Inside Harrow Abu Dhabi school ahead of next year's opening

Harrow Abu Dhabi, one of the world's most prestigious schools, is set to open a branch in the UAE in August 2027 after a delay this year. The school will cater to families from the UAE and the Gulf region, who would typically send their children overseas for education. The fees for the school range from Dh80,000 to Dh106,000 per pupil, with additional costs for boarding.

The school's founding headmaster, Adrian Frost, compared the transition of Harrow's education to the UAE to purchasing a Rolls-Royce overseas, stating that while there would be differences due to location and regulator, the ethos and culture would remain the same. The school will initially admit children from Foundation Stage 1 to Year 6, with boarding options available in the future.

The campus, located on Saadiyat Island, will initially accommodate 1,800 pupils on a 70,000 square meter site, which is 30% larger than the Dubai campus. The school aims to attract families who might otherwise send their children overseas for education, highlighting the cultural institutions and proximity to New York University Abu Dhabi as part of its appeal. The school's timeline puts Abu Dhabi's first boarding school at least two years away.