UK’s renowned Harrow School to open Abu Dhabi branch next year

Enrolment will begin in October

Harrow International School Abu Dhabi is to open next year. Photo: ADIO

The UK's prestigious Harrow School will open an international campus in Abu Dhabi next year, which will be the emirate's first boarding school.

The 453-year-old institution, which has alumni including royalty and world leaders such as Winston Churchill and Jawaharlal Nehru, will be based on Saadiyat Island and cater for 1,800 pupils.

Harrow International School Abu Dhabi is set to open its doors in the middle of next year, with enrolment beginning in October.

No details on tuition fees have been released, but the school is being labelled 'super premium'.

The flagship school will be the first international Harrow branch in the Middle East and will be operated by UAE education provider Taaleem.

Taaleem acquired the rights to own and operate Harrow International Schools across the Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait in a deal confirmed last year.

“The launch of Harrow International School Abu Dhabi, the first Harrow International School in the GCC, marks our strategic expansion into the super-premium education sector," said Khalid Al Tayer, chairman of Taaleem.

Edward Hobart, British Ambassador to the UAE, said the school will be primed to mould the next generation of leaders.

"The opening of Harrow International School in the UAE is a testament to the strong educational ties between the UK and the UAE and our shared aspiration for academic excellence," Mr Hobart said.

"As the alma mater of Winston Churchill, Harrow has a legacy of building character and educating leaders. By establishing this school, Abu Dhabi will benefit from the finest traditions of British education which should help to shape the next generation of the UAE’s leaders. This exposure to Emirati and British influence will inspire students to reach their full potential and contribute to a brighter future.”

The announcement was made on Wednesday following approval from the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) and the signing of a land lease agreement for a plot on Saadiyat Island.

The launch is being hailed as a milestone for Abu Dhabi Investment Office's Musataha programme, which allows UAE national investors to develop long-term infrastructure projects on public land.

The opening of the school aims to support the development of the UAE's expanding education sector and "attract high-net-worth individuals", Taaleem said.

Elite education

The school will be built on a 70,000 square metre plot and will initially cater to students from early years to Year 6, with gradual expansion through the higher years.

An ‘Expression of Interest’ process for families and students will open shortly and will be followed by the opening of enrolments in October 2025.

The school will offer a British curriculum and provide extensive co-curricular programmes to the UAE, Taaleem said.

"Class sizes will be optimised to ensure personalised attention, with a focus on academic rigour and holistic development," the school group stated.