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Canadian International School - Abu Dhabi

United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi

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· Reviewed by · B2C Marketing Manager

Independently researched by doris.
Not yet claimed by the school
The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees AED 39,010 - 51,820
Ages 4 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 900
Bus Service No
Availability Not shared by this school
Academic offering
Curriculum Canadian Curriculum
Typical class size 22

Khalifa City A, SE43, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Vibes and Culture
The school has not added this information
The Essentials

Canadian International School - Abu Dhabi has 900 pupils, typical class sizes of 22, instruction in English.

Location
The Canadian International School sits in Khalifa City A, Abu Dhabi. Khalifa City A is a residential neighbourhood located approximately 30 km from downtown Abu Dhabi. The campus is on a modern compound with a three‑story main building, and KG 1–Grade 1 occupy the first floor, Grades 2–6 the second, and Grades 7–12 the third. The annex includes a gym, a renovated indoor pool, a music room, and a dance/drama and art studio, with on‑site playgrounds and fields.

Stages
The school provides Kindergarten 1 through Grade 12. The main building is organized by floor: KG 1–Grade 1 on the first floor, Grades 2–6 on the second floor, and Grades 7–12 on the third floor.

Type
Private, co-educational day school.

Pupil Nationality Mix
Pupil nationality mix: around 900 students representing about 70 nationalities. The largest groups are Canadian (~22%), Emirati (~14%), American (~13%), and British (~5%).

Additional learning support
The school offers Additional Learning Needs/SEN supports through its Student Services, which provides a range of supports to enhance student learning and targeted interventions as appropriate.

Country affiliation
Country affiliation: Canada. The school follows the Alberta Program of Studies and is Alberta accredited.

Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation: None indicated. Islamic Studies are taught in alignment with UAE MoE requirements as part of the curriculum.

School day structure
Exact start/end times and breaks are not publicly published; families receive the timetable details from admissions. The curriculum includes core subjects with UAE MoE requirements integrated where applicable.

Bus service
A school bus service is provided. Details on routes and fees are published in the School Bus Transportation information as part of admissions.
Diving Deeper
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Fees

Annual tuition at Canadian International School - Abu Dhabi ranges from AED 39,010 to AED 51,820 for 2026/27.

Application / Registration fees
- There is no separately published ‘application' charge listed; registration/re-registration costs are included within the published tuition figures and are non‑refundable where applicable.

Tuition fees (term and annual breakdown by year group)
- KG‑1: Term 1 AED 12,735; Term 2 AED 10,830; Term 3 AED 10,830; Annual total AED 36,100.
- KG‑2: Term 1 AED 13,540; Term 2 AED 11,520; Term 3 AED 11,520; Annual total AED 38,400.
- Grade 1 – Grade 5: Term 1 AED 14,730; Term 2 AED 12,450; Term 3 AED 12,450; Annual total AED 41,800.
- Grade 6 – Grade 9: Term 1 AED 15,710; Term 2 AED 13,380; Term 3 AED 13,380; Annual total AED 44,600.
- Grade 10 – Grade 12: Term 1 AED 16,865; Term 2 AED 14,370; Term 3 AED 14,370; Annual total AED 47,900.

Billing schedule and payment terms
- Tuition is billed in three instalments (termly). Typical instalment due dates are: 1st instalment due in mid‑August, 2nd instalment due in early‑to‑mid December, and 3rd instalment due in early March. Specific published example dates include: 1st due before 16 August; 2nd due before 10 December; 3rd due before 10 March. Parents must ensure all fee balances are cleared before re‑registration and before final transfer certificates or student results are issued.

Boarding fees
- Boarding is not offered by this school. No boarding fees are published. Transportation is available as a paid service; boarding arrangements are not part of the school's fee schedule.

Transportation (bus) fees and payment
- Bus service is charged in addition to tuition. An example published annual bus fee is AED 4,600 for the school year, payable in three instalments (example instalments: 1st AED 1,840 due on/before mid‑August; 2nd AED 1,380 due on/before early December; 3rd AED 1,380 due on/before early March). The bus service is subject to availability and separate enrolment.

Other costs or fees
- Uniforms, field trips, special student activities and transportation are not included in the published tuition and are charged separately. Textbooks and some student kits may be included for certain year groups where noted in the fee schedule, but additional optional items and extracurricular activities incur extra charges. Extra exam or programme fees (where applicable) and any mandatory insurance or materials specified by the school are additional to tuition.

Refund information (tuition refund policy)
- Tuition refund follows Ministry regulations and the school's published policy. If a student attends any part of the first week of a term or fails to show without adequate written notice, the school may retain the registration/re‑registration fee. If a student attends between one week and up to three weeks of a term, the school may retain one month's tuition. Attendance over three weeks and up to six weeks may result in retention of two months' tuition. If a student attends over six weeks of a term, the school may retain the full term's fee. All withdrawal and refund requests must be submitted in writing to the school principal and are processed according to these rules.

Fee payment options and instructions
- Accepted payment methods include bank transfer and cheque; bank transfer instructions and steps are provided for payments and any bank charges must be paid by the sender. Credit card payments are accepted in person at the school's Accounts Department. For fee queries and payment arrangements, parents are instructed to contact the school accounts team.

Notes for parents
- The published tuition figures include certain items (for example, books and registration where explicitly stated) and exclude others (transport, uniform, trips, special activities). Instalment timetables and exact due dates must be observed to avoid disruption to registration or withholding of academic results.
Academics

Canadian International School - Abu Dhabi teaches Canadian Curriculum for students aged 4 to 18.

Curriculum
The Canadian International School Abu Dhabi delivers the Alberta Program of Studies to KG1–Grade 12, aligned with the UAE Ministry of Education. Alberta High School Diploma is earned by accumulating 100 credits, with Grade 12 Diploma Examinations in core subjects accounting for 30% of the final grade. The Alberta program covers English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, English Social Studies, Physical Education, Art and Music, Health, Drama, ICT and French, while Arabic, Islamic Studies and Arabic Social Studies are taught in accordance with UAE MOE specifications. The Secondary Curriculum distinguishes Grades 5–8 (Middle School) and Grades 9–12 (Secondary), with learning outcomes drawn from the Alberta framework and links to Alberta Education resources. The Alberta-accredited curriculum is delivered in coordination with the UAE MOE to provide a globally recognized pathway for further study.
Wellbeing
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Parent Experience
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Facilities
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Extra-Curricular Activities
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Languages
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Reputation
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Admissions

Admissions
1. Begin online enrollment. The admissions portal handles new student registration with step-by-step instructions at each stage. Registration for the new academic year opens in January, and applications are welcome throughout the school year. 2. Submit documents. Gather the required documents; all documents must be in English or Arabic, and a UAE translation is required if not. For Grades 1 and above, a Transfer Certificate or School Leaving Certificate is required and must be English or Arabic and attested. The online application must be completed, and the Admissions Application is not an offer of admission. 3. Assessment and supports. The school assesses each applicant's English ability and may require an assessment. The school provides Student Support Services, including Speech Therapy, Literacy Support, and Counselling. 4. Offer and acceptance. If a space is available, a Letter of Acceptance is issued and the Registration Stage begins. The school reserves the right to place your child in the grade level considered appropriate based on age, ability, and Ministry of Education guidelines. If accepted, you agree to the rules in the Parent/Student Handbook. 5. Enrollment and start. Upon acceptance, documents, and payment, a place is secured. The school communicates through the online admissions system and finalizes enrollment accordingly. 6. Ongoing communications. All communications regarding the application are conducted via the online admissions enrollment system, with updates provided as spaces become available or decisions are made.

Waitlist
Due to the high volume of applications, the admissions process may involve a waiting list. If a space becomes available for your child, CIS will contact families with next steps via the admissions system. The school communicates update information through the online enrollment platform to keep families informed about status and opportunities.
School Events
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