Pupils at Brighton College Abu Dhabi, one of the capital's best-performing schools. Silvia Razgova / The National
Pupils at Brighton College Abu Dhabi, one of the capital's best-performing schools. Silvia Razgova / The National
Pupils at Brighton College Abu Dhabi, one of the capital's best-performing schools. Silvia Razgova / The National
Pupils at Brighton College Abu Dhabi, one of the capital's best-performing schools. Silvia Razgova / The National

Abu Dhabi names 11 top-performing schools eligible for maximum tuition fee increase


Salam Al Amir
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Abu Dhabi's private education regulator has named the 11 top-performing schools which will be eligible to raise tuition fees by up to 3.94 per cent for the 2023-24 academic year.

The emirate's Department of Education and Knowledge announced this week that all schools in operation for at least three years would be permitted to increase fees for the first time in three years.

The decision was made based on the findings of an Educational Cost Index, supported by the Statistics Centre Abu Dhabi and the results of school inspections, known as “Irtiqaa”.

The latest inspections were carried out in the 2021-22 academic year, with subsequent assessments halted due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Abu Dhabi tuition fee increases

  • Schools ranked “outstanding” in inspections have the option to raise fees by up to 3.94 per cent
  • Schools ranked “very good” can increase fees by 3.38 per cent
  • Schools rated “good” can increase fees by up to 2.81 per cent
  • Schools rated “acceptable”, “weak” and “very weak” can implement a maximum 2.25 per cent increase

As well as 11 schools receiving an 'outstanding' score, 37 were rated ‘very good’ and 85 were rated good.

Another 63 schools were rated acceptable and one school was rated weak.

The inspections assess schools based on pupil achievement and personal and social development, as well as standards of teaching and curriculums, leadership, management and support structures for pupils.

Inspectors spend about four days at each school to evaluate their overall performance.

Schools receiving the highest rating of “outstanding” are said to have substantially exceeded expectations under the assessment criteria.

Abu Dhabi's 'outstanding' schools

  • Al Muna Primary School
  • Al Yasmina School
  • Bloom Academy Al Ain
  • Brighton College Abu Dhabi
  • Cranleigh School Abu Dhabi
  • Merryland International School
  • Pearl Primary School
  • Raha International School
  • Repton Foundation School
  • The British International School
  • The British School Al Khubairat

Adek said the decision to implement the increases is optional, allowing schools to consider the needs of their communities and pupils before making the final decision.

The regulator said the “three-year pause” in tuition costs was made to support parents during the pandemic and recovery period.

It declined to comment further on its decision to allow schools to increase fees.

Financial pressures for parents

Souha Itani, 51, from Lebanon, has two children who attend Brighton College, one of the schools allowed to make the maximum 3.94 per cent tuition increase.

She said any rise would prove challenging for parents.

“There has been a significant increase in the cost of living over the past few years with lack of corresponding salary hikes,” she said.

“For the past two years my employer has been covering school allowance but it doesn’t mean I don’t care because I paid it myself before.”

Ms Itani emphasised the additional costs that come with sending a child to school, including international exam fees as well as extra-curricular activities.

“I pay a little more than Dh72,000 every year for each of my two daughters,” she said.

Hind K, 40, an Emirati mother of two children attending British International School in Abu Dhabi, also eligible for the maximum tuition increase, said times were already tough for parents.

“We already struggle to pay the current fees, and this increase will make it even more difficult for us,” she said.

“The authorities should reconsider this decision and find alternative ways to support schools without burdening parents.”

She said her family pays approximately Dh120,000 ($32,675) for their two children in FS2 and Year 9, before taking into account costs of uniforms, activities, trips and transportation.

“If increases continue to be passed how much will we end up paying by the time my youngest is in secondary school?” she said.

“My friend’s son is at a UK university and his education along with housing doesn’t exceed Dh100,000.”

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Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.

“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.

“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”

If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.

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In Dubai:

Dh200 for littering or spitting in the Dubai Metro

Dh500 for throwing cigarette butts or chewing gum on the floor, or littering from a vehicle. 
Dh1,000 for littering on a beach, spitting in public places, throwing a cigarette butt from a vehicle

In Sharjah and other emirates
Dh500 for littering - including cigarette butts and chewing gum - in public places and beaches in Sharjah
Dh2,000 for littering in Sharjah deserts
Dh500 for littering from a vehicle in Ras Al Khaimah
Dh1,000 for littering from a car in Abu Dhabi
Dh1,000 to Dh100,000 for dumping waste in residential or public areas in Al Ain
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Updated: April 15, 2023, 11:04 AM`