The Abu Dhabi International (Pvt.) School offers an advanced level curriculum from kindergarten to grade twelve designed to prepare students for post-secondary college or university studies. The language of instruction is English. The curriculum has been developed over the years with four main goals in mind:

To teach the skills and concepts related to a traditional liberal education.
To promote fluency in the use of written and spoken English.
To meet the requirements of the Ministry of Education of the United Arab Emirates.
To instill the values and attitudes held by the school administration and the cultural leaders in our community.

The curriculum spans two years of kindergarten, which are referred to as KG-1 and KG-2 or Prep, six years of elementary schooling from grade 1 to grade 6, and six years of secondary schooling from grade 7 to grade 12. In each of these years, the curriculum combines core subjects math, English, science, social studies, and physical education, optional subjects art, music, computers, and library, and required subjects Arabic and Islamic Studies. The curriculum and textbooks are mainly American and British in origin and influence, as are many of the teachers and their teaching methodologies. The approach is student-centered, as opposed to teacher or textbook centered, using an inquiry or investigative approach rather than uncritical reliance on traditional knowledge, and encourages discussion and research rather than rote learning and lectures.

There are some features of the curriculum that are unique to this school or to the United Arab Emirates. For example, as required by the Ministry of Education, all students study the Arabic language. Where Arabic is not the student’s first language, a more basic version of language instruction, called Special Arabic, is provided. All Moslem students are given instruction in their faith, in Arabic. English Islamics is offered for Islamic students who speak English rather than Arabic. Non-Islamic students take non-denominational programs stressing ethics and values.

Another measure which has been taken to encourage students to broaden their minds and outlooks in an international setting is the requirement of students to study a third language, French, from grade 5 to grade 8. The option to study another foreign language is available to students from grade 9 who choose to follow the IGCSE program. Students going to grade 9 have two options available to them. Those who prefer the American system can follow a program of course selections which will, at the end of grade twelve, allow them to enter most universities in the world in the freshman year. Top students, however, are encouraged to take the British-based IGCSE program and sit for the A level and 0 level examinations. This allows them to gain several university exemptions and may enable them to enroll in the sophomore year at some universities.

The Abu Dhabi International (Pvt.) School is proud of the curriculum it has developed over the years and is committed to continuing the process of review, modernization, and improvement. The academic portion of the curriculum, however, is of little value unless it is supported by a sound moral and social framework. It would be irresponsible to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in the international scene without also giving them a set of values so that they can apply their knowledge wisely. Fundamental to the curriculum, then, is the fostering and application to life of some of the following precepts.

To treat equally all people, regardless of race, color, language, nationality, religion, age or sex, to value honesty and truthfulness, to respect the environment, to demonstrate civic and national pride and responsibility, to respect law and order, to maintain decent standards of language and behavior, to be spiritual beings, to have initiative and ambition, to respect elders and those in positions of authority, to have self-respect, to see hard work and personal effort as the keys to success.