A multi-stage random sample of primary school children in central Al Ain city, Abu Dhabi Emirate, United Arab Emirates was screened in January 1993 with the Rutter B2 Scale to estimate the prevalences of behaviour disorders, and to determine whether and how these were associated with the age, gender, nationality, grade and scholastic performance of the children. Of 2100 boys and girls aged between 5.4 and 16.6 years, 13.5% showed some form of behaviour disorder. The overall prevalence of disorders was significantly higher in boys than in girls (16.3% v 10.2%). Emotional, conduct and undifferentiated disorders were noted in 4.8%, 6.9% and 1.8% of all children, respectively. Conduct disorder was significantly commoner in boys than in girls (9.3% v 4.1%). In multivariate logistic regression analyses, different disorders were significantly associated with gender and/or grade and/or scholastic performance with the odds being the lowest in girls, in children in grades 3 to 6, and in children with excellent or very good scholastic performance. Nationality was not significantly associated with behaviour disorders in the children studied. A considerable proportion of young children in Al Ain manifest signs of behaviour disorders in primary school. Primary school children in Al Ain and comparable areas should be screened for behaviour disorders, and those found positive by screening tests should be assessed by health professionals to confirm the presence or absence of behaviour disorders which need expert care.