Koda Unveils Innovative Design For Harrow International School Abu Dhabi

Koda Unveils Design for Harrow International School Abu Dhabi, Set to Open in Mid-2026 on Saadiyat Island

• Taaleem engages award-winning UAE-based firm, Koda to both honour and reimagine the school’s 450-year-old legacy in Abu Dhabi
• Specialists in education design, Koda reveals design details of the new landmark school location on an expansive 70,000sqm plot on Saadiyat Island

Koda, the Kidzink Office of Design & Architecture, an award-winning UAE-based architectural design practice, is revealing the design details of its latest landmark project: Harrow International School Abu Dhabi.

Located on Saadiyat Island and due to open its doors in mid-2026, Harrow International School Abu Dhabi will offer a distinctive educational experience that blends academic excellence, co-curricular opportunities, and character development. Renowned globally for its house system, the school aims to provide a world-class education for students while enhancing Abu Dhabi’s growing standing as a global hub for education and innovation.

Announced in February, the school is the result of a partnership between Taaleem, a leading K-12 premium education provider in the UAE, Harrow International Schools Limited, and the Abu Dhabi Investment Office. As a trusted and long-standing partner of Taaleem, Koda, part of the Kidzink family of companies, was named as the lead designer responsible for the architecture, landscape and interior design of the school. Kidzink will also design and supply the furniture and fit out for what will be the first Harrow International School in the GCC. Prior collaborations between Taaleem and Koda include the award-winning Dubai British School Jumeira, Greenfield International School, Raha International School  as well as the upcoming  Dubai British School Mira.

“At Taaleem, we recognize the responsibility of upholding the values and integrity of this esteemed institution,” said Sam Truman, Chief Operating Officer of Taaleem. “Koda was the natural choice to bring the Harrow story to life in the United Arab Emirates. As a longstanding and trusted partner to Taaleem, their deep expertise, depth and breadth of experience and capabilities, and forward-thinking approach make them the ideal collaborator in realizing Harrow’s vision in the UAE.”

Drawing on Harrow’s 450-year heritage of academic excellence and leadership, the UAE-based firm set out to design a school that reflects a fusion of tradition and modernity, offering students a learning environment that inspires creativity and critical thinking, as well as a sense of community and global citizenship.

“Harrow is more than a school; it is a storied institution steeped in history and tradition, guided by strong and unwavering values,” said Laura Hughes, Associate Director of Architecture at Koda. “While we cannot recreate the history of Harrow, through design, we set out to establish a new shared history – one that balances a respect for the past, with a forward-thinking vision that is both timeless and innovative. This aligns with Abu Dhabi’s rich heritage, traditions, culture and its vision for a dynamic future.”

Scheduled to open its doors to students in mid-2026, the school will be built on a prime 70,000 sqm plot on Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Island. With a capacity of 1,800 students, it will initially cater to students from Early Years to Year 6, with gradual expansion through the higher years. The school will offer a British curriculum and will introduce Harrow’s renowned academic approach. Class sizes will be optimized to ensure personalized attention, with a focus on academic rigor and holistic development.

Tradition meets tomorrow in the design and facilities of region’s first Harrow

Thoughtful design, guided by the principles of neuro-architecture, shapes the exceptional facilities and features throughout the school. Across the exterior landscape, native plant species and natural play elements will be incorporated, along with the traditional red brick façade of the original Harrow, which will be integrated into the planting palette and featured in planters and outdoor furniture.

The outdoor rugby and football fields will play an integral role in school life and will be visible from all areas of the building, ensuring that sport remains a central and ever-present part of the school community. Blending indoor and outdoor spaces, the dining hall opens onto the sports fields, featuring a long, shaded grandstand that follows the site’s natural contours. Interior sports facilities will include two competition-sized pools, two full-sized gymnasiums, and a dedicated gym for the school’s Foundation Stage students.

Academically, primary and secondary students will each have dedicated STEAM areas, designed for flexible and collaborative learning across design technology, food technology, science, art, and robotics. Honoring Harrow traditions, elements such as student name plaques will be incorporated, while materials and design details will firmly root Harrow Abu Dhabi in its local context. The Dining Hall, for example, features long, bench-style communal seating, bringing together staff and students of different ages—an approach inspired by Harrow UK.

The primary and secondary libraries have been thoughtfully designed to reflect elements of Harrow UK’s most iconic spaces. Throughout the school, natural light, high-quality materials, and flexible furniture enhance the learning environment.

“As specialists in educational design, empathy and centering the student experience is at the heart of everything that we do,” added Dain Dominic, Associate Director of Architecture at Koda. “In line with Harrow’s illustrious heritage, designing for longevity with a sense of permanence and purpose is also key—both in terms of sustainability as well as for establishing a new story and new traditions befitting the Harrow name.”

“Through the design, we intend to honour tradition and heritage by pushing forward into new territory. Harrow International School Abu Dhabi’s purposeful and thoughtful design respects both its prestigious legacy and the future generations it will shape and inspire,” added Hughes.

Koda, the Kidzink Office of Design & Architecture, is a specialized, comprehensive architectural design practice. The firm was launched in 2021 as part of the Kidzink family, an award-winning and unique educational design and manufacturing company dedicated to making schools better places to learn, grow, and thrive. Headquartered in Dubai and with over 750 projects across 23 countries, Kidzink collaborates with the world’s leading educational providers to design and realize thoughtful, flexible, and sustainable school furniture and environments.

Kidzink was founded in 2017 in Dubai by Charlotte and Paolo Borghesi and, since that time, has expanded to a team of over 280 professionals, including designers, engineers, educators, and neuro-architects, across three global offices and one UAE-based manufacturing facility. Offering comprehensive services—from educational consultancy and design, bespoke furniture design and manufacturing, through to full lead architect design services via Koda, the Kidzink Office of Design & Architecture—the firm is shaping the future of education through design and innovation.