Abu Dhabi International School - MBZ vs Summit International School

	A Abu Dhabi International School - MBZ Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates	S Summit International School Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year AED 26,275 - 51,850	Fees / year AED 23,000 - 38,126
Age range	Age range 3 - 18 years	Age range 4 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum American Curriculum, Advanced Placement (AP), British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International AS Levels, Cambridge A Levels, IB (DP)	Curriculum American Curriculum
Pupils	Pupils 3,500	Pupils 1,740
Typical class size	Typical class size 22	Typical class size 22
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened 1992	Opened —
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service Yes
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location —	Location Sector-4, Street 19 in the Madinat Al Zayed Gold Souk & Post Office area, Abu Dhabi. The school sits in a central area of Abu Dhabi City. It comprises four buildings and includes a swimming pool, segregated play areas, a multi-use gymnasium and theater.
Stages	Stages —	Stages KG1 to Grade 12. KG1 and KG2 follow an Early Childhood 'learn through play' approach. From KG1-12 the curriculum is aligned with the California Common Core; Grades K-4 are co-educational and Grades 5-12 are gender-separated.
School type	School type —	School type American-curriculum international school. It is co-educational in K-4 and gender-separated in grades 5-12.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix The student body includes 1,740 students representing 51 countries. The school describes a diverse mix of Middle Eastern, Asian, Pacific Rim, and Slavic expatriates.
Additional learning support	Additional learning support —	Additional learning support The Learning Support Department uses a whole-school approach to identify, plan for, implement, and monitor plans to meet the independent needs for specific learning difficulties or disabilities. It provides learning strategies to access the curriculum and collaborates with families to provide home strategies.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation —	Country affiliation United States – the school uses an American curriculum aligned with California Common Core.
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation —	Religious affiliation No religious affiliation is stated.
School day structure	School day structure —	School day structure The school day typically starts at 7:30 a.m. and ends around 2:30 p.m. on most weekdays; Friday hours vary and may be shorter (some listings show a half-day or different times). The campus has a canteen where students can buy lunch.
Bus service details	Bus service details —	Bus service details The school provides a bus service via a contract with Seven Stars Transportation Company, delivering air-conditioned transport to various parts of Abu Dhabi. Registration is through sevenstarsschoolbus.com. The Bus Coordinator is Ms. Ariane Joy (sis@sevenstars.ae) and the main contact number is +971 2 671 3131 ext. 201-207-206.
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details —	Fee details Application / registration fee - Registration fee (per student): AED 1,000. Tuition fees by year group (per term and annual totals, Academic Year 2025–26 — amounts in AED) Note: the published fee schedule presents per-term instalments and the corresponding annual totals. Two columns of per-term figures are shown in the school's term schedule (the second set shows the reduced instalment amounts that appear alongside the standard instalments in the published table). The figures below list the primary per-term instalments (left-hand set in the term schedule) and the computed annual tuition (sum of the three term instalments). Registration fee (AED 1,000) is stated separately above. - KG1: Term 1 AED 7,400; Term 2 AED 7,300; Term 3 AED 7,300. Annual tuition (sum of terms) AED 22,000; total including registration AED 23,000. Books AED 0; uniform AED 680; school bus (annual) AED 5,000. - KG2: Term 1 AED 7,800; Term 2 AED 7,600; Term 3 AED 7,600. Annual tuition AED 23,000; total including registration AED 24,000. Books AED 0; uniform AED 680; bus AED 5,000. - Grade 1: Term 1 AED 8,895; Term 2 AED 8,965; Term 3 AED 8,965. Annual tuition AED 26,825; total including registration AED 27,825. Books AED 1,200; uniform AED 680; bus AED 5,000. - Grade 2: Term 1 AED 8,895; Term 2 AED 8,965; Term 3 AED 8,965. Annual tuition AED 26,825; total including registration AED 27,825. Books AED 1,200; uniform AED 680; bus AED 5,000. - Grade 3: Term 1 AED 9,634; Term 2 AED 9,707; Term 3 AED 9,707. Annual tuition AED 29,048; total including registration AED 30,048. Books AED 1,400; uniform AED 680; bus AED 5,000. - Grade 4: Term 1 AED 9,634; Term 2 AED 9,707; Term 3 AED 9,707. Annual tuition AED 29,048; total including registration AED 30,048. Books AED 1,400; uniform AED 680; bus AED 5,000. - Grade 5: Term 1 AED 10,549; Term 2 AED 10,617; Term 3 AED 10,617. Annual tuition AED 31,783; total including registration AED 32,783. Books AED 1,600; uniform AED 680; bus AED 5,000. - Grade 6: Term 1 AED 10,549; Term 2 AED 10,617; Term 3 AED 10,617. Annual tuition AED 31,783; total including registration AED 32,783. Books AED 1,600; uniform AED 680; bus AED 5,000. - Grade 7: Term 1 AED 10,549; Term 2 AED 10,617; Term 3 AED 10,617. Annual tuition AED 31,783; total including registration AED 32,783. Books AED 1,800; uniform AED 680; bus AED 5,000. - Grade 8: Term 1 AED 10,549; Term 2 AED 10,617; Term 3 AED 10,617. Annual tuition AED 31,783; total including registration AED 32,783. Books AED 1,800; uniform AED 680; bus AED 5,000. - Grade 9: Term 1 AED 11,090; Term 2 AED 11,160; Term 3 AED 11,160. Annual tuition AED 33,410; total including registration AED 34,410. Books AED 2,000; uniform AED 680; bus AED 5,000. - Grade 10: Term 1 AED 11,592; Term 2 AED 11,667; Term 3 AED 11,667. Annual tuition AED 34,926; total including registration AED 35,926. Books AED 2,000; uniform AED 680; bus AED 5,000. - Grade 11: Term 1 AED 11,592; Term 2 AED 11,667; Term 3 AED 11,667. Annual tuition AED 34,926; total including registration AED 35,926. Books AED 2,200; uniform AED 680; bus AED 5,000. - Grade 12: Term 1 AED 11,592; Term 2 AED 11,667; Term 3 AED 11,667. Annual tuition AED 34,926; total including registration AED 35,926. Books AED 2,200; uniform AED 680; bus AED 5,000. Billing schedule and payment terms - Tuition is scheduled to be payable in three instalments (payments at the beginning of each term). Bus fees are required at the beginning of the school year. The published fee notes state the three-term billing arrangement and that bus fees should be paid at the start of the year. - Discount policy: Grade 1 and above: a one‑student discount is applied (published schedule shows a 7% discount category) and a siblings' discount is published (11%); an additional 2% discount is noted for a single full-year one‑time payment. Kindergarten students are subject to a special kindergarten discount as indicated in the published notes. Boarding fees - Boarding is not offered at the school; boarding fees are not applicable. Summit International School operates KG–Grade 12 as a day school (no dormitory/boarding provision is published). Other costs and routine extras - Books / resources: grade-dependent book/resource fees are published alongside the fee schedule (examples: Books range from AED 0 for KG to AED 2,200 for Grades 11–12). Uniform: AED 680 (published as the uniform amount in the schedule). School bus: AED 5,000 (annual, published). External exam and standardized test fees are listed separately (IELTS, SAT, ACT, AP etc. — individual exam charges apply as published). Refund information - The published fee schedule and parent handbook set out billing instalments and registration requirements but do not present a separate universal tuition‑refund table in the fee schedule itself; fee refunds and related arrangements are subject to the school's policies and ADEK (Abu Dhabi education authority) regulations as applicable. The school's policy documents reference registration and enrolment procedures and ADEK approval of the fee schedule. Parents should note that discounts and timing (e.g., the additional 2% for one‑time payment) are explicitly set out in the published fee documentation. Fee payment options (typical channels and context) - The school's published fee documents show the amounts, billing schedule and ADEK approval. Common payment channels used by schools in Abu Dhabi include bank transfer (IBAN), debit/credit card, cash and cheques; these payment channels are widely used across UAE schools and are the typical mechanisms applied by school finance offices. The school's fee documents do not list a detailed, itemised list of payment methods in the public fee schedule; payments are administered by the school accounts/finance office. External examinations and standardized test fees - External exam fees (published separately) include standard charges for IELTS, SAT, ACT, AP and related optional/add‑on fees; the school's external‑exam fee overview lists those exam core fees and common add‑ons. Example entries from the school's published external exam list: IELTS (approx AED 1,470), SAT and ACT international fees and AP exam fees — see the external exam schedule for the full list of tests and charges.
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements —	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement —	Uniform requirement —
Food options	Food options —	Food options —
House system	House system —	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership —	Governance and ownership —
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details —	Curriculum details Summit International School Abu Dhabi offers a North American curriculum aligned with the California Common Core from kindergarten through high school, delivered via a blended learning approach that uses online platforms and individualized learning paths supported by adaptive software and Chromebooks. Elementary School (Grades 1–5) follows California Common Core for English, Mathematics, English Social Studies, Health and Physical Education, Visual Arts, Music, and ICT; Science is guided by Next Generation Science Standards, while Moral Education, Arabic, Islamic Studies and Arabic Social Studies align with MOE guidelines under ADEK oversight, with alignment to UAE MOE Cycle 1 and adaptive software to meet grade-level progress. Middle School Curriculum follows California Common Core and is aligned with UAE MOE Cycle 2 requirements to prepare students for High School, with emphasis on English, Arabic, Islamic, Mathematics, Science, Technology, and Humanities; after three years of individualized learning, students complete Middle School. High School Curriculum follows California Common Core with four years of individualized learning; graduates meet California graduation requirements and UAE MOE graduation requirements, and are prepared for exams and postsecondary tests such as PISA, PSAT, AP, ACT, and SAT, with emphasis on Mathematics, Science, Entrepreneurship, Technology and Humanities. The school operates with co-educational classes in KG-4 and gender-separated classes in grades 5-12, and employs a blended learning ecosystem across all stages.
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 —	Social & emotional learning —
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) —	Special educational needs (SEN) —
English as an additional language	English as an additional language —	English as an additional language —
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing —	Mental wellbeing —
Safeguarding	Safeguarding —	Safeguarding —
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview —	Facilities overview —
Sports facilities	Sports facilities —	Sports facilities —
Academic facilities	Academic facilities —	Academic facilities —
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities —	Extra curricular facilities —
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History —	History —
Community	Community —	Community —
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association —	Parent teacher association —
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual —	Academic & intellectual —
Arts & creative	Arts & creative —	Arts & creative —
Cultural & language	Cultural & language —	Cultural & language —
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies —	Social & hobbies —
Community & service	Community & service —	Community & service —
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional —	Leadership & professional —
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing —	Lifestyle & wellbeing —
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision —	Language provision —
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching —	Bilingual teaching —
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations —	Accreditations —
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions —	Admissions 1. Prospective parents and students are encouraged to tour Summit International School, and an appointment must be made. 2. During the tour, a school representative will show facilities and discuss documents required, year/age requirements, fee structure, and school policies. 3. Priority is given to students who have a sibling at the school. 4. The school is located in Abu Dhabi at Sector-4, Street 19 in the Madinat Al Zayed Gold Souk & Post Office area.
Scholarships	Scholarships —	Scholarships —
Waitlist	Waitlist —	Waitlist A waitlist exists, when a space becomes available from the waitlist, the admissions team will contact families to arrange an assessment/interview.
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