Primary school in Abu Dhabi is a unique experience for expats, as it provides a way for foreign children and Emirati students to interact with one another. Although the curriculum is similar to that of public schools in the United States, there are some notable differences. For example, primary school in Abu Dhabi starts earlier than public schools in the United States; school begins at age 6 and goes up until age 12. During this time, students begin at the Al-Mamoura Primary School and either return to the same school or move on to Al-Mamoura primary Secondary School after they finish their primary education.