WhereNext Value Score · Abu Dhabi

Best value international schools in Abu Dhabi

Updated 2026-04-26 · 85 schools scored · 85 schools indexed

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Quick answer

The WhereNext Value Score (0-100) measures what families get for what they pay — smaller class sizes, more nationality diversity, more accreditations, stronger learning support, and richer activities relative to cost. 85 international schools in Abu Dhabi are scored. Median Value Score: 58/100. Highest-scoring: Brighton College Abu Dhabi at 82/100 (tuition $12,000-$26,000 USD). This is NOT a quality ranking — it's cost-versus-features.

Key facts

85 schools scored WhereNext Value Score (0–100) — class size + nationality diversity + accreditations + learning support + activities, normalised by cost.
Median value: 58/100 the 50th-percentile school in Abu Dhabi.
Top: Brighton College Abu Dhabi 82/100 value score · $12,000–$26,000/yr tuition.
Median tuition: $10.0k/yr published tuition midpoint across 85 schools.
Methodology value = features ÷ cost · NOT a quality ranking · CC BY 4.0 underlying data.

Schools scored

Median value

58/100

Top score

82/100

Median tuition

$10.0k

Curriculum mix

IB (14)British (12)American (7)Local+English (1)German (1)Canadian (1)

Schools ranked by Value Score (highest first)

International schools in Abu Dhabi ranked by WhereNext Value Score, highest first
#	School	Curriculum	Tuition USD	True cost	Value
1	Brighton College Abu Dhabi	British, IB	$12,000-$26,000	$20,650	82/100
2	American Community School of Abu Dhabi	American, IB	$16,000-$30,000	$24,210	81/100
3	GIIS Abu Dhabi	Indian, IB	$4,000-$10,000	$8,500	80/100
4	Abu Dhabi International School	American, IB	$10,000-$22,000	$17,650	77/100
5	The British International School Abu Dhabi	British, IB	$11,000-$23,000	$18,650	77/100
6	GEMS World Academy Abu Dhabi	IB	$14,000-$26,000	$21,650	77/100
7	ADNOC Schools	IB	$6,000-$12,000	$10,500	70/100
8	Al Yasmina Academy	IB	$7,000-$14,000	$12,000	70/100
9	Abu Dhabi Grammar School (Canada)	Canadian	$8,000-$18,000	$14,500	69/100
10	The British School Al Khubairat	British	$10,000-$18,000	$15,500	69/100
11	The Spanish School Of Abu Dhabi	—	$5,000-$15,000	$11,500	68/100
12	Merryland International School	American	$5,000-$10,000	$9,000	67/100
13	Emirates National Schools — Abu Dhabi	British, Local+English	$4,500-$10,000	$8,750	66/100
14	Al Bateen Academy (SABIS)	American	$5,500-$12,000	$10,250	66/100
15	Repton Abu Dhabi	British	$12,000-$25,000	$20,150	65/100
16	Al Muna Academy	British	$6,000-$10,000	$9,500	64/100
17	Reach British School Abu Dhabi	—	$5,000-$15,000	$11,500	64/100
18	Diyafah International School Abu Dhabi	—	$5,000-$15,000	$11,500	64/100
19	Amity International School Abu Dhabi	—	$5,000-$15,000	$11,500	64/100
20	Canadian International School Abu Dhabi	—	$5,000-$15,000	$11,500	64/100
21	Al Basma British School Abu Dhabi	—	$5,000-$15,000	$11,500	64/100
22	Gems American Academy Abu Dhabi	—	$5,000-$15,000	$11,500	64/100
23	Aspen Heights British School Abu Dhabi	—	$5,000-$15,000	$11,500	64/100
24	The Pearl Academy Abu Dhabi	—	$5,000-$15,000	$11,500	63/100
25	Repton School Abu Dhabi	—	$5,000-$15,000	$11,500	63/100
26	Bateen World Academy Abu Dhabi	—	$5,000-$15,000	$11,500	63/100
27	Al Dhafra Private School Abu Dhabi	—	$5,000-$15,000	$11,500	63/100
28	Virginia International Private School Abu Dhabi	—	$5,000-$15,000	$11,500	63/100
29	Raha International School	American, IB	$13,000-$25,000	$20,650	63/100
30	American Community School of Abu Dhabi	IB, American	$56,526-$99,060	$79,223	63/100
31	American International School In Abu Dhabi	—	$5,000-$15,000	$11,500	62/100
32	Rawafid Private School	American	$4,000-$8,000	$7,500	60/100
33	Mamoura British Academy Abu Dhabi	—	$5,000-$15,000	$11,500	60/100
34	Lycee Francais International Theodore Monod Abu Dhabi	—	$5,000-$15,000	$11,500	60/100
35	Ajyal International School Abu Dhabi	—	$5,000-$15,000	$11,500	60/100
36	Al Najah Private School Abu Dhabi	—	$5,000-$15,000	$11,500	60/100
37	Good Will Children Private School Abu Dhabi	—	$5,000-$15,000	$11,500	60/100
38	Muna British Academy Abu Dhabi	—	$5,000-$15,000	$11,500	60/100
39	Belvedere British School Abu Dhabi	—	$5,000-$15,000	$11,500	60/100
40	Cranleigh Abu Dhabi	British	$13,000-$27,000	$20,880	60/100
41	Sabis International School Al Bateen Abu Dhabi	—	$5,000-$15,000	$11,500	59/100
42	International Community School Abu Dhabi	British, IB	$9,000-$20,000	$16,000	59/100
43	Raha International School - Khalifa City Campus	IB	$41,550-$65,500	$55,475	58/100
44	Nord Anglia International School Abu Dhabi	—	$5,000-$15,000	$11,500	57/100
45	Lycee Louis Massignon	French	$7,000-$16,000	$13,000	57/100
46	The British International School Abu Dhabi	IB, British	$54,204-$76,952	$67,528	57/100
47	German International School Abu Dhabi	—	$5,000-$15,000	$11,200	56/100
48	International Jubilee Private School Abu Dhabi	—	$5,000-$15,000	$11,500	56/100
49	The International School Of Choueifat Abu Dhabi Khalifa City	—	$5,000-$15,000	$11,500	55/100
50	The British School Al Khubairat	British	$45,560-$74,560	$62,010	55/100

Showing top 50 of 85 scored schools — browse all schools in Abu Dhabi.

How the Value Score works

The WhereNext Value Score starts at 50 (neutral) and adjusts across six dimensions: class size (−10 to +15), diversity (+0 to +10), accreditations (+0 to +10), learning support (+0 to +8), activities richness (+0 to +5), and a cost-tier adjustment that boosts cheaper schools and discounts premium-tier schools that don't justify their pricing through other dimensions.

Important: the Value Score is NOT a quality ranking. A school with strong educational outcomes can have a moderate Value Score if it sits in the premium tier; a smaller, cheaper school with good fundamentals can score higher on Value while still being a different fit for your family.

Read the full Value Score methodology

True annual cost in Abu Dhabi

Schools ranked by total annual cost (tuition + hidden fees) →

All schools in Abu Dhabi

85 schools — full directory and search →

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