Yasmina British Academy is an outstanding English Curriculum school in the beautiful city of Abu Dhabi. With our globally recognised and admired curriculum, dedicated and passionate practitioners and outstanding teaching and learning, Yasmina British Academy is an exceptional place to work. It has an exciting, diverse and progressive learning community that annually produces some of the very best I/GCSE and A Level result in the UAE. Our learning culture is under pinned by our core values of excellence, respect, passion, collaboration and creativity allowing all students to thrive. Furthermore, the Academy is extremely proud of its recent ADEK inspection, which rated Yasmina British Academy as ‘Outstanding’ in all six performance standards, putting it amongst the top schools in the UAE and Middle East.
Yasmina British Academy has recently moved to a new multi-building campus incorporating state of the art facilities that has enabled our teachers and students to flourish, fostering a future focused educational experience while also delivering on our environmental commitments to supply sustainable schools to the UAE.
This incredible facility is more than just a school, acting as a social, sporting and performance hub for both the local and international communities of the city. The new campus enables us to add even more value to our currently outstanding educational provision, whilst utilising the reputation of Aldar Academies’ brand to positively impact the lives of our learning community in the UAE.
Here’s an in-depth look at Yasmina British Academy (YBA) in Abu Dhabi:
🏫 School Profile
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Opened in September 2008 in Khalifa City A by Aldar Academies, YBA serves children aged 3–18 (FS1–Year 13) and enrols over 2,400 students from more than 70 nationalities
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Delivered within a co-ed framework, it remains mixed throughout, with modern British–style pastoral and house systems .
📜 Culture & Curriculum
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Offers the English National Curriculum, progressing to IGCSEs and A‑Levels (with BTECs and IB planned), alongside mandatory Arabic, Islamic Studies, and UAE Social Studies
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Learning is inquiry-based and project-led, enhanced by STEAM – science, technology, engineering, arts & maths
🏆 Quality & Accreditation
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Achieved Outstanding in all ADEK performance categories (2019, reaffirmed in 2022–23) and also holds a top BSO inspection status
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Notably praised for high teaching standards, leadership, student behaviour and welfare
🏗️ New Campus & Facilities
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Relocated in 2024 to a state‑of‑the‑art campus across 180,000 m², with clearly separated zones for Foundation, Primary, Secondary, and Sixth Form
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Facilities include:
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Large auditorium & black-box theatre
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12 science labs; STEAM, D&T, media, and recording suites
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Sports: 2 outdoor pitches, indoor halls, multi-pools, Astroturf
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Fully tech-enabled classrooms, libraries, canteen, clinic
🎓 Academic Outcomes
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YBA students outperform UK national averages:
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Music, drama, and performing arts are especially prominent—it's a centre of excellence in arts education .
🌱 Pastoral & Sustainability Initiatives
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Highly rated pastoral care with strong emphasis on student well‑being, community, and personal growth
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In 2023, YBA won the Green‑Flag ECO‑Schools award and engages students via sustainability programmes: climate projects, food‑waste campaigns, and a "Sustainability Ambassadors" network
💷 Fees & Admissions
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2024–25 Tuition fees range from AED 48,465 (FS1) to AED 65,550 (Y10–Y13)
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Admissions involve assessment and interview; the school offers interest-free fee installment plans .
👍 Pros & ⚠️ Considerations
| ✔️ Strengths |
⚠️ Considerations |
| Outstanding ADEK & BSO ratings |
Some academic areas rated "Very Good" in recent inspections |
| New premium campus with world-class facilities |
Fees are premium and rising post-relocation |
| Excellent exam results & performing arts |
Parent surveys show ~70% satisfaction; concerns about value for money |
| Strong sustainability, pastoral, co‑curricular programmes |
Staff forums report post-Covid teaching turnover & growing class sizes |
📝 Summary
Yasmina British Academy stands out as a top-tier, innovation-focused school in Abu Dhabi—combining outstanding credentials, superb facilities, and high academic achievement, with strong arts, environmental, and pastoral provision. Families seeking exellence in a supportive, modern environment will appreciate YBA.
However, recent staff changes and the premium fee level warrant on-site visits and deeper conversations with current parents—and checking class sizes in key year groups.