Abdul Rahman Kanoo International School vs Al Mahd School

	A Abdul Rahman Kanoo International School Manama, Bahrain	A Al Mahd School Manama, Bahrain
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year BHD 1,171 - 2,934	Fees / year BHD 885 - 1,960
Age range	Age range 3 - 18 years	Age range 4 - 18 years
Type	Type —	Type —
Curriculum	Curriculum British Curriculum, IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP)	Curriculum British Curriculum
Pupils	Pupils 2,200	Pupils 40
Typical class size	Typical class size —	Typical class size —
Instruction language	Instruction language English, Arabic	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened —	Opened —
Bus service	Bus service —	Bus service —
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location ARKIS is based in Salmabad, Bahrain. The Salmabad campus is a purpose-built site in the Salmabad area of Manama, along Road 408. A second ARKEDU school, ARKS Diyar, opened in Diyar Al Muharraq in 2023 to extend the network. The campuses are positioned to serve relocating families and are located within Bahrain's capital region.	Location Al Mahd School operates in the Kingdom of Bahrain with three campuses: Saar, Samaheej, and East Riffa. The Saar campus is located in Saar, the Samaheej campus serves the Samaheej area, and the Riffa campus serves the East Riffa area. The school serves over 2,800 students across these campuses.
Stages	Stages ARKIS serves Nursery through Grade 12. Preschool (Nursery to KG2), Elementary (Grades 1–5), and Secondary (Grades 6–12) are the typical divisions. The school offers Cambridge IGCSE as its senior secondary pathway and the IB Diploma Programme for the final two years of schooling.	Stages The curriculum is divided into four levels: Kindergarten (K.G. 1 and K.G. 2), Junior School (Grade 1–6) following the Cambridge International Primary Programme, Middle School (Grade 7–8) following the Cambridge Lower Secondary Programme, and Senior School (Grade 9–10) preparing students for the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE). The Junior School is described as a full-day program from 7:30 am to 2:30 pm, with the Cambridge Primary framework used to guide learning. The Cambridge Curricula link seamlessly from Primary to Lower Secondary and then to IGCSE in Senior School.
School type	School type ARKIS is a private, co-educational day school. It operates as a Bahrain-based school with no boarding facilities; the IB information confirms a day-boarding arrangement (no boarding). The site emphasizes a bilingual, international curriculum environment.	School type The school presents itself as a British-curriculum, Cambridge-based day school operating across three Bahraini campuses and offering day-boarding traditions; external directories list it as co-educational.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix ARKIS/ARKEDU report a diverse community with multiple nationalities; the network lists 28 nationalities represented. The school serves a mix of local Bahraini families and international students; however, a publicly published ratio of local to international students is not provided.	Pupil nationality mix Publicly available data do not specify nationality mix. The school serves a large, international student body across three Bahraini campuses and describes its environment as globally oriented, with over 2,800 students in total.
Additional learning support	Additional learning support ARKIS provides a School Guidance department focused on safeguarding and student well‑being, offering one-to-one and group counseling, play therapy, and wellbeing initiatives. The guidance team works with students, parents, teachers, and administration to support academic, behavioral, and social development. There is no explicitly labelled separate SEN department publicly listed.	Additional learning support Guidance and counselling services are referenced for student support. The site does not describe a dedicated SEN department or named SEN facilities, so formal special-education provisions are not specified in public pages.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation No formal country-specific affiliation is listed; the school is Bahrain-based, with country identification shown as Bahrain in IB records.	Country affiliation Country affiliation: Kingdom of Bahrain.
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation There is no formal religious affiliation noted publicly; ARKIS presents a curriculum and values framework without a religious denomination.	Religious affiliation There is no religious affiliation publicly indicated for the school.
School day structure	School day structure The school day is organized by level: Pre-School runs from approximately 7:10 to 13:00, Elementary from about 7:45 to 13:40, and Secondary from about 7:55 to 14:30. Assembly and period structure vary by level, with breaks between periods and a shorter day for pre-school. These timings are reflected in the ARKIS daily schedule.	School day structure The Junior School day runs from 7:30 am to 2:30 pm. The senior and middle school day structures are not specified in detail on the public pages.
Bus service details	Bus service details ARKIS does not provide school transport; transportation is not offered by the school. Parents typically arrange their own arrangements or use external services if desired.	Bus service details A transport service is available by arrangement for the convenience of parents; it is not an obligatory service and the school sets transport guidelines to ensure safety and timeliness. Bus numbers, schedules, and routes are managed by the school's transport policy.
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application and Registration Fees - Registration fee for new admissions: BD 150. - Seat reservation fee: BD 100 per student (paid to reserve a seat; this BD 100 is deducted from the first instalment). The BD 100 seat reservation payment is non-refundable and non-transferable to siblings. Tuition fees by year group (detailed per instalment and annual total) - Nursery / KG1 / KG2: - 1st instalment: School fees BD 571 + Other fees BD 15 (total BD 586). 1st instalment due in June 2026 for returning students. - 2nd instalment: School fees BD 570 + Other fees BD 15 (total BD 585). 2nd instalment due Jan 2027. - Annual total: BD 1,171. - Grade 1–4: - 1st instalment: School fees BD 740 + Other fees BD 15 (total BD 755). - 2nd instalment: School fees BD 739 + Other fees BD 15 (total BD 754). - Annual total: BD 1,509. - Grade 5: - 1st instalment: School fees BD 776 + Other fees BD 15 (total BD 791). - 2nd instalment: School fees BD 775 + Other fees BD 15 (total BD 790). - Annual total: BD 1,581. - Grade 6: - 1st instalment: School fees BD 922 (no other fees listed for instalments). - 2nd instalment: School fees BD 922. - Annual total: BD 1,844. - Grade 7: - 1st instalment: School fees BD 966. 2nd instalment: BD 966. Annual total BD 1,932. - Grade 8: - 1st instalment: School fees BD 1,002. 2nd instalment: BD 1,002. Annual total BD 2,004. - Grade 9 and Grade 10 (IGCSE years): - 1st instalment: School fees BD 1,172 + Other fees BD 150 (total BD 1,322). - 2nd instalment: School fees BD 1,171 + Other fees BD 150 (total BD 1,321). - Annual total: BD 2,643. Additional IGCSE exam fee (separate): BD 300. - Grade 11–12 (IB Diploma students): - 1st instalment: School fees BD 1,317 + Other fees BD 150 (total BD 1,467). - 2nd instalment: School fees BD 1,317 + Other fees BD 150 (total BD 1,467). - Annual total: BD 2,934. IB examination fee (separate): BD 300. - Additional published resource fees (annual, separate): - Educational & Technology Resource Fee (Nursery–KG2): BD 92. - Educational & Technology Resource Fee (Grade 1–12): BD 97. - Other recurring / optional published charges: - Extra-curricular activities (Nursery – Grade 5): BD 30. - IGCSE fee (Grades 9 & 10): BD 300 (exam/registration fee). IB fee (Grades 11 & 12): BD 300 (exam/registration fee). Late IGCSE/IB registration fees are borne by parents. Billing schedule and payment terms - Instalment schedule: two instalments per academic year. For Academic Year 2026–2027 the 1st instalment is payable in June 2026 and the 2nd instalment payable in January 2027. For new students the school fees are due upon admission and the 1st instalment for new admits must be paid within 10 days of receiving the school's acceptance; for returning students the 1st instalment is payable in June. Payments made after 31 January require admissions approval and seats cannot be guaranteed. - Seat reservation: BD 100 is required to reserve a seat for each student; this amount will be deducted from the first instalment payment. Seat reservation is non-refundable and non-transferable. The school may cancel seat reservations if fees are not paid in a timely manner or as agreed. Boarding fees - Boarding: Not applicable. No boarding provision or boarding fees are listed in the school's published fee information. Other costs and typical additional charges - Uniform: The school uniform is supplied through House of Uniform (uniform purchase is separate from school fees). Specific uniform prices are not published in the school fee schedule. - After-school club: Available for Preschool up to Grade 5 for an additional fee (parents should consult Accounts/Admissions for current charges). Extra-curricular activity fee listed as BD 30 (Nursery–Grade 5). - Examination and external assessment fees (IGCSE / IB): BD 300 per student for IGCSE (Grades 9–10) and BD 300 per student for IB (Grades 11–12); late registration fees are charged to parents. Refund and withdrawal policy (published conditions) - Students who withdraw before 31 August 2026: fees will be refunded after a deduction of BD 150. Withdrawals after 31 August 2026: fees are non-refundable. The BD 100 seat reservation fee is non-refundable in case of withdrawal. These dates and amounts are the published refund conditions for the 2026–2027 academic year. Fee payment options and accounts contact - Accepted payment methods: online banking via Fawateer (including BenefitPay/Fawateer) or by visiting any branch of Ahli United Bank. For account-specific instructions or to request account details contact the Accounts Department at the school's published accounts email. Notes - All figures above are published in Bahraini Dinars (BD) as presented in the school's fee schedule for Academic Year 2026–2027. The schedule includes instalment breakdowns (school fees vs other fees), additional published resource fees, and exam/assessment charges where applicable.	Fee details Application and registration fees - Registration fee (one-time, non-refundable): BD 25.000. - Annual fee (non-refundable): BD 50.000. Grade-wise fees (Textbook fee — annual; Tuition fee — monthly; Annual equivalent = monthly × 12) All figures below are in Bahraini Dinar (BD). The school publishes a separate annual Text Books Fee and a monthly Tuition Fee for each grade. The monthly tuition is payable in advance each month. The figures listed are: Text Books Fees (Annual) — Tuition Fees (Monthly) — Annual equivalent (calculated). - LKG: BD 45.000 — BD 78.500 (monthly) — Annual equivalent: BD 942.000. - HKG: BD 45.000 — BD 78.500 (monthly) — Annual equivalent: BD 942.000. - Grade I: BD 55.000 — BD 112.000 (monthly) — Annual equivalent: BD 1,344.000. - Grade II: BD 65.000 — BD 112.000 (monthly) — Annual equivalent: BD 1,344.000. - Grade III: BD 80.000 — BD 112.000 (monthly) — Annual equivalent: BD 1,344.000. - Grade IV: BD 85.000 — BD 112.000 (monthly) — Annual equivalent: BD 1,344.000. - Grade V: BD 90.000 — BD 112.000 (monthly) — Annual equivalent: BD 1,344.000. - Grade VI: BD 95.000 — BD 112.000 (monthly) — Annual equivalent: BD 1,344.000. - Grade VII: BD 105.000 — BD 149.400 (monthly) — Annual equivalent: BD 1,792.800. - Grade VIII: BD 110.000 — BD 149.400 (monthly) — Annual equivalent: BD 1,792.800. - Grade IX: BD 120.000 — BD 149.400 (monthly) — Annual equivalent: BD 1,792.800. - Grade X: BD 130.000 — BD 177.600 (monthly) — Annual equivalent: BD 2,131.200. - Grade XI: BD 130.000 — BD 177.600 (monthly) — Annual equivalent: BD 2,131.200. - Grade XII: BD 130.000 — BD 177.600 (monthly) — Annual equivalent: BD 2,131.200. Billing schedule and payment terms - Tuition fees are payable in advance on a monthly basis. Fees must be paid on or before the 10th of each month. Late fees are charged at BD 0.100 per day after the due date. If the 10th is a school holiday, late fees are applied from the 12th of the month instead of the 11th. Fees must be paid with the school fees card. - Fee collection timings at the school office: Sunday to Thursday 7:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.; Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. - If fees remain unpaid for two months, the student's name may be struck off the rolls; re-admission will be at the school's discretion and will incur a re-admission fee of BD 10 in addition to all due tuition for the months in which re-admission is sought. One month's advance notice is required to withdraw any paid facility. Boarding / residential fees - No boarding or separate residential fees are published in the school's fee schedule. The school is identified in public materials as a day/day-boarding institution, but no residential/boarding fee lines appear in the published fee structure. No specific boarding fees are listed. Other costs and miscellaneous fees - Text Books Fee (annual) is charged per grade as listed above and is separate from monthly tuition. - Uniform: Uniform must be purchased from designated suppliers; the sports uniform is provided by the school and parents are requested to deposit the uniform price at the school office with the fees. Specific uniform prices are not listed in the published fee information. - Bus: the published fee notes reference a bus fee (for example, parents proceeding on leave must pay fees for the following leave month(s) along with the bus fee), but no bus-fee tariff is published in the fee schedule. - Re-admission fee: BD 10 (charged at time of re-admission in addition to outstanding dues). Late-payment penalty: BD 0.100 per day. Refunds and cancellation - Fees once paid are not refundable. Registration and Annual fees are explicitly stated as non-refundable in the published fee schedule. Payment options and contact details - No specific payment methods (for example: credit card, bank transfer, online gateway) are published in the school's fee schedule. Published contact points for fee or finance inquiries are the campus phone numbers and the school email; parents may use those contacts for confirmation of accepted payment methods and to arrange payments. Contact details published for the school include: Saar +973 17792422; Samaheej +973 17479040; East Riffa +973 17620730; email almahdschool@gmail.com. Key enforceable points (summary) - All fees shown are in Bahraini Dinar (BD). Registration BD 25.000 and Annual Fee BD 50.000 are non-refundable. Monthly tuition is payable in advance by the 10th of each month; late fee BD 0.100 per day applies. Textbook fees are charged annually per grade as listed. Fees once paid are not refundable; failure to pay for two months may lead to removal from rolls and re-admission charges. Uniform and bus fees are charged but specific tariffs for those items are not published in the fee schedule.
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements ARKIS operates as a day school with no on-site boarding facilities. Students attend on school days and return home after classes. The International Baccalaureate record for the school lists boarding facilities as DAY.	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement The ARKIS uniform includes House T-shirts as part of the dress code. The uniform page does not provide colour details or purchasing information on the site.	Uniform requirement Uniforms are mandatory for regular days and school events and must be purchased from designated suppliers; the sports uniform is provided by the school and paid for at the office. Girls wear Summer: KG to Grade 6 grey pinafore with a light blue shirt; Grade 7 to 11 grey skirt with a light blue shirt; Winter adds a navy cardigan or blazer with the school logo. Boys wear Summer: KG to Grade 4 grey shorts with a light blue shirt; Grade 5 onward grey trousers with a light blue shirt; Winter adds a navy cardigan or blazer; plain black leather shoes are required.
Food options	Food options —	Food options The canteen operates during school hours and junk food is strictly prohibited. Parents may send light refreshments with their child, or students may purchase items from the school canteen.
House system	House system ARKIS uses a house-based system, as indicated by the inclusion of House T-shirts in the uniform. Specific house names, colours, and related activities are not detailed on the site.	House system The school uses a four-house system: Aradous, Awal, Dilmun, and Tylos. Each pupil is assigned to a House at admission, and a Champion House Trophy is awarded for inter-house competitions, academics and discipline.
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership ARKIS is part of Abdul Rahman Kanoo Education (ARKEDU), Bahrain's homegrown education group. ARKEDU is governed by a Board of Trustees and operates ARKIS and ARKS Diyar as independent schools. The ARKEDU group was founded by Abdul Rahman Kanoo, and today is led by an executive team including a Group CEO and COO.	Governance and ownership The school is privately owned. The Founder Chairman is H.E. Habib Ahmed Kassim, who chairs Al Mahd School and Al Mahd Investment Company; the leadership team includes a General Manager and a Principal. The school operates across three campuses in Saar, Samaheej and East Riffa.
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details ARKIS structures its curriculum in three stages: Key Stage 3 (Grades 6–8) with a bespoke program, Key Stage 4 (Grades 9–10) following Cambridge IGCSE, and Key Stage 5 (Grades 11–12) offering the IB Diploma Programme, with Bahraini students following the MOE curriculum for Social Studies, Citizenship and Religion. In Grades 9–10, English Language, Arabic, and Mathematics are compulsory, with a further four IGCSE subjects selected from Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Global Perspectives, Geography, ICT, Computer Science, Art & Design, Business Studies, and Economics. In Grades 11–12, students pursue the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, either the full DP or selected IB-level courses. The Elementary programme (Grades 1–5) follows Cambridge Primary for English, Mathematics and Science, supplemented by the Ministry of Education curriculum for Arabic, Islamic and Social Studies, together with Art, Music and ARKIStech. Co-curricular activities are offered weekly and include clubs such as cooking, public speaking, chess, drama and fashion design, with Art and Physical Education delivered by qualified specialists.	Curriculum details Al Mahd School in Bahrain delivers a Cambridge-based international curriculum across four stages: Kindergarten (KG 1–2), Junior School (Grade 1–6), Middle School (Grade 7–8) and Senior School (Grade 9–10). Kindergarten provides a development-oriented, activity-based program in English, Mathematics, Environmental Studies and Arabic, with continuous assessment and a pathway to the British curriculum by age five. The Junior School follows the Cambridge International Primary Programme (CIPP), focusing on Mathematics, English and Science, with external benchmarking and progression to Cambridge Checkpoint and IGCSE. The Middle School uses the Cambridge Lower Secondary Programme (Grade 7–8), designed to link with the primary programme and prepare students for Cambridge Checkpoint and IGCSE. The Senior School prepares students for IGCSE, offering Core and Extended routes and the International Certificate of Education (ICE) Diploma after seven IGCSEs, along with non-exam components in Physical Education, Religious Education and Citizenship.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression —	Higher education progression —
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented —	Gifted and talented —
Academic calendar	Academic calendar —	Academic calendar —
Wellbeing & support	Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning	Social & emotional learning ARKIS places safeguarding and student well-being at the core of its approach, with a School Guidance team spanning preschool through secondary levels to support academic, behavioral, and social development. The guidance department provides one-to-one counseling, group counseling, counseling activities, awareness campaigns, and play therapy, and collaborates with the pastoral team for behavior management. The safeguarding office hosts confidential meetings related to child protection, while space is made for therapy through a play therapy room and a Re-charge therapy room for reading, art therapy, music therapy, and group sessions. The school applies restorative approaches to behavior management in line with Ministry of Education guidelines. The Safeguarding Committee includes the School Principal and appointed safeguarding leads and staff who serve in leadership roles across the guidance and pastoral teams.	Social & emotional learning The school uses a rights-based framework in School Life that supports student welfare and personal development, including the right to education, the right to develop one's personality, and freedom from abuse. A Discipline Committee governs behaviour, and cases are handled in consultation with the parents and a counsellor, indicating access to pastoral support within the school's procedures. The site does not describe a distinct, formal SEL curriculum or dedicated SEL staff; wellbeing provisions are described in general terms within disciplinary and rights-focused guidance. Counselling is explicitly referenced as part of disciplinary processes, including students being advised to meet the counsellor in suitable cases. Overall, the school emphasizes a respectful, safe environment and personal development as core aspects of its approach to student wellbeing.
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) ARKIS publicly discloses a School Guidance service focused on safeguarding, well-being, and student development across all levels, with one-to-one and group counseling, counseling activities, awareness campaigns, play therapy, and collaboration with the pastoral team for behavior management. The safeguarding office and therapy spaces exist to support student welfare. The school does not publicly disclose a dedicated SEN department, specific SEN categories it can support, or whether it is a specialist SEN institution. A restorative disciplinary approach is described as part of the student conduct framework in line with Ministry of Education guidelines. Overall, SEN-specific provisions are not explicitly detailed beyond the guidance and pastoral support described.	Special educational needs (SEN) The school does not publicly disclose information regarding SEN provision, staff, or facilities. There is no described SEN department or specialist SEN institution on the publicly accessible pages. The curriculum page notes that the programme is suitable for learners who are not native English speakers, indicating language support is integrated for non-native English speakers rather than a separate SEN service. There is no explicit detail about which specific SEN needs the school can support. Based on available information, formal SEN specifics are not publicly disclosed by the school.
English as an additional language	English as an additional language ARKIS operates a bilingual program with English as the language of instruction and a strong foundation in Arabic language and culture. The International Baccalaureate profile lists English as the language of instruction for the school. Specific English as an Additional Language (EAL) provisions are not publicly disclosed by the school. The bilingual approach implies language support considerations, but explicit EAL programme details and staff are not stated in public materials.	English as an additional language The curriculum page states that the programme is designed to meet the needs of learners who are not native English speakers, indicating language support is considered within general programming rather than a separate EAL department. No dedicated EAL program or staff are described beyond this language-skill accommodation. The school presents itself as accessible to students of various nationalities and backgrounds, with an emphasis on supporting non-native English speakers within IGCSE planning. There is no additional information about specific EAL courses, tutoring, or language levels published publicly. The available evidence suggests embedded language support rather than a standalone EAL program.
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing Mental wellbeing is supported through the School Guidance service, which offers one-to-one and group counseling, counseling activities, and awareness campaigns. Play therapy is provided, with a dedicated play therapy room to support younger students and a Re-charge therapy room for reading, art therapy, music therapy, and focused group sessions for older students. The guidance team works with the pastoral staff to address wellbeing and behaviour issues, using restorative approaches when appropriate. School leadership and safeguarding staff oversee wellbeing initiatives as part of a holistic student support framework.	Mental wellbeing Mental wellbeing is not described as a separate, formal programme. The rights-based guidance includes protection from physical and mental abuse, indicating a safeguarding-oriented environment for emotional safety. The presence of a counsellor within disciplinary procedures implies access to emotional support for students when needed. There are no publicly documented mindfulness or dedicated wellbeing initiatives beyond these references. Overall, mental wellbeing appears to be addressed within general pastoral and safeguarding-oriented structures rather than via a standalone mental health programme.
Safeguarding	Safeguarding ARKIS has a safeguarding office for confidential child-protection meetings and a dedicated play therapy room and Re-charge therapy room as part of safeguarding and wellbeing provision. The Safeguarding Committee includes Kate Moskwa (School Principal) and safeguarding leads such as Huda Aljamri and Fadhel Mansoor, Reshmi Nair, Leon Shadbolt, Zoea Khurshid, Afaf Salmeen, and Zainab Yousuf, reflecting formal leadership in safeguarding. The safeguarding framework coordinates with counseling, pastoral care, and behavior management to protect students and promote safe school life. The school emphasizes restorative disciplinary practices in alignment with Ministry of Education guidelines.	Safeguarding Safeguarding is reflected in the rights-based School Life guidance, which protects students' safety and freedom from abuse. The disciplinary framework notes that serious cases may involve consultation with the counsellor, illustrating an embedded safeguarding-support mechanism within student conduct processes. No separate, formal safeguarding policy or designated safeguarding lead is described in publicly accessible pages. The school emphasizes a safe and respectful environment, with procedural support for student welfare through counselling as part of disciplinary actions. Based on current publicly available information, explicit safeguarding policy details beyond rights and counselling involvement are not disclosed.
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview ARKIS has Preschool, Elementary, and Secondary divisions on a single campus. Facilities include Main Gate, Reception, Pre-School Playing Area, Science Labs, ICT Labs, Clinic, Library, Art Room and Auditorium. Classrooms support learning across the divisions. Outdoor facilities include a Playground, Football Pitch and Sports Hall.	Facilities overview Al Mahd School operates three campuses in Saar, Samaheej, and East Riffa in the Kingdom of Bahrain. It began in October 1997 with 40 students and now serves over 2800 students. Cambridge International Examinations International Center Status was awarded in 2004. The school has modern facilities including science laboratories and audio-visual rooms to support its learning programs. It follows an international Cambridge based curriculum across all key stages.
Sports facilities	Sports facilities Football Pitch and Sports Hall are available on campus for sports activities.	Sports facilities Sports Day is part of school life, with annual events such as Sports Day and talent showcases. The school introduces a day boarding approach to support teaching and learning in an international setting. The school emphasizes physical education as a core element of student life.
Academic facilities	Academic facilities Classrooms support learning across the school. Science Labs support science education and ICT Labs support technology learning. Library supports reading and research. Art Room supports creative subjects and the Auditorium hosts assemblies and performances.	Academic facilities The school follows an international Cambridge based curriculum across all levels. Kindergarten uses a development oriented international program with English, Mathematics, Arabic, Environmental Studies and other activities and prepares children to progress to the British curriculum by age five. The Junior School (Grade 1 6) follows the Cambridge International Primary Programme, with progression to Cambridge Checkpoint and IGCSE and structured reporting. The Middle School (Grade 7 8) follows the Cambridge Lower Secondary Programme, linking to the Primary Programme and preparing for IGCSE with Cambridge Checkpoint assessments. The Senior School (Grade 9 10) prepares students for IGCSE and ICE, offering Core and Extended options and non exam courses in Physical Education, Religious Education and Citizenship; entry to IGCSE is by subject, with the ICE diploma awarded for seven subjects.
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities Co-curricular activities include cooking, arts & crafts, public speaking, chess, entrepreneurship, drama and fashion design. Each week, all students have one hour devoted to CCAs. CCAs are not formally assessed and do not count toward GPA, but they contribute to personal growth and university applications.	Extra curricular facilities The school delivers a Global Learning Environment with a focus on personalised learning, a well structured curriculum, and modern facilities. Students participate in numerous trips and visits as part of the learning experience. There is a strong emphasis on values and traditions as part of the day boarding approach. Annual events include Annual Day celebrations and talent showcases, and activities such as sports days are highlighted as part of school life.
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History ARKIS was established in 1997 in Manama by Abdul Rahman Kanoo. In 2004, it moved to a purpose-built campus in Salmabad. In 2006, ARKIS was certified as a Cambridge International Examinations centre, and in 2013 it earned accreditation from the Council of International Schools (CIS) and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). The school opened a second standalone campus, Abdul Rahman Kanoo School Diyar (ARKS Diyar), in 2023 to extend its reach within Bahrain. ARKIS celebrated 25 years of education in 2022.	History Al Mahd School began in October 1997 with 40 students and two villas. Today it operates three full-fledged campuses in Saar, Samaheej and East Riffa and serves over 2,800 students. In 2004, Cambridge International Examinations awarded the school International Center Status, reflecting quality teaching and high administrative standards. The aim of education is to promote balanced development through a well-structured curriculum and a healthy environment. The leadership includes Founder Chairman H.E. Habib Ahmed Kassim and Managing Director H. G. Sharma, with current leadership comprising Chairperson H.E. Leena Kassim, General Manager Rajiv Gautam, and Principal Anshu Gautam.
Community	Community ARKIS serves a diverse community with representation from 28 nationalities and more than 2,500 students supported by over 250 staff across ARKIS and ARKS Diyar. The community includes language and cultural programs, such as a Mandarin language offering at ARKS Diyar, reflecting partnerships and global-minded learning. The school hosts cultural and national events, including Bahrain National Day celebrations at ARKS Diyar. ARKIS also runs ARKISMUN, an annual Model United Nations conference that engages students from Bahrain and beyond.	Community The school operates across three Bahrain campuses—Saar, Samaheej, and East Riffa—and serves a large student community. It promotes a global learning environment with opportunities for student trips and visits. The school highlights student achievements through events such as Celebrating our students, Celebrating talent, and Sports Day. It also hosts the Annual Day as part of its cultural calendar.
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association Abdul Rahman Kanoo International School maintains a Parent Teacher Association (PTA) formed every two years, comprising nine parent representatives and five ARKIS staff members, including the Principal. The PTA's mandate is to strengthen home–school links and support the school's development by sponsoring cultural, social, educational and sports activities, with a focus on improving the school environment through volunteer work. It provides a platform for two-way communication, sharing feedback and input to inform school programmes, while not being a decision-making body. PTA officers include Nawaf Saeed (President), Mohammad Swalheen (Vice President), Hind Kamal (Treasurer), Dr. Rafa Haddad, Fatema Ali, Yousria Alnoaimi, Nader Alshirawi, Yusuf Matar, Sawsan Asaad, Henley Aspril, Maged Nawar, Seham Sharif, and Fatema Mohamed (Secretary). The Terms of Reference for 2023–2025 govern the PTA's operations.	Parent teacher association A formal Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) is not described on the site. Parent involvement is described through the 'Parent Guide' section, which outlines school life rights and disciplinary procedures. Parents seeking admissions can register their interest via the 'Register interest' button. Public events such as Sports Day and Annual Day involve the school community and families. Leadership biographies show ongoing governance engagement with families; the Founder Chairman and the current leadership are listed, including Chairperson H.E. Leena Kassim and General Manager Rajiv Gautam. Therefore, PTA specifics are not published; parental engagement occurs through events and governance pages.
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual The school combines Cambridge International curricula with the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, and provides bilingual instruction with a strong foundation in Arabic language and culture. Self development is supported through project-based learning in Elementary and inquiry-based learning in Secondary. The Cambridge programme includes IPC in Elementary and CLSP in Middle, leading to IGCSE in Grades 9–10. The IB Diploma Programme is taught in Grades 11–12 and includes TOK, EE, and CAS components.	Academic & intellectual Al Mahd School follows an international Cambridge-based curriculum across its divisions. Kindergarten uses a development-oriented international curriculum and prepares children to progress to the British curriculum at age five, with English, Mathematics, Environmental Studies and Arabic as core subjects. The Junior School (Grade 1–6) follows the Cambridge International Primary Programme (CIPP), with a structured program that supports progression to Cambridge Checkpoint and IGCSE. The Middle School (Grade 7–8) follows the Cambridge Lower Secondary Programme, and the Senior School (Grade 9–10) prepares students for IGCSE with Core and Extended options and the International Certificate of Education (ICE), laying groundwork for higher-level programmes such as AP, IB or A‑levels. The school began in 1997 and now operates on three campuses, with Cambridge International Examinations awarding International Center Status in 2004.
Arts & creative	Arts & creative Arts and cultural events are part of school life, including a Cultural Fashion Show and a Winter Show. A Variety Show also features in the annual calendar.	Arts & creative Kindergarten emphasizes creative development through art, music and imaginative activities; teachers provide opportunities for drawing, painting, collage and expressive play. The curriculum supports creative exploration alongside core academics, with Art and Music integrated into daily learning. The school also highlights performance and talent events as part of its culture, including annual celebrations and student showcases.
Cultural & language	Cultural & language The school provides bilingual education, combining Cambridge and IB curricula with a strong foundation in Arabic language and culture. Arabic language and cultural education are integral to the program.	Cultural & language English and Arabic are core components of the early curriculum, with English, Mathematics, Environmental Studies and Arabic listed in Kindergarten. The program progression towards the British curriculum from early years indicates English as a primary medium of instruction and Arabic as a structured language strand. Across the Cambridge stages, the curriculum emphasizes English-language learning and supports multilingual development where appropriate.
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies Pre-School Clubs and Elementary CCA Clubs are available.	Social & hobbies The school emphasizes a broad learning environment that includes extra-curricular activities, with extended hours for additional classes and activities under teacher supervision in the Junior School. It promotes a globally oriented learning environment featuring student trips and visits to complement classroom learning. The campus culture includes events such as Sports Day and Annual Day, reflecting a holistic approach to student life.
Community & service	Community & service Beyond ARKIS includes Community Service programs.	Community & service The mission centers on developing model citizens who know how to use knowledge for the benefit of the community and humanity, guiding education toward social responsibility. The school's stated aim emphasizes personality development, character, and skills as part of a well-rounded education.
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional Student leadership opportunities include a Student Council, ARKIS Talks, CAS projects, and community service programmes. University and Career Guidance Pathways support graduates.	Leadership & professional The school maintains a formal leadership team including H.E. Leena Kassim as Chairperson, Rajiv Gautam as General Manager, and Anshu Gautam as Principal. This leadership is complemented by other senior operational leaders and a defined management structure.
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing The school emphasizes student well-being, happiness, and character development as part of its holistic approach.	Lifestyle & wellbeing The environment is described as healthy with modern facilities designed to support learning and exploration. The school operates across three campuses and emphasizes a safe, well-resourced environment for students, including day-boarding options and opportunities for outdoor and co-curricular activities.
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision Preschool, Elementary, and Secondary levels are taught in a bilingual environment, combining English-language curricula with Arabic language and cultural instruction.	Language provision An international curriculum is followed, and Cambridge International Examinations has International Center Status since 2004. Kindergarten 1–2 uses a development-oriented, activity-based program with English, Mathematics, Environmental Studies and Arabic, and prepares children to progress to the British curriculum at age five. Senior School (Grade 9–10) prepares students for the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE), with ICE as the group examination; IGCSE is internationally recognized and forms a pathway to higher-level programs. Admission requires English communication at entry; for all non-KG1 entrants, admission is based on an entrance test in English, Arabic, Mathematics and Science.
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching ARKIS offers a bilingual education with a strong foundation in Arabic language and culture.	Bilingual teaching —
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards null	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations Ark Edu Bahrain	Accreditations The school is located in the Kingdom of Bahrain and was established in 1997. It began in October 1997 with 40 students and now operates three full-fledged campuses in Saar, Samaheej and East Riffa, with over 2800 students. The school was awarded Cambridge International Examinations International Center Status in 2004.
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions —	Admissions Admission Procedure: Registration and admission for the academic year starting in September opens in April of each year. The minimum permissible age for Kindergarten 1 is four (4) years old on or before 1st December. There is no placement assessment test for children enrolling in Kindergarten 1. For all other classes admission is granted on the basis of an entrance test in English, Arabic, Mathematics, and Science. The school requires that on entry children should be able to communicate in English at a level appropriate to their age and development. If English is not a child's first language it will be necessary for the school to assess the child's ability in English. Acceptance will depend on the result of the placement assessment test and existing vacancies. Application/Admittance Requirements: Completion of a School Application Form. The child's name must be the same as per the birth certificate or passport. Recent passport size photographs. A copy of passport, with valid dates. A copy of the child's birth certificate and CPR. Original transfer certificate or school leaving certificate from the previous school. (This must be attested by the Ministry of Education if transferred from a school outside Bahrain) Two copies of last school report and examination results or school recommendation letter. Copy of Medical certificate or Immunization Card for Kindergartens 1 and 2. Parents those who are looking for new admissions can register their interest by clicking the button Register interest. Fee Structure: The fees for academic year 2024-2025 are as follows. Common Annual Fees: Registration Fee (One Time only) 25.000 (Non-refundable); Annual Fee 50.000 (Non-refundable). Gradewise Fees (Non-refundable): Grades Text Books Fees (Annual) Tuition Fees (Monthly) LKG 45.000 78.500; HKG 45.000 78.500; I 55.000 112.000; II 65.000 112.000; III 80.000 112.000; IV 85.000 112.000; V 90.000 112.000; VI 95.000 112.000; VII 105.000 149.400; VIII 110.000 149.400; IX 120.000 149.400; X 130.000 177.600; XI 130.000 177.600; XII 130.000 177.600. All figures are in Bahraini Dinar. Notes: 1. Fees once paid are not refundable. 2. Small children and unauthorized persons should not be entrusted with payment of fees. 3. Parents proceeding on long leave or vacation are requested to pay fees for the following leave month(s) along with bus fee, before they proceed. 4. In case the fees are not received for a period of two months, the name of such student will be struck off the rolls and he/she shall have to seek re-admission, which will be decided on merit. At the time of re-admission all due s and re-admission fee of BD. 10/- will be charged in addition to tuition fees for the months in which re -admission is sought. 5. Fees will not be accepted without fees card and parents are requested to check the entries from time to time. 6. One month advance notice is required to withdraw facility, if any. Fee Collection Timings: Sunday to Thursday 7.15 a.m to 1.30 p.m; Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Scholarships	Scholarships In 2010, Abdul Rahman Kanoo International School (ARKIS) announced the Abdulrahman Kanoo Award scholarship to inspire students toward high academic and social achievement by granting scholarships to study abroad in reputed universities.	Scholarships —
Waitlist	Waitlist —	Waitlist —
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