Al Dhafra Private Schools – Abu Dhabi
Al Dhafra Private Schools – Abu Dhabi
Al Dhafra Private Schools – Abu Dhabi is a private, co-educational American-curriculum school in Mohammed Bin Zayed City, founded in 1983 and one of the emirate's longest-running American schools (it moved to its purpose-built MBZ City campus in 2012). It runs a US curriculum from Pre-KG to Grade 12, leading to the US High School Diploma (Standard and Advanced Studies) with Advanced Placement, and is a US College Board AP testing center. The school is co-educational in the early years and teaches in single-gender classes from Grade 5. Accredited by Cognia, and named a Cognia "School of Distinction" in 2024, it is rated Very Good by ADEK (2024/25), with Protection, Care, Guidance & Support rated Outstanding. It serves around 1,320 students, roughly 70% of them Emirati, and reports close to 100% university acceptance.
Fees for 2026/2027, per year group. Excludes registration, uniform, and transport.
Tuition is ADEK's approved schedule for 2026-2027. The school's own fee page still displays its 2024-2025 schedule, which ADEK has since superseded, so the regulator's current figure is used here. ADEK states these are the maximum a school may charge, so the actual bill can be lower. ADEK includes the standardized assessment fee in tuition for Grades 3 to 9. Books and uniforms are not included. The school takes no deposit - ADEK prohibits it - and any registration fee is capped at 5% of annual tuition and deducted from the tuition bill. The school publishes no discount, scholarship or refund policy.
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ADEK 2024–2025 inspection
Co-educational, American early years (US standards) with Arabic.
American elementary curriculum with UAE MoE Arabic, Islamic Studies and Social Studies. Single-gender classes begin in Grade 5.
Single-gender American middle-school programme in dedicated laboratories.
The US High School Diploma, Standard (Grade 11) and Advanced Studies (Grade 12), with Advanced Placement in Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Human Geography. SAT preparation and IELTS for all students; a US College Board AP testing center.
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Seven science laboratories across the school.
Five ICT rooms plus a 1:1 device programme (~300 iPads) and interactive whiteboards.
Separate junior and senior libraries.
Dedicated art and music facilities.
An Olympic-sized swimming pool plus a KG splash pool.
An indoor gymnasium.
A covered (shaded) outdoor sports area.
An on-campus school clinic.
Principal
Principal of Al Dhafra Private Schools – Abu Dhabi since 2019, leading the American-curriculum school through its ADEK Very Good rating and Cognia School of Distinction award.
Vice Principal / Head of Secondary
Director of Stakeholder Affairs
Deputy Head of Secondary
Head of High School
Head of Middle School
Head of Elementary School
Head of Early Years
Head of Inclusion/POD Coordinator
Head of ICT
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ME09 Mohammed Bin Zayed City, PO Box 25801, Abu Dhabi, UAE
