GEMS Cambridge International School Abu Dhabi

The GEMS Cambridge International School Abu Dhabi is located at Bawabat Al Sharq, Baniyas City, Abu Dhabi. It sits near Mohammed Bin Zayed City and the Khalifa City B and C areas, with easy access to major roads and nearby amenities. The campus is set in a residential/commercial neighbourhood in southern Abu Dhabi.

The curriculum runs from Foundation Stage through to Year 13 (ages approximately 3 to 18). Foundation Stage 1 covers ages 3–5, followed by Primary (ages 6–14) and Secondary (Year 9–13) as the school progresses through Key Stages 1–4 and into post-16 options.

The school is co-educational and operates as a day school. It is part of the GEMS Cambridge International Schools network and follows the British curriculum.

The school represents over 90 nationalities, with the largest groups being Indian, Emirati, and Pakistani. Total enrollment is in the mid-3,000s. Approximately 60% of students are international, and about 40% are local/Arab.

The school maintains an inclusive learning environment and emphasizes SEN support as part of its core provision. In 2025, the institution was noted to support a substantial number of Students of Determination.

The school is a British overseas school, affiliated with the United Kingdom through its British curriculum.

There is no formal religious affiliation declared by the school.

School timings are approximately 7:30 am to 3:15 pm Monday–Thursday, and 7:30 am to 1:00 pm on Fridays.

Transport is outsourced to School Transport Services LLC (BBT). The service provides home-to-school transport for eligible students with an annual fee of AED 5,000 and termly payments; there are designated pickup points and the service operates for 10 months of the academic year.

The school follows the National Curriculum for England and serves Foundation Stage 1 through Year 13. It is a British curriculum delivered in Abu Dhabi and is part of GEMS Cambridge International Schools. The curriculum is designed to support academic and personal development and is guided by GEMS' four core values: curiosity, integrity, innovation and resilience. It prepares students for the IGCSE in the secondary phase. The Secondary School covers Key Stage 4 and Key Stage 5 (Year 9 to Year 13), leading to GCSE and A-Level examinations. The school holds accreditations with Cambridge and Edexcel.

Academic results are strong, with outcomes above the UK national average. 16% of A-Level students achieved an A, and 78% achieved an A-B at A-Level. 30% of GCSE students achieved an A, and 77% achieved an A-B at GCSE. In the last four years, students have been accepted to 1,050 universities across 53 countries, including 66 of the world's top 100 universities.

In the last four years, GEMS students have been accepted by 1,050 universities in 53 countries, including 66 of the world's top 100 universities.

SEL is supported through an inclusive approach coordinated by Senior and Middle Leaders with the Student Support Team across the school, using a graduated response to learning. The provision includes Inclusion Assistants, Learning Support Assistants, in-house therapy services, SEN Teachers and Nurture Groups, Counsellors, Social Workers, and Intervention Groups, supported by the Student Support Centre. Individual learning needs are discussed in provision meetings with families and staff, with Individual Learning Plans (IEPs) used to tailor support where needed. The school emphasizes a healthy, safe and happy environment and provides guidance to help learners manage their behaviour and emotions so they can participate fully in learning. Learners are encouraged to have a voice in planning and decision-making, with ongoing collaboration with parents and an open-door policy for staff and families.

The school operates as an inclusive institution with a Graduated Response to learning to meet the needs of learners with SEN. The kinds of SEN supported include English as an Additional Language (EAL), Lower Ability, Students of Determination, More Able, and Gifted and Talented. A range of interventions and therapies is available through the Inclusion Team, Learning Support Assistants, SEN Teachers and Nurture Groups, Counsellors and Social Workers, and Intervention Groups. The school provides physical accessibility measures, risk assessments, Personal Care Plans and Personal Evacuation Plans where required, and uses adaptive and modified curricula with alternative pathways such as Functional Skills and the Unit Award Scheme. Provision meetings with families create bespoke provision and Individual Learning Plans to ensure equality of opportunity within mainstream classes. The school is not a specialist SEN institution; it maintains an inclusive mainstream approach.

EAL is listed as a category within the school's Inclusion Provision, indicating explicit support for EAL learners within the inclusive framework. EAL support is delivered as part of the school's inclusive provision, with staff and interventions integrated into the Student Support Team's planning. The policy does not describe a separate stand-alone EAL department; instead, EAL is addressed alongside other inclusion provisions through the broader support system.

Mental wellbeing is addressed within the inclusive provision, emphasizing a healthy, safe and happy environment with guidance and support for students. Counselling, in-school therapy services and access to social workers are available to support student wellbeing. Staff are equipped to help learners manage their behaviour and emotions to participate in learning, with appropriate adaptations where needed. Provision meetings and family partnerships support wellbeing and give learners a path to have a voice in planning. The safeguarding policy also commits to accessible, non-judgmental counseling and wellbeing support for all students.

The school follows the ADEK Safeguarding Policy, effective from AY 2024/25 with compliance from February 1, 2026. A Safeguarding Lead or Safeguarding Committee oversees the school's safeguarding strategy and ensures staff and volunteers are informed and trained. The policy requires annual monitoring and review of safeguarding practices and ensures adherence to the ADEK Student Protection Policy. Safeguarding awareness strategies focus on a safe and caring environment, zero tolerance for maltreatment, monitoring at-risk students, and clear reporting and response procedures. Safeguarding is integrated into the curriculum to develop self-esteem, risk awareness, consent, and online safety, while staff are trained to respond appropriately to safeguarding concerns. Counselling and support services are accessible, free of judgment, and available to all students.

Step 1: To begin the application, complete the online application through the Enrol Online Page. Admission for the 2026-27 academic year is open. Before accessing the online form, read the registration guidelines. The online registration starts when you submit the form.
Step 2: After submitting the online application, you receive an Enquiry number and a link to upload required documents. Upload pdf copies of the child's passport, one recent passport photo, and the Emirates ID if available. Documents must be uploaded in pdf format. Incomplete or incorrect applications, or changing the birth year, will not be processed, and the student will not be invited for an assessment.
Step 3: After completing Steps 1-2, you will be notified of the next steps via email or phone; ensure to provide a valid email address and telephone number. All new students must provide documentation of previous schooling and report cards; documents must be in English. A Transfer Certificate or School Leaving Certificate is required for Years 1 and above, and attestation and stamping requirements vary by location as per ADEK. ADEK policy governs age placement; age determines grade placement, with mappings such as 3-4 years for Pre-KG/FS1 up to 17-18 years for Year 13/G12.