GEMS Cambridge International School Dubai vs GEMS Founders School - Nad Al Hamar

	G GEMS Cambridge International School Dubai Dubai, United Arab Emirates	G GEMS Founders School - Nad Al Hamar Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year AED 23,795 - 36,775	Fees / year AED 28,900 - 37,400
Age range	Age range 3 - 18 years	Age range 3 - 13 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum British Curriculum, BTEC Qualification, Cambridge International AS Levels, Cambridge A Levels	Curriculum British Curriculum, EYFS (Early years foundation stage)
Pupils	Pupils 2,813	Pupils —
Typical class size	Typical class size 19	Typical class size —
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened 1983	Opened 2026
Bus service	Bus service Yes	Bus service Yes
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location Al Twar 1, Dubai, United Arab Emirates	Location Nad Al Hamar, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Nad Al Hamar is centrally located within Dubai, providing easy access to neighboring communities such as Al Warqa, International City, Ras Al Khor, Dubai Festival City, Al Rahidya and Mirdif. Proximity to major roads like Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road (E311) and Ras Al Khor Road (E44) ensures seamless connectivity.
Stages	Stages Foundation Stage to Key Stage 5 (Foundation Stage; Key Stage 1–5)	Stages Foundation Stage (FS1) to Year 8
School type	School type —	School type Co-educational
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support An inclusive program supporting diverse learners, including Students of Determination, gifted and talented learners, and English Language Learners; uses Individual Education Plans (IEPs) with differentiation and sometimes small-group or one-to-one support; offers alternative pathways such as BTEC and ASDAN; active parental engagement.	Additional learning support Inclusion and wellbeing are part of the learning framework.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation United Kingdom	Country affiliation United Arab Emirates
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation —	Religious affiliation Islamic values are part of the school's ethos.
School day structure	School day structure School operates Monday–Friday; gates open at 07:00. FS1–FS2 run 07:40–12:10; Y1–Y13 run 07:40–15:00; Friday hours are 07:30–11:15; weekend is Saturday–Sunday.	School day structure The school week runs Monday to Friday (half-day on Friday). Early Years (FS1-FS2): Monday 7:30–8:15 SLA; start 8:15; End of Day FS1 12:15, FS2 12:30. Tuesday–Thursday FS1/FS2 start 7:40; End 12:15 (FS1) and 12:30 (FS2). Friday 7:40 start; End of Day To be confirmed. Year 1–Year 8: Monday 7:30–8:15 SLA; start 8:15; End of Day 2:30. Tue–Thu start 7:40; End 2:30. Friday 7:40; End 11:30. Gates open from 7:30 AM. Ramadan timings: 8:15 AM to 1:00 PM (Mon–Thu, subject to KHDA approval).
Bus service details	Bus service details School Transport Services (STS Group) provides CIS Dubai with bus transport; for route availability and details, contact the school's Service Delivery Executive (SDE).	Bus service details STS Group provides school transport with a fleet of CCTV-enabled Smart Buses, ADAS cameras, GPS tracking and RFID systems; to register, contact the Service Delivery Executive at [email protected].
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application fee - AED 525 payable at the time of application (includes VAT). The application fee is charged to process new student applications; it is refundable if the school does not offer the student a place and is non‑refundable if a place is offered and the family chooses not to accept it. The application fee is not deductible from the total tuition. Registration / Re‑enrolment deposit - Registration deposit (new students): 10% of the total annual tuition fee, payable when accepting an offer. This registration deposit is non‑refundable but is deducted from the total tuition payable for the academic year. Examples of registration deposit amounts shown in the published schedule: FS AED 2,380; Years 1–2 AED 2,704; Years 3–4 AED 2,812; Years 5–6 AED 2,920; Years 7–9 AED 3,245; Years 10–11 AED 3,461; Years 12–13 AED 3,678. The combined amount payable at the time of admission (application fee + registration deposit) is shown per year group in the published schedule. - Re‑enrolment deposit (existing students): 5% of the total annual tuition, payable to secure a place for the following academic year; this fee is non‑refundable and is adjusted against the first term fees for the following year. Tuition fees (2025–2026 academic year — published schedule) - Foundation Stage (FS) - Term 1 (September): AED 9,519. - Term 2 (January): AED 7,138. - Term 3 (April): AED 7,138. - Annual total: AED 23,795. - Years 1–2 - Term 1 (September): AED 10,817. - Term 2 (January): AED 8,112. - Term 3 (April): AED 8,112. - Annual total: AED 27,041. - Years 3–4 - Term 1 (September): AED 11,248. - Term 2 (January): AED 8,437. - Term 3 (April): AED 8,437. - Annual total: AED 28,122. - Years 5–6 - Term 1 (September): AED 11,682. - Term 2 (January): AED 8,761. - Term 3 (April): AED 8,761. - Annual total: AED 29,204. - Years 7–9 - Term 1 (September): AED 12,980. - Term 2 (January): AED 9,734. - Term 3 (April): AED 9,734. - Annual total: AED 32,448. - Years 10–11 - Term 1 (September): AED 13,846. - Term 2 (January): AED 10,383. - Term 3 (April): AED 10,383. - Annual total: AED 34,612. - Years 12–13 (Post‑16) - Term 1 (September): AED 14,711. - Term 2 (January): AED 11,032. - Term 3 (April): AED 11,032. - Annual total: AED 36,775. Billing schedule and payment terms - All tuition fees are payable in advance of attendance and are normally invoiced from the time of admission so payments can be processed before the start of term. - Standard KHDA payment schedule (published for the 2025–2026 cycle): - First term due: 31 August 2025. - Second term due: 31 December 2025. - Third term due: 31 March 2026. - Formal term installment structure (schools may invoice on this basis): First term = 40% of annual tuition; Second term = 30%; Third term = 30%. Schools may also require full annual fees to be paid in advance if parents choose that option. - If a student enrols during the academic year, tuition charged may start from the beginning of the month of enrolment. Non‑payment may result in withholding of reports, references or examination results and possible temporary or permanent exclusion. Boarding - Boarding is not offered and no boarding fees are published for this school. Transport (school bus) fees - School bus annual and per‑term fees are published by route/area. Example published values: - Route group 1 (Al Mamzar, Al Nahda 1 & 2, Al Qusais, Al Twar, Deira, Hor Al Anz, Muhaisnah, Rashidiya): Annual AED 5,480; Term 1 AED 2,192; Term 2 AED 1,644; Term 3 AED 1,644. - Route group 2 (Al Garhoud, Al Jaddaf, Bur Dubai, Downtown, International City, Karama, Mirdif, Oud Metha, Ras Al Khor, Satwa, Zabeel, etc.): Annual AED 5,790; Term 1 AED 2,316; Term 2 AED 1,737; Term 3 AED 1,737. - Route group 3 (Al Quoz, Business Bay, Dubai Silicon Oasis, Jumeirah 1, Sharjah, etc.): Annual AED 6,310; Term 1 AED 2,524; Term 2 AED 1,893; Term 3 AED 1,893. - Route group 4 (Al Barsha 1, The Meadows, Motor City, Tecom, The Greens, The Villa, etc.): Annual AED 6,520; Term 1 AED 2,608; Term 2 AED 1,956; Term 3 AED 1,956. - Route group 5 (Ajman, Arabian Ranches, Dubai Marina, Jumeirah Lake Towers, Mira Oasis, Mudon, Sports City, Town Square, etc.): Annual AED 6,930; Term 1 AED 2,772; Term 2 AED 2,079; Term 3 AED 2,079. - Route group 6 (Akoya): Annual AED 7,300; Term 1 AED 2,920; Term 2 AED 2,190; Term 3 AED 2,190. Uniforms and other school supplies - Uniform items are specified by year group and are required to be purchased through the school's approved supplier (Threads). Specific item lists are published by phase (FS – Year 2; Year 3 – Year 6; Year 7 – Year 13) and include PE and winter uniform items. Uniform prices are not published on the school fee pages. External examination and other incidental fees - External examination entry fees (IGCSE, AS, A Level, BTEC, etc.) are charged separately to tuition and are invoiced as applicable; exam entry charges are set by the examination boards and by the school's exam administration; parents are advised that these fees are additional to tuition. Specific exam entry fees are not published in the general tuition schedule. Refunds and withdrawal charges - Registration and admission/application fees are non‑refundable in most cases. Refund rules for paid tuition follow Ministry/KHDA bylaws and the published policy: - If a student withdraws prior to the start of the academic year, the balance of the first semester fees paid will be refunded, except registration and admission fees. - If a student withdraws during the school year, the registration and admission fees remain non‑refundable; refunds of tuition are calculated according to Ministry/KHDA bylaws: attendance for two weeks or less = one full month's fee charged; attendance of more than two weeks but less than one month = two full months' fees charged; attendance of more than one month = entire semester fees charged. Refunds are returned to the original payee. Written notice (one month in advance) is required for withdrawal. Payment methods and options - Accepted payment methods: Online payment via the parent portal for existing families; bank transfer (bank details provided on request); in‑person payment at the Accounts Department by debit card, credit card, cheque or cash. Transport fees can be paid online via the transport payment portal. - Promotional/payment options: Use of the GEMS FAB / GEMS World co‑branded credit card and related offers may provide discounts or instalment plans (subject to bank terms and conditions). 0% EPP promotions and cashback offers have been publicised as payment options.	Fee details Application / Registration - Registration deposit: 10% of the total tuition fee. This deposit is payable after an offer is made, is deductible from the total tuition for the academic year and is non‑refundable. Tuition fees — Academic year 2026/2027 (KHDA approved and Founding Family discount & term instalments) - FS1: KHDA approved annual tuition AED 34,000. Founding Family (15% discount) annual amount AED 28,900; instalments shown as Term 1 AED 11,560, Term 2 AED 8,670, Term 3 AED 8,670. - FS2: KHDA approved annual tuition AED 38,000. Founding Family (15% discount) annual amount AED 32,300; instalments shown as Term 1 AED 12,920, Term 2 AED 9,690, Term 3 AED 9,690. - Year 1 to Year 6: KHDA approved annual tuition AED 41,000. Founding Family (15% discount) annual amount AED 34,850; instalments shown as Term 1 AED 13,940, Term 2 AED 10,455, Term 3 AED 10,455. (Applies to Years 1–6). - Year 7 and Year 8: KHDA approved annual tuition AED 44,000. Founding Family (15% discount) annual amount AED 37,400; instalments shown as Term 1 AED 14,960, Term 2 AED 11,220, Term 3 AED 11,220. Billing schedule and payment terms - Parents may pay annual tuition in full or follow the term payment schedule. Tuition invoices are issued to the fee sponsor on record on request. - Term due dates for 2026/27: 1st term fee due 11 August 2026 (school advises payment before 5 August to avoid delays); 2nd term fee due 1 January 2027; 3rd term fee due 1 April 2027. - Non‑payment consequences: failure to pay tuition may result in loss of place, withholding of reports/references/examination results, and temporary or permanent suspension or exclusion. Timely payment is required. Discounts and card promotion - A Founding Family (15%) discount is shown in the published fee schedule (discounted annual and instalment figures are listed above). - Use of the FAB GEMS World Credit Card to pay annual tuition in advance is promoted; benefits listed include savings of up to 3% and additional rewards on school expenses (terms and conditions apply). School transport (optional) and related fees - School bus fees for 2026/27 are charged by area; each route has an annual fee and corresponding per‑term amounts. Example entries from the transport rate list (2026/27): Nad Al Hamar annual AED 6,000 (per‑term splits shown AED 2,400 / AED 1,800 / AED 1,800); several other areas have higher annual rates (for example routes listed at AED 7,300, AED 7,750, AED 8,000) with corresponding per‑term amounts. Booster pads/child seats are charged separately at AED 300 per seat per student. Full payment for each term must be made irrespective of number of days used; transport fees are required in advance to activate student ID for bus travel. Uniform and catering (other regular costs) - School uniform is required and is available from THREADS (The Uniform Store). Specific uniform item prices are set by the supplier. - School meals are provided via a cashless Slices catering system. Parents top up student accounts (via GEMS Connect) and students use a card/ID for purchases. Catering credit is a recurring cost separate from tuition. Refunds and student withdrawals - Registration deposit: non‑refundable. Tuition refunds follow the UAE Ministry of Education policy; tuition refunds are processed only after a written request to the admissions office and are returned to the original payee. - Student withdrawals: a written notification to the registrar is required; a 30‑day notification period is specified to allow processing of documents. Boarding - Boarding is not applicable for this school; published information and age range indicate day‑school provision for FS1–Year 8 without boarding facilities. How payments are processed - Transport payments can be made online via GEMS Connect; the school notes a range of straightforward payment options and issues tuition invoices to the fee sponsor on request. The FAB GEMS World Credit Card is specifically referenced for advance annual tuition payments and associated card benefits.
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements —	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement —	Uniform requirement —
Food options	Food options —	Food options —
House system	House system —	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership —	Governance and ownership —
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details The school offers a British education based on the National Curriculum for England (NCfE). Foundation Stage covers ages 3–4 (FS1–FS2). Key Stages 1–5 cover ages 5–18 (Years 1–13). EYFS, Primary, Secondary and Post-16 are included, with Digital Citizenship and Student Care and Support. The curriculum aims to develop higher learners who become employable citizens.	Curriculum details National Curriculum for England (British Curriculum). Year Groups: Foundation Stage (FS1) to Year 8, growing year by year to Year 13. Curriculum Enrichment: UAE Ministry of Education subjects integrated into the curriculum. Subjects include English, mathematics, science, computing, humanities, languages (Arabic A and B), physical education, music, art and design.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results DSIB inspection 2023-2024 rated Cambridge International School - Dubai as Good. Foundation Stage shows a very good start to school life. Achievement levels in Mathematics and English remain consistently high in Secondary and Post-16 with continued improvement in Islamic Education. Inclusion supports strong wellbeing and progress for a range of learners.	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression GEMS students have been accepted into 1,050 universities across 53 countries, including 66 of the world's top 100 universities. The university destinations emphasize employability skills, confidence, communication, initiative and teamwork, and provide guidance on study pathways and careers.	Higher education progression GCSEs and A Levels are future pathways.
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented The Inclusion policy states CIS welcomes students who are gifted and talented. There are alternative curriculum pathways available through BTEC qualifications and ASDAN.	Gifted and talented —
Academic calendar	Academic calendar —	Academic calendar —
Wellbeing & support	Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning	Social & emotional learning —	Social & emotional learning —
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) —	Special educational needs (SEN) —
English as an additional language	English as an additional language —	English as an additional language —
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing —	Mental wellbeing —
Safeguarding	Safeguarding —	Safeguarding —
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview —	Facilities overview —
Sports facilities	Sports facilities —	Sports facilities —
Academic facilities	Academic facilities —	Academic facilities —
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities —	Extra curricular facilities —
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History —	History —
Community	Community —	Community —
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association —	Parent teacher association —
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual —	Academic & intellectual —
Arts & creative	Arts & creative —	Arts & creative —
Cultural & language	Cultural & language —	Cultural & language —
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies —	Social & hobbies —
Community & service	Community & service —	Community & service —
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional —	Leadership & professional —
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing —	Lifestyle & wellbeing —
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision —	Language provision —
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching —	Bilingual teaching —
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations —	Accreditations —
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions Step 1: Fill the online enquiry form to generate a student enquiry ID number. The 2026-2027 admission cycle is open for all Year Groups (FS1–Year 13). Please contact the Admissions team for further information. Step 2: An application fee of AED 525 is due at the time of application. The fee is refundable if the school does not offer a place. It is non-refundable if the school offers a place but the student chooses not to take it. The fee is not deductible from the total tuition fees and is not applicable to students currently enrolled at a GEMS School. Step 3: Visit the school with the documents and the student enquiry ID. Minimum age: FS1 must be 3 by December 31 and FS2 must be 4 by December 31. For Year 1–11 admissions, a final/term report and a recommendation letter are required. Step 4: Once registered the applicant will be placed on the waiting list and called for an assessment, depending on space availability. The KHDA guidelines govern admission and re-enrolment processes. Entrance tests are scheduled after registration according to year group: FS1/FS2 have no tests; Year 1–2 English and Mathematics; Year 3–11 CAT4; Year 12–13 board results. Step 5: All admissions are confirmed subject to the child's assessment results. Students receive an offer after successfully completing the admissions process. Year 12–13 admissions are confirmed based on board results. The entrance test details vary by year group: FS1/FS2 none; Year 1–2 English and Maths; Year 3–11 CAT4; Year 12–13 board results.	Admissions STEP 1 – ONLINE APPLICATION: Complete the Online Student Enquiry & Registration. After submission, you receive an acknowledgement with an online reference number and guidance on the next steps. Admissions are open for FS1 through Year 8 for the 2026-27 academic year. STEP 2 – ASSESSMENT: The School Registrar invites the child for an assessment or interview via email or phone. Results are notified by email or phone. Observations are used for Foundation Stage 1 and 2; Written assessments for Year 1 and 2; CAT4 and written assessments for Year 3 to Year 8. STEP 3 – ENROLMENT: The Registrar sends offer letters to successful applicants, subject to seat availability. STEP 4 – REGISTRATION DEPOSIT, DOCUMENTS AND TRANSFER CERTIFICATE GUIDELINES: The registration deposit is 10% of total tuition, payable after an offer is accepted, non-refundable and deductible from the total tuition. After completion, enrollment is confirmed and the tuition payment schedule is emailed by the Finance department. Required documents include passport copies for the child and parents, residency visa, birth certificate (English or Arabic), recent photographs, the last two school reports for Year 1 and Year 2 (or Last two years school reports and CAT4 for Year 3 and above), nursery reports if available for FS1/FS2, immunization card, Emirates IDs, and a transfer certificate. Transfer certificates must be on official letterhead and include the student's full name, date of birth, enrolment date and year group, present class, year/grade completed and promoted to, school curriculum, and principal signature and stamp; attestation applies for transfers from GCC/UAE and for some international cases.
Scholarships	Scholarships —	Scholarships —
Waitlist	Waitlist Applicants are placed on the waiting list after registration and called for an assessment, depending on space availability.	Waitlist —
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