and weekly careers and university guidance lessons.
How to apply
Facilities
Science Laboratories
Specialist science laboratories, described by ADEK as well equipped and effectively used.
ICT Suites
ICT suites supporting computing across the school.
Library
A school library. ADEK notes it is functional and well resourced but cramped.
Art Studio
A specialist art studio.
Music Room
A specialist music teaching room.
Auditorium
An auditorium seating over 250, used for productions, workshops and assemblies.
Sixth Form Centre
A dedicated Sixth Form centre providing an age-appropriate independent learning space for older students.
Foundation Stage Classrooms
Large Foundation Stage classrooms with seamless access to outdoor learning spaces.
Extra-curricular activities
School leadership
Ciaran Mainstone
Principal
Principal of Al Ain British Academy. He joins from The British School of Bahrain, where he was Whole School Deputy Headteacher and part of the leadership team that achieved Outstanding outcomes in both BSO and BQA inspections. He previously held leadership roles at Dover Court International School in Singapore across curriculum, teaching and learning, student development and the IB, and began his career teaching Mathematics in the UK and leading STEM development. He is a Council of International Schools International Evaluator.
Jasmine Jones
Head of Primary
Mairead Ralph
Head of Secondary
Kimberley Ellis
Primary Assistant Principal of Teaching and Learning
Steven Drinkwater
Primary Assistant Principal for Data and Assessment
Mohammed Usman Nasir
Deputy Headteacher of Secondary (Teaching and Learning)
Harveen Strivens
Head of Sixth Form & Career Counsellor
Parent & student reviews
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Questions & answers
Where we are
Al Salam Street, Al Sarooj (Central District), PO Box 88228, Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, UAE
