GEMS Founders School - Masdar City vs Noya British School
GEMS Founders School - Masdar City and Noya British School are both in Abu Dhabi, about 8 km apart. Both schools follow a British curriculum. Published annual fees are AED 26,000 - 34,000 at GEMS Founders School - Masdar City and AED 28,000 - 43,000 at Noya British School, which puts Noya British School roughly 18% higher. GEMS Founders School - Masdar City takes pupils from 3 to 14, and Noya British School from 3 to 18.
GEMS Founders School – Masdar City is located in Masdar City, Abu Dhabi. It sits within the Masdar City sustainable urban community. The school offers admissions from FS1 to Year 9 for the 2025-26 academic year.
Location
Located on Yas Island, Yas North, Abu Dhabi. The campus sits in the Noya Community near The Sustainable City and Yas Acres, providing convenient access for families on Yas Island and the wider Abu Dhabi area. The site is accessible via Yas Island road networks.
Stages
Stages
Foundation Stage (FS1–FS2); Primary School (Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2); Secondary School (Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4). The school currently serves students from FS1 to Year 9.
Stages
Year Groups currently run from FS1 to Year 9. A phased expansion is planned to extend to Year 13, with Year 7 starting in September 2025 and Year 13 expected by 2026.
School type
School type
Co-educational (mixed gender).
School type
Day school; part of the Aldar Education network.
Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
There are 84 nationalities represented in the school community. Emirati students account for around 30% of the student body. About 90% of students speak English as an additional language.
Pupil nationality mix
Exact pupil nationality numbers are not published. Aldar Education describes its network as diverse, with educators from over 100 nationalities, suggesting a multinational environment.
Additional learning support
Additional learning support
GEMS Founders School provides inclusion for English as an Additional Language (EAL), lower ability learners, and students with special educational needs, as well as provision for more able and gifted and talented students. The Head of Inclusion coordinates assessments and supports individual education plans as needed.
Additional learning support
Inclusion is a core part of the school approach. A three-tier support framework is used: Universal, Targeted, and Individualised support; a Documented Learning Plan supports Tier 2 interventions; services may include speech and language programmes, social skills work, and external specialists as needed.
Country affiliation
Country affiliation
The school follows the British National Curriculum (England) and operates in the UAE as a British schools overseas institution.
Country affiliation
Curriculum follows the English National Curriculum; the school is part of Aldar Education (no formal national affiliation stated).
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
No formal religious affiliation is stated.
Religious affiliation
No religious affiliation is stated.
School day structure
School day structure
The school day starts at 7:30am. FS1–FS2 finish at 12:30pm; Years 1–8 finish at 2:40pm. A National Anthem is observed at 7:45am, and the school runs Monday to Friday with weekends on Saturday and Sunday.
School day structure
The school day timings are published in the Parent Information Pack; typical hours for the current phase are around 7:30 am to 2:30 pm.
Bus service details
Bus service details
School Transport is operated by School Transport Services (STS) LLC. The service provides safe pick-up and drop-off with professional staff and a modern fleet of buses; specific routes and availability are arranged through the school's transport contacts.
Bus service details
A bus service is offered; details on routes and provider are included in the Parent Information Pack.
Fees
Fees
Fee details
Fee details
Application / Re-enrolment fee
- A re-enrolment (registration) fee is charged to secure a place and is non‑refundable but adjustable against the first term fee. The school states this fee is 5% of the next academic year's tuition; the published re‑enrolment amounts for AY2025‑26 are shown in the fee schedule (for example: AED 1,300 for FS1, AED 1,425 for FS2, AED 1,550 for Year 1–3, AED 1,600 for Year 4–6, AED 1,700 for Year 7–9).
Tuition fees by year group (per term and annual total for AY2025/2026)
- FS1 — Re‑enrolment: AED 1,300. Term 1: AED 9,100. Term 2: AED 7,800. Term 3: AED 7,800. Annual total: AED 26,000.
- FS2 — Re‑enrolment: AED 1,425. Term 1: AED 9,975. Term 2: AED 8,550. Term 3: AED 8,550. Annual total: AED 28,500.
- Year 1 — Re‑enrolment: AED 1,550. Term 1: AED 10,850. Term 2: AED 9,300. Term 3: AED 9,300. Annual total: AED 31,000.
- Year 2 — Re‑enrolment: AED 1,550. Term 1: AED 10,850. Term 2: AED 9,300. Term 3: AED 9,300. Annual total: AED 31,000.
- Year 3 — Re‑enrolment: AED 1,550. Term 1: AED 10,850. Term 2: AED 9,300. Term 3: AED 9,300. Annual total: AED 31,000.
- Year 4 — Re‑enrolment: AED 1,600. Term 1: AED 11,200. Term 2: AED 9,600. Term 3: AED 9,600. Annual total: AED 32,000.
- Year 5 — Re‑enrolment: AED 1,600. Term 1: AED 11,200. Term 2: AED 9,600. Term 3: AED 9,600. Annual total: AED 32,000.
- Year 6 — Re‑enrolment: AED 1,600. Term 1: AED 11,200. Term 2: AED 9,600. Term 3: AED 9,600. Annual total: AED 32,000.
- Year 7 — Re‑enrolment: AED 1,700. Term 1: AED 11,900. Term 2: AED 10,200. Term 3: AED 10,200. Annual total: AED 34,000.
- Year 8 — Re‑enrolment: AED 1,700. Term 1: AED 11,900. Term 2: AED 10,200. Term 3: AED 10,200. Annual total: AED 34,000.
- Year 9 — Re‑enrolment: AED 1,700. Term 1: AED 11,900. Term 2: AED 10,200. Term 3: AED 10,200. Annual total: AED 34,000.
Billing schedule and payment terms
- Tuition fees are payable in advance of attendance. Invoices can be issued to the fee sponsor on record on request. - The school publishes the standard term/instalment due dates for AY2025‑26 as: 1st term due 11 August 2025 (parents are advised to pay before 5 August to avoid delays), 2nd term due 01 January 2026, and 3rd term due 01 April 2026. Tuition may also be paid in full in advance. - Consequences for non‑payment include withholding examination entry, reports, references or examination results, loss of the student's place, and possible temporary or permanent exclusion. Timely payment is required.
Other costs and fees
- Uniforms: A full school uniform is required. Uniforms and PE kit information are provided and uniform items are supplied via the designated supplier (Threads). Specific uniform prices are not published in the tuition fee schedule. - School transport: A dedicated school bus service is provided by STS Group; parents register for bus service and transport fees are charged separately and payable online through GEMS systems. Specific bus-route or fee amounts are not listed on the tuition fee schedule. - Canteen / lunches: The school uses Slices catering with a cashless top‑up system. Parents add credit to their child's account (GEMS Connect / Slices payment portal). Food costs are paid via the top‑up system and are not included within the published tuition totals. - Extra‑curricular activities: The school offers extra‑curricular programmes; any associated charges are handled separately (no central ECA pricing is published on the tuition fee schedule).
Refund information and student withdrawals
- The re‑enrolment (registration) fee is non‑refundable. Tuition fee refunds follow the UAE Ministry of Education policy; refund requests must be submitted in writing to the school admissions office and refunds are paid to the original payee. A 30‑day written notification of withdrawal is required to process student departures and documentation.
Fee payment options and channels
- The school advertises the FAB GEMS World Credit Card as a method to pay annual tuition in advance (with promotional savings noted for cardholders). This indicates acceptance of card payment arrangements for tuition. - Bus fees and some school service payments are payable online via GEMS Connect / the school's payment portals; Slices lunch top‑ups are handled through the Slices payment portal. Tuition invoices can be issued to the fee sponsor on record.
Fee details
Application and registration fees
- Registration (initial application) fee: 5% of the annual tuition fee, payable after an offer is accepted and deductible from the student's final tuition fees for that academic year. - Re-registration fee (to secure a place for the following academic year): 5% of the annual tuition fee, payable at re-enrolment and deductible from the student's final tuition fees for that academic year. The re-registration fee is non-transferable to another child. - Timing: the registration fee is payable within 7 days of offer acceptance; schools may collect registration fees up to four months before the academic year begins. For the 2025/2026 cycle the re-registration deadline listed is 1 May 2025. Full-year invoicing and term invoicing deadlines are given in the fee policy.
Tuition fees (annual and per-term by year group)
- FS1: Annual tuition AED 28,000 (ADEK approved AED 32,000; founding discount AED 4,000). Term breakdown — Term 1: AED 11,200; Term 2: AED 8,400; Term 3: AED 8,400. - FS2: Annual tuition AED 28,000 (ADEK approved AED 32,000; founding discount AED 4,000). Term 1: AED 11,200; Term 2: AED 8,400; Term 3: AED 8,400. - Year 1: Annual tuition AED 28,000 (ADEK approved AED 32,000; founding discount AED 4,000). Term 1: AED 11,200; Term 2: AED 8,400; Term 3: AED 8,400. - Year 2: Annual tuition AED 30,500 (ADEK approved AED 34,500; founding discount AED 4,000). Term 1: AED 12,200; Term 2: AED 9,150; Term 3: AED 9,150. - Year 3: Annual tuition AED 30,500 (ADEK approved AED 34,500; founding discount AED 4,000). Term 1: AED 12,200; Term 2: AED 9,150; Term 3: AED 9,150. - Year 4: Annual tuition AED 33,000 (ADEK approved AED 37,000; founding discount AED 4,000). Term 1: AED 13,200; Term 2: AED 9,900; Term 3: AED 9,900. - Year 5: Annual tuition AED 33,000 (ADEK approved AED 37,000; founding discount AED 4,000). Term 1: AED 13,200; Term 2: AED 9,900; Term 3: AED 9,900. - Year 6: Annual tuition AED 33,000 (ADEK approved AED 37,000; founding discount AED 4,000). Term 1: AED 13,200; Term 2: AED 9,900; Term 3: AED 9,900. - Year 7: Annual tuition AED 36,000 (ADEK approved AED 40,000; founding discount AED 4,000). Term 1: AED 14,400; Term 2: AED 10,800; Term 3: AED 10,800. - Year 8: Annual tuition AED 36,000 (ADEK approved AED 40,000; founding discount AED 4,000). Term 1: AED 14,400; Term 2: AED 10,800; Term 3: AED 10,800. - Year 9: Annual tuition AED 36,000 (ADEK approved AED 40,000; founding discount AED 4,000). Term 1: AED 14,400; Term 2: AED 10,800; Term 3: AED 10,800. - Year 10: Annual tuition AED 39,000 (ADEK approved AED 43,000; founding discount AED 4,000). Term 1: AED 15,600; Term 2: AED 11,700; Term 3: AED 11,700. - Year 11: Annual tuition AED 39,000 (ADEK approved AED 43,000; founding discount AED 4,000). Term 1: AED 15,600; Term 2: AED 11,700; Term 3: AED 11,700. - Year 12: Annual tuition AED 43,000 (ADEK approved AED 47,000; founding discount AED 4,000). Term 1: AED 17,200; Term 2: AED 12,900; Term 3: AED 12,900. - Year 13: Annual tuition AED 43,000 (ADEK approved AED 47,000; founding discount AED 4,000). Term 1: AED 17,200; Term 2: AED 12,900; Term 3: AED 12,900.
Billing schedule and payment terms
- Academic-year invoicing is divided into three instalments (termly). Term 1 covers September–December (4 months), Term 2 covers January–March (3 months) and Term 3 covers April–June (3 months). Term invoicing is the standard schedule; on request a full-year invoice covering all three terms may be issued. Due dates for term invoices (academic year 2025/2026) are: Term 1 — 1 August 2025; Term 2 — 1 December 2025; Term 3 — 1 March 2026. A full-year invoice, if requested, is due 1 August 2025. - Late/non-payment provisions: the school will issue three consecutive warning notices (each at least one week apart) for late or non-payment. The school is authorized to suspend a student for up to three days (after the three warnings and at most once per term), to withhold report cards or transfer certificates, and to withhold re-enrolment until outstanding fees are settled. Schools shall inform parents at least three months before the end of the academic year if outstanding fees put re-enrolment at risk.
Boarding fees
- Boarding is not listed; there is no boarding fee specified. The school operates as a day school and does not publish boarding charges.
Other costs and additional charges
- Tuition does not include uniform, food services (catering), transport, examination fees, or extracurricular activities that occur outside normal school hours. These items may incur additional charges. - School uniform: uniforms are supplied through Magrudy's (Forsan Central Mall) with online ordering and a contact telephone number provided for enquiries; uniform items are purchased separately and are not included in tuition. - Transport (school bus): the bus service is offered at a fixed fee per student per academic year; the exact bus fee depends on route and must be confirmed with the admissions or finance team. - Books for curriculum activities are included in tuition; books for extra-curricular activities may incur an additional charge. Examination fees or specific assessment charges are shown as separate where applicable.
Refund information and withdrawal charges
- Registration fee refund: registration fee is refundable for new students if parents provide written notification at least two weeks prior to the start of the new academic year. - Re-registration refund: the re-registration fee is refundable if parents provide written notification on or before 30 June. Re-registration fees are non-transferable to another child. - Tuition refund/retention on early withdrawal: if a student attends only part of the first week of a term and then discontinues without sufficient written notice, the school may retain up to 5% of the annual tuition fee. If a student attends from one week up to three weeks in a term, the school will retain the value of one full month of tuition. If attendance is over three weeks up to six weeks in a term, the school will retain the value of two full months of tuition. If attendance is over six weeks in a term, the school will retain the full term fee.
Fee payment options and practical details
- Accepted payment methods: online payment link, bank transfer, cheque, and credit card. Cash payments are not accepted. For returned cheques, parents are liable for bank charges. - Instalment plans: 0% installment plans are offered through participating credit cards from partner banks (examples listed include FAB, ADIB and ENBD) to allow families to spread payments monthly. Specific card and plan availability should be confirmed with the finance office.
Notes and exclusions
- Founding discount: a founding discount of AED 4,000 is shown and applied in the presented tuition figures. ADEK-approved fees and the discounted tuition are shown in the fee schedule. Tuition and policy details are presented for the academic year as shown in the school's official fee schedule and fee policy documents.
Diving deeper
Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements
Boarding arrangements
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Boarding arrangements
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Uniform requirement
Uniform requirement
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Uniform requirement
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Food options
Food options
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Food options
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House system
House system
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House system
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Governance and ownership
Governance and ownership
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Governance and ownership
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Academics
Academics
Curriculum details
Curriculum details
GEMS Founders School – Masdar City follows the British National Curriculum (National Curriculum for England) from Foundation Stage through Secondary (FS1 to Year 9), with English as the language of instruction. Foundation Stage (FS1–FS2) emphasizes play-based learning to develop early numeracy, literacy, motor skills and self-esteem. Primary covers Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2, building foundational knowledge across subjects in an engaging, inquiry-led environment. Secondary (Year 7–Year 9) delivers core subjects—English, Mathematics, Science—plus Arabic (for Arabic speakers and non-Arabic speakers), UAE Social Studies, Moral Education, and Islamic Studies for Muslim students, together with specialist subjects such as Computing, History and Geography, French, PSHE, Physical Education, Art and Music, under a Design Thinking approach. The curriculum is designed to align with GCSE standards to prepare learners for Key Stage 4, with progression guidance and options discussed as they approach secondary transition.
Curriculum details
Noya British School delivers the English National Curriculum across the Foundation Stage and primary years, with a phased expansion into secondary covering Key Stages 3, 4 and 5. In the Early Years Foundation Stage (FS1–FS2), the curriculum follows the UK EYFS framework and incorporates a Reggio Emilia-inspired, emergent-plan approach. The Primary Years (Key Stage 1 and 2, Years 1–6) include core subjects such as English, Arabic (specialist), Maths, Science, Islamic Studies, Social Studies, plus foundation subjects like Geography, History, Art, Design and Technology, Computing, and a strong emphasis on Creative and Performing Arts and Specialist Physical Education. Key Stage 3 (Years 7–9) offers English Language and Literature, Mathematics, Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics), Humanities (History, Geography), Modern Foreign Languages (Spanish or Arabic), Physical Education, Music, Art and Drama, with Design and Technology and ICT, all taught within the High Performance Learning (HPL) framework. Key Stage 4 (Years 10–11) prepares students for IGCSE examinations, continuing the HPL approach and incorporating leadership, careers guidance and holistic development.
Student teacher ratio
Student teacher ratio
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Student teacher ratio
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Exam results
Exam results
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Exam results
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Higher education progression
Higher education progression
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Higher education progression
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Gifted and talented
Gifted and talented
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Gifted and talented
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Academic calendar
Academic calendar
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Academic calendar
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Wellbeing & support
Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning
Social & emotional learning
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Social & emotional learning
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Special educational needs (SEN)
Special educational needs (SEN)
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Special educational needs (SEN)
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English as an additional language
English as an additional language
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English as an additional language
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Mental wellbeing
Mental wellbeing
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Mental wellbeing
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Safeguarding
Safeguarding
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Safeguarding
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Safeguarding policy
Safeguarding policy
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Safeguarding policy
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Facilities
Facilities
Facilities overview
Facilities overview
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Facilities overview
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Sports facilities
Sports facilities
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Sports facilities
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Academic facilities
Academic facilities
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Academic facilities
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Extra curricular facilities
Extra curricular facilities
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Extra curricular facilities
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Parent experience
Parent experience
History
History
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History
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Community
Community
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Community
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Parent teacher association
Parent teacher association
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Parent teacher association
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Extra-curricular
Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual
Academic & intellectual
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Academic & intellectual
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Arts & creative
Arts & creative
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Arts & creative
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Cultural & language
Cultural & language
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Cultural & language
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Social & hobbies
Social & hobbies
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Social & hobbies
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Community & service
Community & service
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Community & service
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Leadership & professional
Leadership & professional
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Leadership & professional
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Lifestyle & wellbeing
Lifestyle & wellbeing
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Lifestyle & wellbeing
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Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
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Language provision
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Bilingual teaching
Bilingual teaching
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Bilingual teaching
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Immersion programs
Immersion programs
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Immersion programs
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Reputation
Reputation
Awards
Awards
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Awards
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Accreditations
Accreditations
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Accreditations
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Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
Step 1 – Online Application: Complete the Online Student Enquiry & Registration. After submitting the form, you receive an acknowledgement with an online reference number and guidance on the following steps. This starts your child's admissions journey.
Step 2 – Assessment: Your child will be invited by the School Registrar for an assessment or an interview via email notification or phone. Results are notified by email or by phone. Observations are used for Foundation Stage 1 and 2 (FS1 and FS2); written assessments for Year 1 and Year 2; and CAT4 with written assessments for Year 3 to Year 8.
Step 3 – Enrolment: The Registrar sends offer letters to successful applicants, subject to seat availability. Families review the offer details and proceed to the next step in the process. The offer indicates a potential place at GEMS Founders School – Masdar City, pending completion of the subsequent steps.
Step 4 – Registration Deposit: The deposit is payable after the student has been offered a place and parents have accepted the offer. The registration deposit is 5% of the total tuition fees and is non-refundable. The deposit is deductible from the total tuition fees for the academic year. Once the above process is completed the student is enrolled. Parents will be notified via email the schedule of tuition fee payment, by the Finance department.
Step 5 – Required Documents: The minimum documents include passport copies for the child and both parents, residency visa pages, and a copy of the child's birth certificate (in English or Arabic). Recent passport photographs and the child's immunization/vaccination card, plus Emirates ID copies for the child and both parents, are required. Original Emirates IDs are required if the child is accepted. Copies of the child's last two school reports are required for Year 1-2; last two years' reports and CAT4 for Year 3+; nursery reports for FS1/FS2 if available; and a transfer certificate or leaving certificate.
Step 6 – Transfer Certificate Guidelines: The transfer certificate must be on official school letterhead and include the full name, date of birth, enrollment date and the year group when the child first started at the current school, present class, year promoted to, school curriculum, and the principal's signature and stamp. If transferring from a GCC country or another UAE emirate, the transfer certificate must be attested by the Ministry of Education. Countries outside the UAE (including but not limited to the USA, Australia, Canada, Western Europe, Japan, and New Zealand) require attestation from Educational Authorities, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the UAE Embassy. Within Abu Dhabi, transfer is online through eSIS once a seat is confirmed.
Step 7 – For Existing Students: Re-Registration Deposit: Re-registration deposits apply when existing students re-enrol for the following academic year. The re-registration deposit is 5% of the total tuition fees and is non-refundable, and it is deductible from the total tuition fees. The Finance department provides the schedule of tuition payments by email.
Step 8 – For Existing Students: Transfer Certificates and Overseas Applications: Students in Year 1 and above must submit a Transfer Certificate/School Leaving Certificate; this is a mandatory requirement by ADEK for eligibility to enter a classroom. The Transfer Certificate should state the student's name, age, the year the student was promoted to by the end of the previous academic year, the current year, and the curriculum, and it must be stamped by the school and signed by the Principal/Vice Principal. The Transfer Certificate may be in Arabic or English and must be attested as required by the origin country; for Abu Dhabi, attestation rules apply and eSIS will transfer the file online once a seat is confirmed.
Admissions
1. Enrollment window and scope. Enrollment is currently open from FS1 to Year 10, reflecting the grades for which applications are being accepted now. For academic year 2025-2026, admissions are open from Nursery (FS1) to Year 8, with a natural growth commencing September 2026 to Year 13. The school operates under the English National Curriculum. 2. Enquiry submission and tour scheduling. Submit your enquiry online; a Parent Relations Executive will respond within 2 working days to assist you. 3. Application submission. Submit your completed application; the Admissions Team will be in touch within 2 working days and will guide you through the next steps. They will inform you of any documents required and next steps for assessment. 4. Offer after assessment. Within 2 working days of a successful assessment, you will receive an offer of a place at the school. If you are offered a place, you can accept the offer and begin the enrollment process. 5. Enrollment. After you accept the offer and pay the registration fee, you will be enrolled and will receive further communications about fees and start dates. 6. Payment options. The school offers 0% payment plans through partner banks to spread the cost of tuition.
