MUSCAT : ABA Oman International School is proud to announce its official recognition as an approved examination center for the International Certificate for Proficiency in Arabic (CIMA). Developed by the Institut du Monde Arabe (Arab World Institute) in France, CIMA is the first globally recognized certification assessing proficiency in Modern Standard Arabic, the language spoken across all Arabic-speaking nations.

ABA is committed to promoting multilingualism as an essential pillar in fostering intercultural understanding and global awareness. “In addition to offering access to an IB education to students from a variety of cultural and linguistic backgrounds, the IB is dedicated to encouraging multilingualism as a crucial component of fostering intercultural understanding and global awareness,” said Anjalee Paratian, ABA’s Lingo Coordinator. “By offering CIMA, we are furthering our mission of supporting language development and proficiency for our students and the wider Muscat community.”

CIMA evaluates language proficiency across the six levels of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR): A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, and C2. The assessment covers four fundamental language skills: speaking, writing, listening comprehension, and reading comprehension. Upon completion of the exam, candidates receive a certificate valid for three years.

Sofya Nasser AlFadhli, the CIMA Coordinator at ABA said, “I’m thrilled to Initiate the CIMA training and exam at ABA, which is an essential step in organising and evaluating the quality of the Arabic language, and to demonstrate a globally accepted credential as a career or personal objective.”

As part of its commitment to linguistic excellence, ABA Oman International School is adding the International Certificate for Proficiency in Arabic (CIMA), to its current prestigious language certifications, DELE (Diplomas of Spanish as a Foreign Language), and DELF (Diplôme d’Études en Langue Française).

ABA Lingo’s Mother Language Programme (MLP) and Foreign Language Programme (FLP) are designed to serve both ABA students and the wider Muscat community, ensuring a rich, multilingual environment that nurtures language acquisition and cultural appreciation.

For more information or to inquire about CIMA registration, please contact abalingo@abaoman.org. The exam will take place on 24th May 2025 at ABA. To register, fill in this form.

Alongside the CIMA exam, ABA is also an official exam center for the DELF Scolaire (in partnership with the CFO) and the DELE, making it the only official DELE center in Oman. The DELF exam is scheduled to take place on April 26, while the DELE exam will be held on May 23rd and 24th, with the registration deadline set for Monday, April 7. Please register here if you wish to take this exam. These internationally recognized certifications provide students with valuable qualifications in French and Spanish, enhancing their academic and professional opportunities.

ABA Oman International School is the leading International Baccalaureate Continuum School in Oman and offers a robust Mother Language and Foreign Language Programme through ABA Lingo. With a diverse community of more than 70 nationalities, ABA is committed to fostering language excellence and cultural enrichment for all. visit www.abaoman.org.