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Curriculum Advanced Placement (AP), Italian Curriculum
Taught languages Italian, Arabic
Typical class size 7
Strengths Sport, Visual and Creative Arts, Languages
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language
Stages Early Years, Preschool, Primary School, Middle School, Secondary School
Introduction
Located in Khalifa City A, Abu Dhabi, Sama International School – formerly Italian International School – serves students aged 3 to 17. The campus is the founding site of Sama International Schools, part of expansion preserving its Italian identity. The school delivers an American Curriculum aligned with California/Common Core within the IB framework, taught in English and reinforced by a multilingual approach including Arabic and Italian. The Italian language department offers two pathways: Language A for mother-tongue Italian speakers and Language B for Italian learners; Language A enables Italian graduation through the IB Diploma Programme at higher or standard level. The IB continuum covers PYP and MYP, with the Career-related Programme as a candidate arriving 2026–2027, with final authorization planned for May 2026. Facilities include 100% smart classrooms and 21st-century learning spaces, plus culinary programs and sport academies. Extras include over 20 ECAs, such as Chess, Coding, Swimming, and Arts initiatives.
Khalifa City, SE44, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
The Essentials
Italian International School has 225 pupils, typical class sizes of 7, instruction in English, Italian.
Location
Italian International School is located in Khalifa City A, Abu Dhabi, UAE. The campus address is Khalifa City A, South East 44, Block 10. Khalifa City A is a residential district with convenient access to major roads linking central Abu Dhabi and Yas Island, and it is served by local transport options suitable for families.
Stages
The school is an IB World School offering Primary Years Programme (PYP) for younger students and Middle Years Programme (MYP) for older students. PYP serves students roughly aged 3–12, and MYP covers approximately ages 11–16. The school has been authorized to deliver both programmes as part of its IB framework.
Type
Co-educational, day school. Boarding facilities are not offered.
Pupil Nationality Mix
Nationals represented: 48 nationalities. The most common nationality is not publicly disclosed, and the local-to-international student ratio is not publicly disclosed.
Additional learning support
The school provides English as an Additional Language (EAL) support and Special Educational Needs (SEN) support. It emphasises small class sizes and a holistic 360º care and support approach.
Country affiliation
There is no formal country affiliation stated; the curriculum combines IB with Italian language and culture enrichment.
Religious affiliation
No religious affiliation is indicated.
School day structure
School days run from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday to Friday. The campus includes a canteen offering chef‑prepared meals daily.
Bus service
A school bus service is available with an annual fee of 5,000 AED. Bus routes cover Khalifa City A and areas such as Al Raha, Al Reef, Yas Island, Shakhbout City, Al Riyadh City, Al Shamkah, Airport Road, Zayed Sports City, Rabdan, and MBZ.
Fees
Annual tuition at Italian International School ranges from AED 30,065 to AED 53,380 for 2026/27.
Tuition — per-term breakdown (school term months: Term 1 = 4 months, Term 2 = 4 months, Term 3 = 2 months; annual tuition is split on that basis) - Preschool (AED 30,065): Term 1 AED 12,026; Term 2 AED 12,026; Term 3 AED 6,013. - KG1 / KG2 (AED 40,120): Term 1 AED 16,048; Term 2 AED 16,048; Term 3 AED 8,024. - Grade 1–5 (AED 44,115): Term 1 AED 17,646; Term 2 AED 17,646; Term 3 AED 8,823. - Grade 6–9 (AED 48,535): Term 1 AED 19,414; Term 2 AED 19,414; Term 3 AED 9,707. - Grade 10–12 (AED 53,380): Term 1 AED 21,352; Term 2 AED 21,352; Term 3 AED 10,676.
Application / registration fees - A non-refundable registration (or re-registration) fee is charged for new and returning students. If a student remains on the waiting list and a place cannot be offered, the registration / re-registration fee will be refunded; no refund is given when a parent voluntarily withdraws a child. Specific registration fee amounts are charged at the time of application and are processed through the school's enrolment/registration procedures.
Billing schedule and payment terms - Term payment due dates: Term 1 due 01/09/2025 (covers 4 months); Term 2 due 01/12/2025 (covers 4 months); Term 3 due 01/03/2026 (covers 2 months). Tuition is collected according to these term dates. - Fee deduction policy based on attendance: no-show or present less than 1 week — registration/re-registration fee only; attendance over 1 week up to 3 weeks in a term — one full month's tuition; over 3 weeks up to 6 weeks — two full months' tuition; over 6 weeks of the term — full term tuition.
Banking and payment methods - Payment methods accepted: bank transfer, credit card payment at the school accounts counter, cash at the accounts counter, or cheque at the accounts counter. - Bank account details for bank transfers: - Account name/title: Italian International School. - Account number: 4031005609765001. - IBAN: AE410354031005609765001. - Bank: First Abu Dhabi Bank (SWIFT NBADAEAAXXX).
Boarding - The school operates as a day school; boarding facilities do not apply.
Other compulsory or commonly charged items - Transportation: AED 5,000 per year for school bus service (specific routes covered are defined by the school). - Canteen: Mandatory three-month canteen meal subscription; special rate AED 1,900 for 3 months (discounted from AED 2,050). Parents can choose any three months within the academic year for this subscription. - Uniform: Purchased separately (online from the school's official supplier). Uniform costs are charged separately at point of purchase. - Books and external-provider ECAs: Charged separately when applicable; costs vary by provider. - Device requirement: Students from Grade 3 are required to supply their own device; associated costs are borne by parents. - MYP / Grade 10 examination fees: MYP board/examination fees apply for Grade 10 students; IB exam and registration fees are charged in line with the IB billing schedule and applicable examination fees.
Refunds and credits - Registration / re-registration fee: refundable only when a student is on the waiting list and a place cannot be offered; otherwise non-refundable for voluntary withdrawal. - Tuition refunds/credits on withdrawal are governed by the school's attendance-based fee deduction policy (see Billing schedule and payment terms). Specific pro rata refunds or charges are applied according to the period of attendance within the term as stated in the fee deduction policy.
Notes on discounts and special cases - A flat 15% new-registration discount is applied to the listed tuition amounts for new registrations for Academic Year 2025–2026; other discounts (cardholder, employee, community partner and grade-specific) may apply as defined in the school's discount policy. Grade 10 students have a specific 25% founders discount for Academic Year 2025–2026 where applicable.
Contact for fee queries and payments - Finance contact: Mr. Jithu Mohanan, Finance Manager (email provided by the school for fee and payment queries). Bank remittance instructions require sending a scanned copy of the remittance advice with the student ID to the school's finance contact to allow reconciliation.
Academics
Italian International School teaches Advanced Placement (AP), Italian Curriculum for students aged 3 to 18.
Curriculum
The Italian International School (IIS) Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi is an IB World School with English as the language of instruction and Italian language and culture integrated throughout its programme. It is authorized to offer the Primary Years Programme (PYP) and the Middle Years Programme (MYP) within the IB continuum, with IB authorizations recorded in early 2025. The Italian language department combines the Italian Ministry of Education curriculum with IB guidelines, offering Language A for Italian mother-tongue learners and Language B for non-native learners across KG1 through Grade 12, with Italian available as a Diploma Programme study option within the Language A track. Language learning is embedded across the curriculum, with English, Arabic, and Italian vocabulary integrated across subjects and close collaboration between language departments to foster multilingualism. The school reports a 1:7 staff-to-student ratio and offers over 20 extracurricular options to support holistic development. As of January 2025, IB authorizations cover PYP and MYP for IIS Khalifa City; there is no Diploma Programme authorization listed for this school in the IB information system. } }? The extra characters may be extra. Wait there is extraneous closing braces. I need to fix. The final should be a valid JSON object with a single key
Wellbeing
Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The Italian International School in Khalifa City A, Abu Dhabi supports social and emotional learning through safeguarding and welfare policies, a designated team for student safety, and a school counsellor who provides social, emotional, and wellbeing support; the campus is now Sama International School as of December 2025.
Special Educational Needs (SEN)
Public materials describe 360º Care and Support and an inclusive, student-centred community, but explicit SEN provisions or a specialist SEN department are not publicly disclosed.
English as an Additional Language (EAL)
The language of instruction is English and Arabic, Italian language is taught as part of the curriculum, and there is no publicly disclosed dedicated EAL program.
Mental Wellbeing
Mental wellbeing is supported through wellbeing provisions, including a designated school counsellor, Ms. Walaa Nasredin, and training for staff and students.
Safeguarding
Safeguarding is central, with policies aligned to ADEK regulations, zero tolerance for bullying and cyberbullying, training for staff and students, and a designated team to monitor safety and welfare.
Admissions
Admissions
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Scholarships
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FAQs
What curriculum does Italian International School follow?
The Italian International School (IIS) Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi is an IB World School with English as the language of instruction and Italian language and culture integrated throughout its programme. ...
What age range does Italian International School serve?
What type of school is Italian International School?
Italian International School is a co-educational, day school school.
Where is Italian International School located?
Khalifa City A, Abu Dhabi, UAE...
Does the school offer a bus service?
A school bus service is available with an annual fee of 5,000 AED. Bus routes cover Khalifa City A and areas such as Al Raha, Al Reef, Yas Island, Shakhbout City, Al Riyadh City, Al Shamkah, Airport R...
Is the school religiously affiliated?
No religious affiliation is indicated.
Does the school provide learning support?
Public materials describe 360º Care and Support and an inclusive, student-centred community, but explicit SEN provisions or a specialist SEN department are not publicly disclosed.
What languages are taught?
The school provides a tri-lingual pathway to cultural identity with Italian, English, and Arabic integrated into learning.
When was the school established?
Italian International School was established in 2013.
