About JSAD
Message from the Principal
The Japanese School Abu Dhabi was established in 1978 as an affiliated institution of the Embassy of Japan in the United Arab Emirates, with the mission of providing Japanese-standard education to children of Japanese nationality living in Abu Dhabi.
As of 2025, our school has 35 Japanese students and 30 Emirati students across nine grade levels in our elementary and junior high divisions. JSAD is the only officially accredited Japanese school among the 94 Japanese schools worldwide that accepts students of foreign nationality (UAE nationals).
We provide a full range of educational experiences equivalent to those offered in Japan, including not only academic classes but also activities such as cleaning duties, class responsibilities, school events, field trips, and study excursions. At the same time, we actively incorporate cultural exchange with the UAE into our educational activities. For example, during the UAE National Day celebration, we host a large-scale event comparable to those held at other local schools, with the enthusiastic support of Emirati families.
At JSAD, every day offers opportunities for international exchange and cross-cultural understanding. To foster this environment, our teachers make dedicated efforts to understand the culture, customs, and religious values of the UAE.
We also strive to create inclusive classrooms and lessons based on the principles of Universal Design for Learning, aiming to build a school where all children—Japanese and Emirati alike—can enjoy learning and look forward to coming each day.
Together, as a unified team, our faculty and staff are committed to achieving the school’s educational mission:
“To nurture students with intellectual excellence, physical strength, emotional richness, and a global mindset.”
We will continue working collaboratively and flexibly, with dedication and a shared purpose.
Satoshi Kanda
16th Principal
School Overview
Country / City
United Arab Emirates – Abu Dhabi
Established
April 15, 1978 (Accredited on January 24, 1995)
School Name
Japanese School Abu Dhabi (JSAD)
Principal
Satoshi Kanda
Address
P.O. BOX 8120
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
TEL
+971-2-4446104（学校）
Mail
jsad@jsad.ae
Status
Private school in the United Arab Emirates
(Affiliated with the Embassy of Japan)
Governing Body
Board of Directors, Japanese School Abu Dhabi
Grades and Enrollment
- Elementary Division: 49 students (including 20 UAE nationals)
- Junior High Division: 16 students (including 10 UAE nationals)
- Kindergarten: 25 children (including 7 UAE nationals)
Numbers in parentheses indicate the number of students of UAE nationality.
Educational Goals
To nurture students who possess:
Intellectual excellence
Physical strength and resilience
A rich heart and a global mindset
Admission of UAE National Students
In 2004, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan—then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and now President of the UAE—requested that UAE national children be admitted to the Japanese School Abu Dhabi to receive a Japanese-style education.
The Government of Japan accepted this request, launching the “Program for the Admission of UAE National Students to the Japanese School Abu Dhabi.”
The program began in 2006 with the first group of Emirati children enrolled in the school’s affiliated kindergarten. Today, we accept up to four UAE national students per grade level.
Many parents are deeply interested in Japanese culture and are supportive of Japanese-style education, which emphasizes group activities, discipline in daily life and learning, proper manners, respectful greetings, and school cleaning routines. They highly value Japan’s high academic standards as well as its culture of courtesy and structure.
Some UAE students continue their education at JSAD for 12 years—from kindergarten through junior high school—and choose to study abroad in Japan. Those students have gone on to attend high schools in Tokyo and even advance to Japanese universities.
As of 2025, a total of 13 graduates have studied abroad in Japan, beginning with the first cohort, now in their fourth year of university. In March 2025, two more students—one male and one female—departed to pursue their education in Japan.
This program is a defining feature of the Japanese School Abu Dhabi, and we are proud to be nurturing future leaders who can serve as bridges between Japan and the UAE. As the partnership between our two countries continues to deepen, we feel an ever-greater sense of responsibility and purpose in our educational mission.
History of JSAD
1976
Growing interest in establishing a Japanese school leads to discussions within the Japanese community in Abu Dhabi.
1978
January: The Japanese government approves the establishment of the Japanese School Abu Dhabi. A preparatory subcommittee is formed.
March: The JSAD Board of Directors is established.
April: Two teachers dispatched by the Ministry of Education arrive. The school officially opens with two classes.
1979
March: A joint athletic meet is held with the Japanese community.
1980
November: The school relocates to a new building in the embassy district.
1990
August: The school temporarily closes due to the Gulf Crisis (from August 15 to November 4).
2001
March: The school becomes an official affiliate of the Embassy of Japan in the UAE.
2006
April: Admission of UAE national children begins at the kindergarten level.
2012
January: A teacher is dispatched by the NPO Japan-UAE Youth Exchange Program.
April: The first cohort of UAE national students enters elementary school.
2012
March: The school relocates to a new campus in the Al Bateen area.
2018
April: Two UAE national students become the first to study in Japan, enrolling at Tokai University Takanawadai High School.
2020
April: Temporary school closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Online classes begin.
2023
October: Swimming classes resume.
2024
March: New faculty office is added.
May: One-to-one device lending program begins.
School Regulations
Japanese School Abu Dhabi – School Rules
ADEK_S_Student Protection Policy_EN
Basic Policy for the Prevention of Bullying
Basic Policy for the Prevention of Bullying
For Families Considering
Admission
If you’re interested in learning more about our school environment, academic programs, or future pathways, we’re here to help.
Please feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns.