Shining Star International School

Established in 2014, Shining Star International School, Abu Dhabi is a CBSE-affiliated institution located in Musaffah, providing education from KG1 to Grade 12. The school serves a diverse student body drawn from several nationalities, with a strong representation from the Indian subcontinent. This multicultural environment supports inclusive learning and encourages students to respect and appreciate different cultures.

Shining Star International School is dedicated to delivering a high-quality and holistic educational experience. The CBSE curriculum is carefully designed and supported by a broad range of co-curricular and extracurricular activities, enabling students to develop academic excellence alongside essential life skills. School leadership places emphasis on a challenging yet inclusive approach to meet the needs of students with varied learning abilities.

The school has achieved a “Good” rating from ADEK, reflecting its commitment to educational standards, student wellbeing, and continuous improvement. Shining Star International School offers a clear and affordable fee structure, with annual fees ranging from AED 8,630 for KG1 to AED 16,930 for Grade 12, making it a value-driven choice for families seeking CBSE education in Abu Dhabi.

• Location: Musaffah
• School fee: AED 8,630 – AED 16,930
• Curriculum: Indian (CBSE) curriculum
• Co-ed or segregate: Co-education
• ADEK rating: Good
• Years offered: KG 1 - Grade 12

Shining Star School Abu Dhabi is easily accessible for families living in:

• Al Mafraq
• Al Shawamekh
• Al Shamkha

Al Shamkha is tucked away from the central areas in Abu Dhabi and is closer to Musaffah, a popular industrial area in the UAE capital. It is a popular district for buying commercial properties in Abu Dhabi. The freehold area also has residential apartments.

Those looking to live near the school can check out:

• Apartments for rent near Shining Star International School

Shining Star International School offers a well-developed campus designed to support effective teaching and learning. The infrastructure includes the following facilities:

Shining Star International School is located in Musaffah between Al Jidah and Al Razim Street. Musaffah is famous as an industrial area, but it is home to several schools. Shining Star School is close to Abu Dhabi – Al Ain Road (E30).

The school aims to transform young learners into inspirational leaders of tomorrow. Shining Star School Musaffah empowers students with the right knowledge and teaches them life skills.

Shining Star Abu Dhabi is an inclusive school and believes that all kids have an equal right to quality learning. Depending on their specific needs, students get special privileges including front seating, a concession on homework and slight modifications in exams. Kids with vision problems are given books with larger fonts to help them read properly.

The qualified teaching staff provides **Individualized Educational Plans (IEP) for students of determination. Learning Support Assistants (LSA) provide additional help to students in need.

To accommodate students from various backgrounds, the school teaches five languages including Arabic, Hindi, Urdu, English and Malayalam.**

Shining Star School Musaffah also has a Student Wellbeing Programme that ensures each student is looked after carefully. SSIS offers competitive co-curricular activities including:

After a positive response to Shining Star International Abu Dhabi, the school opened a new campus in Wathba. Three other Shining Star schools are planned to open in Dubai, Sharjah and New Delhi.

Shining Star International School offers classes from KG1 to Grade 12.

The school follows the CBSE curriculum, which is the largest examination programme in the world.

The Kindergarten programme at Shining Star International School is designed to nurture confident, happy and curious learners through a progressive and well-structured early years curriculum. Strong emphasis is placed on the development of personal, social and emotional skills, helping children build self-esteem, independence and positive relationships from an early age. Language and communication are strengthened through engaging and age-appropriate initiatives such as Global Phonics, structured speaking opportunities, and interactive learning experiences.

The Early Years curriculum goes beyond the traditional focus on reading, writing and numeracy to embrace the three C’s of 21st-century learning – the Child, the Content and the Context. STEM-based activities are introduced to promote early analytical thinking, while exposure to subjects such as Arabic, Islamic Studies and optional languages supports a smooth transition from KG2 to Grade 1. The RAZ A–Z Reading Programme is implemented in KG2 to foster early literacy skills and a love for reading.

The Primary curriculum is student-centred and experiential, offering meaningful learning experiences that help students connect classroom knowledge to real-life situations. Aligned with CBSE guidelines, the National Curriculum Framework, the New Education Policy 2020, and the ADEK Student Competency Framework, the programme focuses on skill development, critical thinking and knowledge construction. Experiential learning and the Right Choices Curriculum support students in becoming responsible, reflective learners.

Global perspectives are embedded through international projects aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, while ISTE Standards guide lesson planning to ensure students acquire essential 21st-century skills. Hands-on initiatives such as the Farm-in-School programme promote interdisciplinary learning, and students are encouraged to explore interests through robotics, one of the most popular subjects. From Grade 3 onwards, the TED-Ed Club supports communication, leadership and interpersonal skills. A wide choice of second languages is offered, and literacy development is strengthened through access to the RAZ A–Z and RAZ Plus reading programmes.

Subjects taught in the Primary Section include:

• English
• Second Language (Hindi, French, Urdu, Tamil or Malayalam)
• Arabic
• Environmental Studies
• Mathematics
• Moral Education
• Islamic Studies
• Moral Science
• UAE Social Studies
• Global Citizenship 
• Computer Science
• Robotics
• Art & Craft
• Library

The Middle and Secondary curriculum follows CBSE guidelines, enhanced by the New Education Policy 2020, the ADEK Student Competency Framework, and ISTE Standards, ensuring a strong academic foundation combined with global awareness. Teaching and learning focus on critical thinking, inquiry-based learning, digital literacy and collaboration, preparing students to thrive in an increasingly interconnected world. International projects linked to the Sustainable Development Goals, global school partnerships, and technology-integrated learning provide students with real-world context and relevance.

At the Senior Secondary level, the CBSE curriculum is designed to support academic excellence, research skills and informed career pathways. Students are encouraged to develop independence, resilience and ethical values through rigorous academic study and structured guidance. Strong emphasis is placed on board examination readiness through mock exams, continuous assessment, counselling support and differentiated teaching strategies. Enrichment opportunities such as Model United Nations, TED-Ed Club, robotics projects, school farming initiatives, digital labs and educational tours further enhance holistic development.

Subjects offered at the Secondary and Senior Secondary levels include:

• English, Mathematics
• Physics
• Chemistry
• Biology
• Business Studies
• Accountancy
• Economics
• Computer Science
• Information Practices
• Arabic (Second Language)
• Global Citizenship
• UAE Social Studies
• Moral Education
• Islamic Studies or Moral Science
• Art & Craft
• Robotics
• Health and Physical Education
• Library (with RAZ A–Z Reading Programme).

The ADEK inspection framework evaluates schools across six performance levels, ranging from Outstanding and Very Good to Good, Acceptable, Weak, and Very Weak. The current ADEK rating for Shining Star International School is Good.

Shining Star International School academic calendar starts from April and ends in March. Here is a breakdown of the school’s academic calendar:

Shining Star International School academic calendar is available on the official website.

Shining Star International School welcomes all students. Interested applicants can fill the online registration form. Once the form is submitted, the applicant receives an auto-generated confirmation email.

To proceed with the merit-based admission process, parents need to submit a few documents. After submitting the documents, the applicant has to appear in an assessment. Please note that admissions are offered depending on the availability of seats.

For admission in KG1 and Grade 1, there will be a direct assessment. For admission in Grade 2 to Grade 9, an aptitude test is conducted. These tests involve basic subjects such as English and Mathematics. Applicants have to submit the application form with supporting documents to the admission office before the entrance test. Depending on the assessment result, students and parents may be asked to meet the senior leadership team of the school.

Admission for Grade 11 is based on Grade 10 board exams results and the entrance test takes place at the school. The school accommodates special appointments for overseas candidates according to their availability in the UAE.

Once the Shining Star International School admission process is completed, candidates will receive an admission slip with the admission reference number and the class offered.

Documents that should be submitted with the application form include:

• Application form (printed copy of online registration form)
• Five coloured passport size photographs
• Coloured passport copies of student and parents (first page, valid visa page and address page)
• Coloured copies of both sides of the Emirates ID card of student and parents
• Coloured copy of student’s medical insurance card
• Coloured attested coloured copy of the birth certificate (notary requirements)
• Last report card of the student’s previous school
• Complete health form of the student with copies of immunisation records
• Recent water and electricity bill as proof of address.

Parent Registration Form available on the school website must also be submitted as a part of the process.

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

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

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

Shining Star International School fee structure varies according to the grade. Here’s an overview to give you a better idea:

Additional charges include:

The school offers a 5% discount on the annual tuition fee for parents who make a one-time payment. Additionally, a 7% sibling discount is available for the second child, while the third to fifth children receive a 10% discount on their annual tuition fees.

The Anmol Ratan Scholarship awards AED 5,000, to be shared among the top-performing students, with the final decision resting with the admission and academic team.

There is an in-house café where students get fresh, hygienic, snacks and nutritious food.

The school offers a safe transport service to students. Details including bus routes, pick-up timings, bus schedule and transportation fee are communicated to parents at the time of admission. All school buses have female attendants and GPS trackers.

Decisions regarding the bus service are made by the transport operator in accordance with the school’s transport policy. Parents can contact the operations executive of the transport vendor at the school during school hours for further details. Annual transport fees range from AED 9,644 to AED 18,388.

The school has premium sports facilities for students. The school has astroturf running tracks, football, volleyball and badminton courts. Students can also use the cricket pitch.

Students at Shining Star International School can take part in a variety of extracurricular activities. These activities support their learning abilities and help develop new skills. Students can practise yoga for their mental and physical growth. International Yoga Day was recently celebrated at the school.

Different competitions such as Quran recitation competition, inter-house football competition, best out of waste competition, world art day are also held at SSIS Abu Dhabi.

Shining Star International School students are part of different inter-school competitions. One student won the Love You Mom Art competition at Dalma Mall Abu Dhabi while SSIS got the third position in the inter-school public speaking competition held by EEG.

Shining Star School Abu Dhabi organises field trips to provide students with an entertaining educational experience. Teachers closely monitor and supervise students during their field trips.

Kindergarteners were taken to Emirates Park and Zoo, where they were thrilled to see animals in their natural habitat. Such trips help young learners enhance their connection with other living organisms.

Shining Star International School has several after-school activities. Some of these are free while some are offered at a small monthly fee. Students engage in following activities after-school dismissal:

To handle medical emergencies and health-related problems during school hours, there is an in-house school clinic managed by a full-time qualified nurse. The school health centre has a well-equipped medication, treatment and diagnosis room.

Shining Star International School connects teachers and parents and is delighted with the support it gets from parents. The Parent Council plays an active role during in-house school functions. Shining Star International School Parent-Teacher council was formed on 12th September 2015 and a new council is created each academic year.

Parents receive a registration form for The Parent Council at the beginning of each year, which are then reviewed by the Senior Leadership Team (SLT). Parents with a diverse set of skills are chosen for the job.

• Telephone:+971-2-559-6444 | +971-2-559-9080
• Email: info@ssis.ae
• Shining Star International School Website
• Shining Star International School Facebook

Note that the cover image belongs to Shining Star International School

What is the location of Shining Star International School?

Musaffah, Abu Dhabi.

What is the annual school fee range?

Fees range from AED 8,630 to AED 16,930.

Which curriculum does the school follow?

The school follows the Indian (CBSE) curriculum.

Is the school co-educational or segregated?

Shining Star International School is co-educational.

What is the current ADEK rating of the school?

The school has a Good rating from ADEK.