United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi
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Cranleigh Abu Dhabi has 2,212 pupils, instruction in English.
Cranleigh Abu Dhabi is located on Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi, in the cultural district near Manarat Al Saadiyat. The campus sits on a purpose-built site with good access to Saadiyat Island's roads and facilities. The location places the school close to Abu Dhabi's museums and cultural precincts.
The school follows the British National Curriculum from FS1 to Year 13, covering early years through to the sixth form. Students ordinarily take IGCSE in the middle years and proceed to A Levels or equivalent in the senior years.
Cranleigh Abu Dhabi is a co-educational day school and does not currently offer boarding facilities. An extended day is available, allowing students to participate in activities beyond the core lessons.
The school represents a large international community, with more than 65 nationalities; the most represented nationality is British, and local students make up around 20% of the student body.
The school provides English as an Additional Language (EAL) support and has a Learning Support framework. EAL is delivered at multiple levels (whole-school provision, in-class support, and small-group or 1:1 intervention), and SEN provisions are available where needed.
The school is affiliated with Cranleigh School in the United Kingdom and operates as part of the Cranleigh international network.
There is no formal religious affiliation stated for the school, reflecting its diverse international community.
The core school day runs from around 7:30 am to 3:30 pm. The extended day option extends activities until about 6:00–6:30 pm, depending on after-school commitments.
A bus service is provided by a contracted operator, with the school coordinating transport for students. There have been occasions of bus shortages affecting after-school activities, prompting communications to parents about service availability.
Annual tuition at Cranleigh Abu Dhabi ranges from AED 69,670 to AED 103,260 for 2026/27.
Cranleigh Abu Dhabi teaches British Curriculum for students aged 3 to 18.
Cranleigh Abu Dhabi follows the English National Curriculum, with the Early Years Foundation Stage (FS1–FS2) in Pre-Prep and the National Curriculum as the foundation for all later years, extended to meet local needs. The school is structured into Pre-Prep (FS1–Year 2), Prep (Year 3–8), Senior (Year 9–13) and Sixth Form (Year 12–13), with progression aligned to UK age bands and ADEK guidance. In the Senior School, students typically study IGCSEs in a broad range of subjects; this is followed in Sixth Form by A Levels (with BTECs as an alternative) and an optional Extended Project Qualification (EPQ). The Sixth Form uses Harkness-style teaching and a Sixth Form Core Curriculum to develop independent thinking, wellbeing, and career-focused subject choices. The curriculum emphasises enquiry-led learning, clear assessment criteria, and a global-citizenship dimension as central pillars of the school's approach. Admissions are aligned with UK-year group standards, with entry points from Pre-Prep through Sixth Form and formal evaluation processes for Sixth Form applicants.
The Cranleigh Abu Dhabi campus opened in 2014 on Saadiyat Island. Cranleigh International built the local operating company, which Aldar Education took over in 2018 in continued partnership with Cranleigh. The school has won the TES Best New International School of the Year and is listed in Spears Top 100 global schools. In January 2024 a separate Cranleigh Abu Dhabi Pre-Prep site was opened at Saadiyat Lagoons for over 600 Pre-Prep children. The school has about 2600 students across two sites. The Pre-Prep site opened January 29, 2024, and is a stand-alone campus with its own swimming pool and large indoor and external play spaces.
ldar Education continued the Cranleigh partnership after the 2018 transition.
Cranleigh's offer includes a Scholars' Programme and an EPQ (Extended Project Qualification) as part of its academic enrichment.
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