A landmark AED 385.8 million investment from Aldar Education, in partnership with Cranleigh UK, will deliver a brand new purpose built home for Cranleigh Abu Dhabi’s Prep and Senior pupils on Saadiyat Island, ready to welcome students from the 2027 to 2028 academic year.
Built to match top global school standards, the unified campus sits just seven minutes from the current site and sits beside the existing Pre Prep building, bringing all year groups together within Saadiyat’s family focused district. It will hold up to 2,178 students, creating much needed extra spaces for families seeking premium British education in Abu Dhabi while protecting the warm, personalised learning atmosphere Cranleigh is recognised for.
Every part of the design prioritises student growth across academics, sport, creativity and cultural identity, with the site awarded Estidama Pearl 5 certification, the UAE’s highest green building rating. Sustainable design choices cut long term energy use and create a healthy, climate friendly learning space for children and staff alike.
The academic spaces have been fully reimagined to support curious, hands on learning for every age group. Separate dedicated labs for biology, chemistry and physics come fitted with AI and virtual reality tools, letting students explore tricky scientific ideas through immersive digital simulations. Sixth Form pupils gain access to a specialist research library, collaborative study zones, an exhibition hall and a leadership conference room to build critical thinking and teamwork skills. A dedicated Sixth Form Majlis offers a calm space for young adults to connect with Emirati heritage, Arabic language and national identity, embedding local culture into daily school life rather than limiting it to lesson time.
Younger Prep learners will benefit from their own STEM and discovery labs, alongside an expanded Model United Nations suite where children can practise global dialogue and independent research from an early age.
Student Focused Sport and Creative Arts Facilities
The new campus brings vastly upgraded spaces for physical activity and creative expression, crafted to nurture every child’s hobbies and talents. For sport, families will find a full 50 metre eight lane competition swimming pool with a linked aquatic gym, plus a two storey multi purpose hall hosting gymnastics, Jiu Jitsu and dance studios. Additional spaces include padel courts, a spectator ready basketball court, golf simulation equipment, cricket nets and table tennis areas.
A standout feature for sports loving students is a full professional natural grass football pitch, a rare offering across Abu Dhabi schools that supports safe, high quality training and helps attract experienced sports coaches to work with young athletes.
Creative learners will enjoy a large expanded arts zone anchored by a 650 seat auditorium with an extended stage, alongside a flexible black box theatre. Separate studios cover drama, music recitals, instrumental practice, music technology and a professional audio recording room. Fine art and digital media spaces include a senior art studio with dark room, design technology workshop, podcast and radio suite and fully equipped ICT labs for digital design work.
Vision for Holistic Student Development
Sahar Cooper, CEO of Aldar Education, shared the core thinking behind the campus design, centred entirely on young people’s daily experiences and long term progress.
“We have designed Cranleigh Abu Dhabi’s new campus with the belief that the quality of a student’s environment is inseparable from the quality of their outcomes. Every decision from the discipline specific science labs and AI integrated classrooms to the competition standard aquatic centre and Sixth Form Majlis, was made with this in mind.”
He added, that this is a next generation environment that expands what is possible for the students intellectually, athletically, creatively and culturally. He says that it preserves everything that makes Cranleigh Abu Dhabi extraordinary while enhancing the individual intimacy and academic excellence the school is known for.
Current pupils and parents can rest assured there will be no disruption to daily learning before the move. The existing Cranleigh Abu Dhabi campus will run full normal operations up until the 2027 to 2028 academic year. Aldar Education and Cranleigh UK have put a detailed phased transition plan in place to ensure smooth continuity for all students, teachers and families when the new site opens its doors.
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