Hire a learning support assistant in Abu Dhabi

By ShadowTeacher Team · Updated September 24, 2026

If a school in Abu Dhabi has asked you to provide a learning support assistant, this page covers what that involves locally: which regulator the school answers to, what it will ask for before an LSA can start, what LSAs in Abu Dhabi charge, and the verified teachers currently listed here.

In Abu Dhabi, as across the UAE, the LSA and the shadow teacher are the same one-to-one, in-class role. Every teacher below has had certificates, CV, Emirates ID and police clearance checked before appearing.

Schools and the regulator in Abu Dhabi

Private schools in Abu Dhabi are regulated by the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK), which uses the term learning support assistant in its inclusion guidance. ADEK expects schools to have an inclusion policy and to plan provision for students of determination; how a one-to-one LSA is funded still varies by school, and many families are asked to fund one when a child needs full-time support. Ask the inclusion lead for the school's written requirements for an external LSA before you hire.

Abu Dhabi's schools follow British, American, IB, Indian and Ministry curricula across Abu Dhabi Island, Khalifa City, Yas Island, Al Reem, Mohammed Bin Zayed City and Al Raha. Distances between these areas are long, so agree the commute and the daily hours explicitly with the LSA. Al Ain, also regulated by ADEK, has its own page.

What an LSA does in class

An LSA in Abu Dhabi sits with your child in the mainstream classroom, re-explains instructions in simpler steps, adapts the task in front of them to the targets in the individual education plan, supports friendships and group work, and records progress for the class teacher and for you. The aim is for support to fade as your child becomes more independent, not to become permanent.

Verified learning support assistants in Abu Dhabi

See every verified teacher in Abu Dhabi

How to hire an LSA in Abu Dhabi

  1. Browse and shortlist. Filter by Abu Dhabi, language, gender and the specialty your child needs, then read each teacher's education, experience and languages.
  2. Message candidates. Describe your child, the school, the hours and the start date. Your message goes directly to the teacher.
  3. Interview and check references. Meet in person, ask for a previous family or school as a reference, and look at the certificates yourself.
  4. Agree terms and start the school's paperwork. Put hours, fee, notice period and holidays in writing, then send the school the documents it listed so the LSA is on its approved-staff list before day one.

What a learning support assistant costs in Abu Dhabi

Fees are agreed directly between you and the LSA. The range below is what verified teachers based in Abu Dhabi declare as their monthly minimum on ShadowTeacher UAE; when too few teachers have answered for Abu Dhabi, the UAE-wide range is shown instead.

Verified teachers in Abu Dhabi on ShadowTeacher currently ask between AED 2,000 and AED 6,500 a month (median bracket AED 4,000 to 5,000).

Full breakdown by emirate, hours and qualification: What a shadow teacher costs in the UAE

Frequently asked questions

Do schools in Abu Dhabi provide an LSA, or do parents pay for one?

Some do, and include it in the fees. Many ask the family to fund a dedicated LSA when a child needs full-time individual support. Your school's inclusion policy and admission letter say which applies; ADEK sets the framework, but each school decides its own staffing.

Will a school in Abu Dhabi accept an LSA I hired myself?

Most do, once the LSA's qualifications, ID and police clearance have been submitted and the school has added them to its approved-staff list, which usually takes one to two weeks. A few schools only accept LSAs from agencies they already work with, so ask the inclusion lead before you agree terms.

How do I find a learning support assistant near me in Abu Dhabi?

The teachers listed on this page are based in Abu Dhabi. Use the filters on the full directory for language, gender and specialty, and message candidates directly.

Is a shadow teacher in Abu Dhabi the same as an LSA?

Yes. Schools and ADEK documents say learning support assistant; parents say shadow teacher. Both describe the same one-to-one support inside the classroom.

Learning support assistants in other emirates

DubaiSharjahAl AinAjmanRas Al KhaimahFujairahUmm Al Quwain

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