Although much has been written about the complexity of educational change and reform elsewhere, the educational reform movement in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a relatively recent phenomenon with little systematic documentation as yet; educators are still searching for a clear understanding of their roles. However, it is clear that the leadership of the country is exerting great pressure for reform in schools and there is a sense of urgency about the need for large-scale change. This article examines the impact of these reforms on the work of one school principal at this time of radical transformation. It begins with a brief review of some of the specific changes taking place in the emirate of Abu Dhabi including the introduction of a public private partnership model in public schools and a brief discussion of the role of school principals in the management of change. This is followed by a description of the study and the methodological design underpinning it. The findings of the study are presented and discussed and the article concludes with some recommendations for further research. (Contains 1 note and 1 table.)