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Abu Dhabi Schools With Spare Capacity 2026

161 Abu Dhabi schools below 95% of capacity. Where you have negotiating leverage on entry timing and, sometimes, fees.

161
Schools with spare seats
100
Under 80% full
219
Verified figures
Home › Best Schools › Schools With Spare Capacity

How we computed capacity. 219 Abu Dhabi schools publish a verified maximum-pupil capacity (column marked ✓). Where no licensed cap is published, we use peak-ever enrolment as a lower-bound proxy (marked "est." in the table). A school that hit 2,000 students in any year demonstrably has space for at least 2,000 — actual licensed capacity may be higher.

Spare capacity matters for two reasons: you can usually start mid-year, and at the deeper end of the spectrum (under 80% full), some schools negotiate on registration fees, sibling discounts, or even tuition. Always ask.

#SchoolADEKStudents / Capacity% FullSpare seatsCurriculumAvg Fee
1 Future Leaders International Private School - Rabdan Acceptable 127 / 1,740 ✓ 7% 1,613 US AED 26,437
2 California American School Acceptable 79 / 653 ✓ 12% 574 US AED 24,606
3 Arzana Private School Weak 227 / 1,450 ✓ 16% 1,223 US AED 28,021
4 Al Maharat Private School Good 364 / 1,998 ✓ 18% 1,634 UK AED 25,318
5 International Academic School Acceptable 265 / 1,450 ✓ 18% 1,185 US AED 35,422
6 Sabis International School - Yas Good 742 / 4,000 ✓ 19% 3,258 Other AED 51,500
7 Future Leaders International Private School - Baniyas Acceptable 492 / 2,098 ✓ 23% 1,606 US AED 32,779
8 Belvedere International School Good 408 / 1,538 ✓ 27% 1,130 UK AED 29,626
9 Knowledge International School - L.L.C Not Yet Inspected 152 / 550 ✓ 28% 398 US AED 24,997
10 Liwa International School - Qattarah Good 695 / 2,514 ✓ 28% 1,819 US AED 28,406
11 Pinnacle American School Acceptable 231 / 720 ✓ 32% 489 US AED 24,220
12 Japanese School Very Good 121 / 375 ✓ 32% 254 Other AED 34,395
13 Universal Philippine School Weak 267 / 777 ✓ 34% 510 Other AED 9,372
14 Italian International School Not Yet Inspected 568 / 1,620 ✓ 35% 1,052 Other AED 54,527
15 Philippine Emirates Private School Acceptable 412 / 1,109 ✓ 37% 697 Other AED 10,559
16 Beaconhouse Private School Acceptable 465 / 1,216 ✓ 38% 751 UK AED 26,668
17 Alia International Private School Weak 314 / 805 ✓ 39% 491 US AED 16,540
18 Australian School Of Abu Dhabi Good 561 / 1,380 ✓ 41% 819 IB AED 24,961
19 Maplewood Canadian International School Good 479 / 1,156 ✓ 41% 677 Other AED 41,143
20 Adnoc Schools - Ghayathi Good 252 / 590 ✓ 43% 338 US AED 32,907
21 International Community Schools - Khalifa Good 652 / 1,480 ✓ 44% 828 US AED 29,667
22 Sharjah American International School Very Good 793 / 1,800 ✓ 44% 1,007 US AED 35,923
23 Manar Al Ilm School Acceptable 441 / 988 ✓ 45% 547 UK AED 17,420
24 Wales International School Good 1,128 / 2,444 ✓ 46% 1,316 UK AED 30,127
25 Al Yahar Private School And Kg Acceptable 1,200 / 2,586 ✓ 46% 1,386 MOE AED 7,474
26 Al Marfa International School Acceptable 348 / 749 ✓ 46% 401 MOE AED 6,286
27 Al Shohub Private School Good 498 / 1,057 ✓ 47% 559 UK AED 38,023
28 International Community Schools - Falah Acceptable 670 / 1,400 ✓ 48% 730 US AED 38,499
29 International School Of Choueifat - Mushrif Very Good 1,603 / 3,340 ✓ 48% 1,737 Other AED 28,912
30 Abdulla Bin Al Zubair Private School Acceptable 241 / 491 ✓ 49% 250 UK AED 35,350
31 Emirates National Schools - Al Nahyan Good 719 / 1,370 ✓ 52% 651 US AED 42,313
32 Amity International School Very Good 1,589 / 3,000 ✓ 53% 1,411 UK AED 57,565
33 Nord Anglia International School Not Yet Inspected 1,241 / 2,324 ✓ 53% 1,083 UK AED 82,200
34 American National School Good 439 / 820 ✓ 54% 381 US AED 22,085
35 Baniyas International Private School Good 661 / 1,232 ✓ 54% 571 US AED 23,422
36 Abu Dhabi Island International Private School Good 464 / 850 ✓ 55% 386 US AED 23,033
37 Raha International School - Khalifa Good 1,674 / 3,060 ✓ 55% 1,386 IB AED 57,537
38 Emirates National Schools - Manhal Very Good 810 / 1,460 ✓ 55% 650 US AED 28,736
39 German International School Very Good 426 / 750 ✓ 57% 324 Other AED 47,092
40 Adnoc Schools - Madinat Zayed Acceptable 1,352 / 2,380 ✓ 57% 1,028 US AED 34,660
41 Excel International School Good 366 / 636 ✓ 58% 270 UK AED 23,954
42 Gems World Academy Very Good 1,090 / 1,866 ✓ 58% 776 UK AED 66,641
43 Abu Dhabi International Private School - Mbz Very Good 2,014 / 3,445 ✓ 58% 1,431 US AED 39,656
44 Horizon Private School (Moe) - Khalifa Good 1,517 / 2,569 ✓ 59% 1,052 MOE AED 11,923
45 Future Leaders International Private School - Madinat Zayed Good 587 / 990 ✓ 59% 403 US AED 26,571
46 British Oak Montessori Kg Acceptable 45 / 75 ✓ 60% 30 UK AED 34,000
47 The Philippine School Acceptable 562 / 933 ✓ 60% 371 Other AED 7,058
48 Global English School Good 1,111 / 1,800 ✓ 62% 689 UK AED 21,567
49 Baraem Al Ain Private Schools - Muwaiji Good 1,031 / 1,667 ✓ 62% 636 MOE AED 8,031
50 Abu Dhabi International Private School - Karamah Very Good 1,331 / 2,142 ✓ 62% 811 US AED 26,280
51 Adnoc Schools - Ruwais - Branch 2 Good 1,144 / 1,825 ✓ 63% 681 US AED 34,017
52 Aldar Academies-West Yas School Good 1,136 / 1,800 ✓ 63% 664 US AED 62,319
53 Al Rabeeh Academy Very Good 1,016 / 1,595 ✓ 64% 579 UK AED 43,727
54 Ibn Khaldoun Private Science Acceptable 703 / 1,100 ✓ 64% 397 MOE AED 7,391
55 Sunrise International School Acceptable 4,756 / 7,360 ✓ 65% 2,604 Indian AED 10,137
56 Al Falah Academy Al Jimi Not Yet Inspected 1,125 / 1,728 ✓ 65% 603 MOE AED 4,000
57 Yasmina British Academy Outstanding 3,432 / 5,265 ✓ 65% 1,833 UK AED 56,602
58 Mamoura British Academy Very Good 1,113 / 1,700 ✓ 65% 587 UK AED 64,819
59 Noya British School Not Yet Inspected 880 / 1,340 ✓ 66% 460 UK AED 38,400
60 Al Nahda National School For Boys Good 2,281 / 3,430 ✓ 67% 1,149 UK AED 24,686
61 Diyafah International School Good 1,179 / 1,754 ✓ 67% 575 UK AED 36,499
62 Lebanon First School And Kg Acceptable 662 / 981 ✓ 67% 319 MOE AED 7,964
63 Al Tafawwuq Al Ilmi Private School Acceptable 563 / 833 ✓ 68% 270 MOE AED 6,719
64 International Jubilee Private School Good 914 / 1,339 ✓ 68% 425 US AED 25,039
65 The Russian School Of Abu Dhabi Not Yet Inspected 346 / 500 ✓ 69% 154 Other AED 37,100
66 Crescent International Private School Acceptable 291 / 420 ✓ 69% 129 UK AED 15,273
67 Al Dhafra Private Schools - Mbz Very Good 1,324 / 1,897 ✓ 70% 573 US AED 38,490
68 Liwa International School For Girls Very Good 859 / 1,230 ✓ 70% 371 US AED 38,376
69 Al Ittihad National Private School - Falaj Hazza Good 1,114 / 1,590 ✓ 70% 476 US AED 24,183
70 Repton Foundation School Outstanding 401 / 570 ✓ 70% 169 UK AED 67,220
71 Al Seddique Private School Acceptable 348 / 494 ✓ 70% 146 MOE AED 6,138
72 Ain Al Khaleej Private School Good 758 / 1,072 ✓ 71% 314 MOE AED 10,361
73 International Private School Acceptable 848 / 1,196 ✓ 71% 348 MOE AED 8,857
74 Raha International School - Gardens Very Good 2,175 / 3,060 ✓ 71% 885 IB AED 58,028
75 Al Bateen Scientific Private School Good 879 / 1,235 ✓ 71% 356 US AED 20,999
76 The British International Ad Outstanding 2,368 / 3,315 ✓ 71% 947 UK AED 68,607
77 Garden City British School Good 534 / 746 ✓ 72% 212 UK AED 26,919
78 Ajyal International School - Falah Good 2,279 / 3,175 ✓ 72% 896 US AED 34,774
79 Bait Al Maqdes International Private School Good 1,416 / 1,956 ✓ 72% 540 MOE AED 7,963
80 The American International School Good 1,302 / 1,778 ✓ 73% 476 US AED 49,740
81 Al Manara Private School - Mbz Good 1,116 / 1,500 ✓ 74% 384 MOE AED 14,873
82 The Philippine Global School Acceptable 1,276 / 1,701 ✓ 75% 425 Other AED 7,258
83 Al Ekhlass Private School Acceptable 1,244 / 1,657 ✓ 75% 413 MOE AED 10,173
84 Oasis International School Good 1,799 / 2,380 ✓ 76% 581 Indian AED 9,920
85 Summit International School Very Good 1,613 / 2,132 ✓ 76% 519 US AED 33,418
86 Ashabal Al Quds Secondary Private School Good 1,656 / 2,171 ✓ 76% 515 MOE AED 11,755
87 Future International Academy Good 1,482 / 1,936 ✓ 77% 454 US AED 22,197
88 Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Bangladesh Islamia Private School Acceptable 762 / 995 ✓ 77% 233 Other AED 4,037
89 Emirates Future International Academy Good 2,012 / 2,626 ✓ 77% 614 Indian AED 12,488
90 The Spanish School Of Abu Dhabi Acceptable 302 / 392 ✓ 77% 90 Other AED 38,955
91 Bloom Academy - Al Ain Outstanding 925 / 1,200 ✓ 77% 275 UK AED 75,417
92 Baraem Al Ain Private School Very Good 1,336 / 1,720 ✓ 78% 384 MOE AED 13,500
93 Ryan International School Acceptable 1,067 / 1,370 ✓ 78% 303 Indian AED 16,807
94 Good Will Children Private School Acceptable 518 / 665 ✓ 78% 147 UK AED 28,788
95 Al Murooj Scientific Private School Acceptable 869 / 1,115 ✓ 78% 246 UK AED 23,384
96 Al Falah Academy Bani Yas Not Yet Inspected 1,476 / 1,889 ✓ 78% 413 MOE AED 4,000
97 Tawam Private Model School Good 814 / 1,034 ✓ 79% 220 MOE AED 8,097
98 Al Manara Private School - Shamkhah Acceptable 2,374 / 3,000 ✓ 79% 626 MOE AED 15,363
99 Al Falah Academy - Khibeesi Not Yet Inspected 1,362 / 1,715 ✓ 79% 353 MOE AED 4,000
100 Al Falah Academy - Al Danah Not Yet Inspected 781 / 980 ✓ 80% 199 MOE AED 4,000
101 American Community School Outstanding 1,338 / 1,659 ✓ 81% 321 US AED 75,992
102 Horizon Private School - Branch Good 1,657 / 2,049 ✓ 81% 392 US AED 35,286
103 Rawafed Private School Good 1,451 / 1,794 ✓ 81% 343 US AED 29,833
104 Aspen Heights British School Good 1,202 / 1,475 ✓ 81% 273 UK AED 50,415
105 Bateen World Academy Outstanding 1,014 / 1,244 ✓ 82% 230 UK AED 72,433
106 Mohammed Bin Khalid Al Nahyan Generations School Good 501 / 612 ✓ 82% 111 US AED 15,953
107 United Private School - Yahar Good 755 / 922 ✓ 82% 167 US AED 23,758
108 Gems American Academy Very Good 1,909 / 2,330 ✓ 82% 421 US AED 76,058
109 Al Dhabiania Private School Good 1,114 / 1,355 ✓ 82% 241 MOE AED 13,951
110 International Indian School Good 1,686 / 2,050 ✓ 82% 364 Indian AED 16,408
111 Rosary Private School Very Good 2,630 / 3,194 ✓ 82% 564 MOE AED 11,983
112 Lycee Francais International Theodore Monod - Sadiyaat Very Good 1,490 / 1,800 ✓ 83% 310 French AED 46,790
113 Reach British School Good 1,796 / 2,162 ✓ 83% 366 UK AED 36,956
114 Emirates Falcon International Private School Very Good 1,449 / 1,735 ✓ 84% 286 US AED 23,727
115 Sabis International School - Ruwais Good 2,491 / 2,981 ✓ 84% 490 Other AED 37,499
116 Al Yasat Private School Good 1,265 / 1,513 ✓ 84% 248 US AED 43,119
117 Ajyal International School - Mbz Very Good 1,493 / 1,780 ✓ 84% 287 UK AED 44,898
118 Virginia International Private School Good 1,301 / 1,550 ✓ 84% 249 US AED 36,678
119 Al Ain American Private School Good 871 / 1,026 ✓ 85% 155 US AED 23,101
120 Al Falah Academy - Mbz Not Yet Inspected 1,457 / 1,715 ✓ 85% 258 MOE AED 4,000
121 Adnoc Schools - Sas Al Nakhl Good 3,139 / 3,689 ✓ 85% 550 US AED 40,594
122 Al Basma British School Very Good 2,098 / 2,440 ✓ 86% 342 UK AED 34,041
123 Al Muneera Private School Good 643 / 745 ✓ 86% 102 MOE AED 18,611
124 Cranleigh School Abu Dhabi Outstanding 2,029 / 2,350 ✓ 86% 321 UK AED 88,400
125 Emirates National Schools - Mbz Very Good 4,342 / 5,012 ✓ 87% 670 US AED 35,719
126 The Sheikh Zayed Private Academy For Girls Outstanding 1,540 / 1,770 ✓ 87% 230 US AED 56,421
127 Al Saad Indian School Very Good 775 / 890 ✓ 87% 115 Indian AED 12,245
128 Abc Private School Good 2,488 / 2,840 ✓ 88% 352 UK AED 22,422
129 Al Dar Private School Acceptable 487 / 554 ✓ 88% 67 MOE AED 8,004
130 Universal Private School Acceptable 1,254 / 1,424 ✓ 88% 170 MOE AED 10,934
131 Emirates Private School - Baniyas Acceptable 1,284 / 1,457 ✓ 88% 173 MOE AED 5,419
132 International Community Schools - Danah Good 1,668 / 1,875 ✓ 89% 207 UK AED 40,402
133 Zakher Private School Good 732 / 822 ✓ 89% 90 MOE AED 7,164
134 Future International School Good 746 / 835 ✓ 89% 89 US AED 19,649
135 Gems Founders School Ad Not Yet Inspected 987 / 1,100 ✓ 90% 113 UK AED 32,900
136 Sabis International School - Al Bateen - L.L.C - S.P.C Not Yet Inspected 700 / 780 ✓ 90% 80 Other AED 59,467
137 Repton School Abu Dhabi Outstanding 1,708 / 1,900 ✓ 90% 192 UK AED 75,974
138 Canadian International School Outstanding 940 / 1,044 ✓ 90% 104 Other AED 44,759
139 Yas Academy School Acceptable 690 / 763 ✓ 90% 73 MOE AED 9,839
140 Emirates Private School - Muwaiji Good 1,352 / 1,494 ✓ 90% 142 MOE AED 10,539
141 Al Najah Private School Good 2,214 / 2,443 ✓ 91% 229 UK AED 21,332
142 Our Own English High School Good 1,428 / 1,570 ✓ 91% 142 Indian AED 12,508
143 Al Manhal International Private School Acceptable 2,369 / 2,604 ✓ 91% 235 MOE AED 12,524
144 Al Minhaj Private School Good 1,083 / 1,186 ✓ 91% 103 MOE AED 12,866
145 Bloom Gardens School (Brighton College) Very Good 1,847 / 2,014 ✓ 92% 167 UK AED 67,608
146 Al Bashair Private School Very Good 1,223 / 1,333 ✓ 92% 110 MOE AED 21,133
147 Lycee Louis Massignon Very Good 1,740 / 1,895 ✓ 92% 155 French AED 38,846
148 Grace Valley Indian School Good 1,566 / 1,700 ✓ 92% 134 Indian AED 10,701
149 Asian International Private School - Madinat Zayed Good 1,350 / 1,463 ✓ 92% 113 Indian AED 5,671
150 Asian International Private School - Ruwais Good 2,206 / 2,385 ✓ 92% 179 Indian AED 8,567
151 Al Nahda National School For Girls Good 4,145 / 4,474 ✓ 93% 329 UK AED 22,909
152 Rowad Al Dhafra Private School Acceptable 784 / 840 ✓ 93% 56 MOE AED 9,740
153 The Sheikh Zayed Private Academy For Boys Outstanding 1,307 / 1,400 ✓ 93% 93 US AED 67,617
154 Al Dhafra Private Schools - Muwaiji Very Good 2,582 / 2,761 ✓ 94% 179 UK AED 19,619
155 Pakistani Islamic Private School Good 940 / 1,005 ✓ 94% 65 Other AED 4,559
156 Al Ittihad National Private School - Shakhbout Very Good 1,830 / 1,954 ✓ 94% 124 US AED 36,303
157 Merryland International School Outstanding 2,517 / 2,685 ✓ 94% 168 UK AED 33,685
158 Al Khalil International Private School Good 1,129 / 1,200 ✓ 94% 71 MOE AED 9,261
159 Al Ain British Academy Very Good 1,060 / 1,125 ✓ 94% 65 UK AED 52,360
160 Dunes International School Good 1,501 / 1,587 ✓ 95% 86 Indian AED 17,555
161 The Gulf International Private Academy Good 1,051 / 1,111 ✓ 95% 60 US AED 18,909
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Frequently Asked Questions

Does spare capacity mean the school is bad?

No. Several schools on this list are ADEK Outstanding or Very Good and have spare seats simply because they expanded their physical campus faster than enrolment caught up. Newer schools commonly run below full capacity in their first years. That's an opportunity for parents — same school, more attention, sometimes more flexible terms.

Why do most Abu Dhabi schools not publish capacity?

ADEK's licensing structure requires a maximum-pupil ceiling, but the figure isn't always made public in the inspection report. Many schools choose to report a ceiling that reflects the latest expansion phase rather than current physical limit. We only include schools where the ratio of students to a published capacity figure is verifiable.

Can I really negotiate fees at a school with spare seats?

Sometimes — especially on registration and uniform/transport bundles, and especially mid-year. Tuition itself is capped by ADEK's fee framework so don't expect a discount on the headline number. But sibling discount tiers, friend referral schemes, and one-off "settling-in" fees are often softer than the website suggests when there are seats to fill.

What about waitlists?

A school can be 80% full overall and still have a waitlist for specific year groups (especially FS1, Year 7, Year 12). Always ask about the year group you actually need.