Summit International School
About Summit International School
Summit International School (Summit International Schools) is a private American-curriculum school in Madinat Al Zayed, Al Danah, in Abu Dhabi city. It opened in August 2013 and teaches KG1 to Grade 12: English and mathematics follow the California Common Core and science the Next Generation Science Standards, while Arabic, Islamic Education, Moral Education and UAE social studies follow the Ministry of Education curriculum. Kindergarten is taught through a learn-through-play programme. Boys and girls learn together from KG to Grade 4 and in separate classes from Grade 5 to Grade 12. High school students work towards the school's High School Diploma, which meets California's and the UAE Ministry of Education's graduation requirements, and can take Advanced Placement courses. ADEK rated the school Very Good at its February 2025 inspection, up from Good, with English and mathematics Very Good in every phase, and the school is accredited by the Middle States Association (MSA-CESS). Its campus, opened in 2020, has an indoor 25 m swimming pool, a gymnasium, an auditorium and science laboratories.
Fees read from the school's published 2026-27 fee schedule; ADEK rating from its 2024-25 inspection report. Last checked 19 October 2026. How Talem verifies →
Annual tuition fees
Fees for 2026/2027, per year group. Excludes registration, uniform, and transport.
ADEK's approved tuition for 2026-2027 is the most the school may charge, and the school's 2026-27 fee sheet bills less: every kindergarten child pays a discounted fee, AED 23,500 in KG1 and AED 24,500 in KG2, and from Grade 1 a single student pays 5% below ADEK's figure and siblings 10% below: AED 28,424 (Grade 1) to AED 36,699 (Grades 10 to 12) for one child, AED 26,928 to AED 34,768 for siblings. From Grade 1 a further 2% applies when the year is paid in one payment. The AED 1,000 registration fee is the first part of that fee, not an extra charge. Books (none in kindergarten; AED 1,200 to 2,200 from Grade 1), uniform (AED 680) and the bus (AED 5,000) are charged separately.
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ADEK Rating
ADEK 2024–2025 inspection
Stages & pathways
Kindergarten
KG1-KG2KG1 and KG2 follow an early childhood "learn through play" curriculum aligned with the California Common Core, and children start using Chromebooks in KG1 (the school's About and KG curriculum pages). ADEK rated English, mathematics and learning skills Very Good and science Good in KG at its February 2025 inspection. Kindergarten classes are co-educational (the school's About page).
Elementary
Grades 1-5Elementary runs from Grade 1 to Grade 5 and follows the California Common Core for English, mathematics, English social studies, health and PE, visual arts, music and ICT, the Next Generation Science Standards for science, and the Ministry of Education curriculum, guided by ADEK, for Moral Education, Arabic, Islamic Education and Arabic social studies (the school's elementary curriculum page). Classes are co-educational to Grade 4 and separate for boys and girls from Grade 5 (the school's About page). Students sit NWEA MAP tests from Grade 1 and the IBT Arabic test from Grade 3 (the school's 2026-27 assessment calendar).
Middle School
Grades 6-8The Middle School cycle covers Grades 6 to 8 (the school's 2026-27 assessment weightings). It follows the California Common Core, aligned with the Ministry of Education's cycle 2 requirements, with an emphasis on English, Arabic, Islamic Education, mathematics, science, technology and humanities (the school's middle school page). Boys and girls are taught in separate classes from Grade 5 (the school's About page).
High School
Grades 9-12Four High School years lead to the school's High School Diploma, which meets both the California and the UAE Ministry of Education graduation requirements: 25 credits and at least 40 volunteer hours (the school's High School Profile 2023-24). Students follow an Advanced or a General mathematics pathway and choose electives such as robotics, design and technology, introduction to engineering, entrepreneurship and computer science (the school's course catalog and High School pathway page). The College Board authorised seven Advanced Placement courses at the school for 2025-26, and students sit the PSAT in Grade 10 and the SAT (the school's 2026-27 assessment calendar).
How to apply
Facilities
Science Laboratories
Chemistry, biology and physics laboratories (the school's facilities page); ADEK's February 2025 report notes that laboratory chemical disposal is managed well.
Library and E-Library
A library with about 6,000 English and 2,000 Arabic books, in print and electronic form, quiet reading and group spaces and a reading tent for the youngest students (ADEK's February 2025 report).
Art Studio
A visual arts studio (the school's facilities page; an art room is marked on the 2024 fire evacuation plan).
Auditorium
An auditorium for assemblies, sessions and performances (the school's facilities page and 2024 fire evacuation plan).
Indoor Swimming Pool
An indoor pool 25 m long and 12 m wide, 80 to 160 cm deep (the school's 2024 fire evacuation plan); swimming lessons are part of PE (the school's Student Code of Conduct 2026-2027).
Gymnasium and Fitness Room
A multi-use gymnasium in the sports and gym block (the school's About page and 2024 fire evacuation plan) and a fitness room with weight machines (the school's facilities page).
Courts and Fields
Multi-use courts and fields, indoor and outdoor, with locker rooms (the school's facilities page).
Kindergarten Play Areas
Separate play centres and outdoor learning spaces for the youngest students (ADEK's February 2025 report).
Extra-curricular activities
School leadership
Mr. Andy Smyllie
Principal
Principal (the school's Administration Team page, August 2026), with more than 25 years of school leadership in the UK and the UAE. Deputy Child Protection Coordinator on the school's 2026-27 safeguarding team.
Dr. Stephen Appea
Vice Principal and Head of Secondary
Ms. Kimberly Barker
KG & Elementary Coordinator
Ms. Ayat
Middle & High School Arabic Coordinator
Ms. Hadeel Younis
Elementary Arabic Coordinator
Mr. Gul Khan
Pastoral Care Coordinator
Parent & student reviews
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Questions & answers
Where we are
Sector 4, Street 19, Madinat Al Zayed (Al Danah), PO Box 28485, Abu Dhabi, UAE
