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At BIS Abu Dhabi, we believe that when families and schools team up, incredible things happen. We’re proud to have won the Parent Partnership category at both the ADEK Awards 2024/25 and the MENA School Excellence Awards 2025, but this award is about more than just recognition. It’s about the people, the conversations, and the community that make it all possible. Read on to discover how we’re making a difference together.

EDIB stands for Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging. At The British International School Abu Dhabi, we are committed to giving our students an experience that is inclusive and representative of all nationalities, genders, abilities and religions. In essence EDIB is an extension of our school’s core values: Kindness, Honesty and Respect.  

Jasmine has been a valued member of the BIS Abu Dhabi community since she joined the school in August 2015 in Year 5. After nine remarkable years, she has graduated with an outstanding 41 points out of a possible 45 in the IB Diploma Programme. This exceptional achievement places Jasmine among the top-performing students at the school this year, and her dedication and hard work truly paid off.

Joana joined the BIS Abu Dhabi community on 29th August 2022 in Year 12. After just two years at the school, she has graduated with an exceptional score of 42 points in the IB Diploma Programme. This impressive achievement is a testament to her dedication, resilience, and hard work throughout her time at BIS Abu Dhabi.

Gemma joined the BIS Abu Dhabi family on 28th August 2019, beginning her journey in Year 9. After five transformative years at the school, she has graduated with an exceptional score of 40 points in the IB Diploma Programme. This remarkable achievement reflects her dedication, resilience, and hard work.

Katalin joined the BIS Abu Dhabi family in 2021, starting her journey in Year 10. After three memorable years at the school, she has graduated with an impressive score of 39 out of a possible 45 points in the IB Diploma Programme. This outstanding achievement is a testament to her dedication and hard work.

Owen joined the BIS Abu Dhabi family in 2017, starting his journey in Year 7. After seven memorable years at the school, he has graduated with an impressive score of 43 out of a possible 45 points in the IB Diploma Programme. This outstanding achievement is a testament to his dedication and hard work.

Angelina joined the BIS Abu Dhabi family in 2018, starting her journey in Year 8. After four memorable years at the school, she has graduated with an impressive score of 39 out of a possible 45 points in the IB Diploma Programme. This outstanding achievement is a testament to her dedication and hard work.

Younes joined the BIS Abu Dhabi family in 2013, starting his journey in Year 3. After 11 years at the school, he has graduated with an exceptional score of 44 points out of a possible 45 in the IB Diploma Programme. This outstanding achievement is a testament to his dedication and hard work.

Although I am relatively new to BIS Abu Dhabi, I know the unwavering determination that lies within the community to be the best that we can be for the children, the families and the staff in our school.  Just the key phrases: ‘Be Ambitious’ and ‘World Class Learning’ that echo through the halls tell you that nothing short of the best is good enough for those who are part of the BIS Abu Dhabi community.  Taking on a Senior Leadership role within such a large community, was both exciting and terrifying in equal measure.  The responsibility of providing the best opportunities to the community is not something to take lightly.

As many of our current parents will have noticed, something exciting is happening behind the beige screens at Gate 5. Stay tuned: Construction on a new exciting outside area is underway and it will be open for all to enjoy soon!

The meteorological events of this week have certainly tried to test us all. As I walked my dog at 5am on Wednesday morning and waded through water that covered my ankles in parts, a sense of awe confronted me. There were many people up and about, much more than usual and not just the early morning joggers and dog walkers. People had come out to help clear up, to lend a hand to help sort out the area they lived in. They weren’t just taking care of their own area and belongings, but helping to sort communal areas and each other’s spaces.  Neighbours and maintenance people all working hand in hand to get things back in order.

Yesterday saw the UAE recognise and celebrate mums. In fact, in the Arab world, there are over 10 countries that all celebrate the importance of mums on this day. The history of it in the Arab world originates from Egypt. It was introduced in Egypt by a journalist called Mustafa Amin and was first celebrated in 1956. The practice has since been adopted by many Arab countries.

Recently, I've had the incredible privilege of connecting with professionals and leaders across the Middle East, India, and Asia. These conversations have surpassed the typical networking experience, becoming windows into diverse perspectives, rich experiences, and unique expertise. It has become clear that collaboration is not just a buzzword but a powerful force that moves us beyond individual capacities and geographical boundaries.

For a moment I stood a little aside from the Community Iftar this week.  Alone, an onlooker, I watched a scene unfold.  Children ran and played.  Older children organised fun and games.  Adults talked and laughed, the sun turned the sky a rosy shade of pink and the smell of the imminent iftar filled the air.  A voice cried out in song.  New faces, familiar faces, old faces, smiling faces.  Standing alone, I couldn’t help but smile – and I couldn’t stop my heart from bursting with pride – at the sight of this community being together.

From a very early age, parents like to project a future onto the youngsters in their care.  How many parents, seeing their toddlers singing and dancing in their innocence, have watched with smiling eyes and remarked ‘they are destined for the stage!’?  How many children playing with a toy stethoscope have been told that they will make a splendid doctor one day?  How many 8-year-old Lego fanatics have been told that Lego is a fine introduction to a career in engineering?  It’s a comforting thought to imagine that the seeds of a successful future lie in the joys of the present moment.  If only a child’s journey into adulthood was so simple!

Navigating the dual roles of parent and school leader within the same setting can indeed be both enriching and challenging! I wouldn't trade this unique position, as it offers unparalleled insight into the social, emotional, and academic journey of both students and parents at BIS Abu Dhabi.

At this time of year around the world, many international schools are busy planning for the year ahead. One of the key aspects of that is recruitment. Schools are looking to add to their teams, trying to find the right people and make their school stronger. I particularly enjoy this time of year. I love getting to know people, unpicking what they have to offer. Looking to see if they could be a good fit for our team. Do they have the right qualities, the right attributes to be able to teach our children to give them more of an advantage?

My role in school has taken me on many journeys, more recently embarking on a collective mission to create a safe and enriching online environment for our young learners. On January 3rd, we had the privilege of hosting an E-Safety Workshop, where we delved into the online world and practical measures aimed at ensuring our children's safety in the digital realm. Today, I'm excited to share with you some valuable insights from the workshop and offer practical tips to keep our loved ones secure while exploring the wonders of the internet.

One People One Planet 2 was a wonderful community event, conceived, planned and led by students.  So what is OPOP?  One People One Planet is an idea.  What if we really listened to what our students talk and care about?  What if we hosted a community event that showcased the work that our students do in school to promote sustainability?  What if we invited our community into school to see a glimpse of how the world might be a little better?  What if we encouraged our community to do one thing – or more – a little differently so that we used less, recycled more, reduced our impact?  What if we paid a little more attention to our wellbeing through activity, rather than through consumption?