Sheikh Nahyan Opens Redwood Nursery on Jubail Island

Klaus Schmidt · 2026-10-03

### A New Chapter for Jubail Island Families What does it take to build a place where kids actually look forward to Monday mornings? Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan might have just answered that. On Thursday, October 1, 2026, he officially opened Redwood Nursery and Kindergarten on Jubail Island, cutting the ribbon in front of a crowd that included teachers, parents, and a lot of very small, very excited students. If you've been watching Abu Dhabi's education scene, this one's worth paying attention to. Jubail Island is growing fast, and families moving there need real options for early childhood education. Redwood just became one of them. ### What's Actually Inside Redwood Let me walk you through what the Sheikh saw during his tour, because the details tell you a lot about the school's philosophy. - **An educational atelier** – a dedicated creative space where kids explore art, textures, and materials hands-on - **An indoor gym** – because rainy days (and 110°F summers) shouldn't stop playtime - **A library** – early literacy starts with books kids can reach and touch - **Bright, open classrooms** – designed for small groups, not rows of desks - **An outdoor learning environment** – real plants, real dirt, real discoveries That mix matters. Schools that invest in both indoor and outdoor spaces tend to produce kids who are curious rather than just compliant. It's a small signal, but an important one. ### More Than a Photo Op Sheikh Nahyan didn't just wave and leave. He spent time with the teaching and medical staff, asking questions about how the school plans to support children's development day to day. As Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Zayed Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation, his involvement suggests Redwood is being positioned as more than a boutique nursery for a few families. > "A community is only as strong as the support it gives its youngest members," one attendee noted during the ceremony. That sentiment captured the mood of the morning. For parents on Jubail Island, this means shorter commutes, familiar faces, and a school that's plugged into the broader community from day one. ### Why This Matters for Families in the UAE Early childhood education in the UAE has been evolving quickly. Parents today expect more than supervision. They want structured play, language exposure, and staff who understand child psychology. Redwood seems built with that expectation in mind. The location is smart too. Jubail Island sits between Abu Dhabi and Saadiyat, giving it access to a growing residential base without the congestion of downtown. If you're considering a move to the area, having a quality nursery within walking distance can be a genuine deciding factor. ### What to Watch Next Opening day is just the start. The real test comes over the next year: how the school hires, how it communicates with parents, and whether it stays true to the hands-on philosophy it's promising. For now, though, Jubail Island families have a new option worth exploring.