Al Dhafra Private Academy

Al Dhafra Private Academy (ADPA) is a not-for-profit school established in 1994 and located in Al Ain, widely known as the Garden City of the UAE. The school offers a comprehensive American curriculum from KG1 through Grade 12 for students aged 4 to 18, alongside the UAE Ministry of Education programmes in Arabic, Islamic Studies and Emirati Studies. 

ADPA is inspected annually by ADEK and has achieved a Very Good rating, reflecting its strong academic standards and supportive learning environment. With a focus on continuous improvement and student wellbeing, the school aims to position itself among the leading schools in Al Ain. Annual school fees range from AED 9,378 to AED 25,847, making it an accessible option for those seeking quality international education.

• Location: Al Tiwayya, Al Ain
• School fees: AED 9,378 - AED 25,847
• Curriculum: American
• ADEK rating: Very Good
• Years Offered: KG 1 - Grade 12

Located in a beautiful community of Al Tiwayya, Al Dhafra Private Academy UAE enjoys proximity to several residential areas, including:

• Al Jimi
• Al Masoudi
• Al Ameriya
• Al Qattara

The nearest family-friendly neighbourhood is Al Ameriya. However, parents searching for residential options near the school can consider:

• Apartments for rent near Al Dhafra Private Academy
• Villas for rent near Al Dhafra Private Academy

Facilities available at Al Dhafra Academy Al Ain include:

Al Dhafra Private Academy is located in Al Tiwayya, a community that is connected to the mainland via Dubai – Al Ain Highway. You can find many community parks, play areas and entertainment venues in the area.

Finding a school that offers an international curriculum that too at an affordable price can be tricky. But Al Dhafra Private Academyl in Al Ain is one of the few schools that fulfil this requirement. Apart from the American curriculum, your child has the opportunity to participate in wide-ranging extracurricular activities that ensures their well-rounded development.

Similarly, facilities available on campus allow students to experience and learn 21st-century skills. To ensure that the school maintains its good rating and keeps progressing in the future, a senior leadership team is established.

Al Nashaa Al Saleh School delivers the American curriculum from Kindergarten until high school.

Al Dhafra Private Academy in Al Towayya offers the American curriculum from KG 1 until Grade 12.

Both primary and middle school students are encouraged to get familiar with the real-life application of their classroom learnings. They are also asked to take part in activities like cultural programs, literary events, field trips and inter-school competitions. These activities and events inculcate skills such as creativity and critical thinking in students.

Similarly, assessments and exams are also a crucial part of the curriculum. These tests allow students to monitor their performance against the set benchmarks.

The Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge is responsible for inspecting and rating private and public schools in the capital. The picture below shows the 6 ratings awarded to schools.

ADEK has rated Al Dhafra Private Academy Al Ain as Very Good.

Like many American schools in Al Ain, Al Dhafra Private Academy’s academic calendar starts in August and ends in July. The academic calendar highlights school breaks and national and Islamic holidays

The admission process at Al Dhafra Private Academy Al Ain remains open from 1 March until 26 March for KG classes and new enrollments. Please note that priority will be given to students who have siblings enrolled at NSPS.

The school will entertain re-registration applications from 5th April to 14th May. Those interested in Al Dhafra Private Academy admissions from Grade 1 until Grade 12 must appear for an entrance exam in the month of April from 01:00 pm to 02:30 pm. Once your child has cleared the entrance exam, they will be called for an interview. Admission will be granted to those who clear the interview.

Students coming from MOE curriculum school will not be admitted in Grade 6 and above. Also, parents must provide the following documents at the time of admission:

• 2 passport size photos
• Student’s passport copy + valid visa
• Parent’s passport copy
• Copy of birth certificate (attested)
• Vaccination Certificate ( 2 Copies )
• Student Emirates ID ( original + copy)
• Parents Emirates ID ( original + copy)
• Family book ( Emirati students )
• Health Insurance  ( 2 Copies )
• A copy of the electricity bill, house rental agreement or property ownership document
• Driving and vehicle license
• Registration fees 5% of total payment

Students seeking admission in Grade 1 to Grade 12 must submit additional documents, including:

• Final grade certificate (attested if it is from government school)
• Transferring certificate from government school after the final exam
• Students data should be updated before transferring

Before enrollment, parents must ensure that their child meets the following age placement criteria.

This is based on the age of the students on 31st July (for schools beginning in April) and 31st December (for schools beginning in September). Source: ADEK

* This is to cater to students transferring from systems that admit students of a younger age)

The fee structure of Dhafra Private Academy Al Ain is as follows:

The above-mentioned fees also include book charges.

Al Dhafra Private Academy Al Towayya has a canteen facility that serves healthy snacks and refreshments to students. Parents can also send home-packed food with their children.

Al Dhafra Private Academy provides a structured school bus service to support students commuting across Al Ain. The transport service is managed in line with safety regulations and follows planned routes to ensure punctual pick-up and drop-off. This optional service is available at an annual fee of AED 3,510, offering a practical travel solution for students throughout the school year.

Students at ADPA Al Towayya have access to several sports facilities. Kindergarteners have a well-equipped outdoor play area. You will also find an indoor multi-purpose hall that serves as a basketball court, volleyball court and football field. There are large spaces outside the school building where students can engage in various other sports, games.

Extracurricular activities offered at Al Dhafra Private Academy Al Towayya Al Ain not only supports the American curriculum but allow students to pursue their passion and interest outside of classic classroom learning.

Field trips to various tourist attractions within Al Ain and across the country are arranged round-the-year by Al Dhafra Private Academy Al Ain. These school trips are one of the many ways in which students’ learning takes place.

You will find a well-maintained clinic at Al Dhafra American Private Academy. Your child will be provided first-aid care in case of minor injuries. Emergencies and major injuries are referred to the nearest hospital.

The school requests parents to provide updated contact details at the time of admission so they can be contacted during an emergency.

Al Dhafra Private Academy Al Ain firmly believes that parents need to be involved in their child’s academic journey.

One of the essential communication methods available to parents and guardians is the Al Dhafra Private Academy portal. Here, you can create an account to know more about the school policy, events, examination, calendar, student’s attendance and other features.

Similarly, the school conducts parent-teacher meetings so that parents and teachers can discuss the strong and weak learning areas of students. Likewise, parents are invited to various events organised by ADPA School Al Ain to create a sense of community and bonding among teachers, parents and students.

• Telephone Number: +971-3-763-0444 | +971-3-763-3766
• Email:
  • General Enquiries: info@alnashaa.sch.ae
• Al Dhafra Private Academy Website

Note that the cover image belongs to Al Dhafra Private Academy

What are the timings of your school?

The website does not publish school hours. However, ADPA remains open from Monday through Friday.

Do you conduct after-school activities?

The school offers a plethora of extracurricular activities. Some of them are conducted after school hours.

How many grades are there in your school?

Al Dhafra offers education from KG 1 until Grade 12.

Can you please describe the academic calendar of your school?

The academic calendar runs from August until July of the next year.

Can you please mention the range of the tuition fee charged by your school?

The annual tuition fee ranges from AED 9,378 - AED 25,847.

How do you communicate with parents?

There are multiple ways of communicating with parents including a school portal, parent-teacher meeting, school website and social media pages maintained by Al Dhafra Academy.

Do you have a cafeteria or a canteen on campus?

A canteen on the school grounds offers snacks and refreshments to students.

How often does your school arrange field trips?

Students are taken to various destinations in the UAE on field trips round the year.