GEMS Founders School Al Mizhar

GEMS Founders School – Al Mizhar is located in Al Mizhar 1, Dubai, near Mirdif. The campus sits on Khawaneej Road and is accessible from major Dubai routes. The surrounding area is residential with other international schools nearby, contributing to a multicultural environment for relocating families. The school is conveniently reachable from various parts of the city.

The school offers Foundation Stage (FS1–FS2), Primary (Key Stage 1–2), and Secondary (Key Stage 3–4), with a Sixth Form for post-16 (Year 12–13). Foundation Stage and Primary/Secondary divisions follow the English National Curriculum. The structure spans early years through post-16.

The school is co-educational and follows the UK national curriculum. It operates as a day school; boarding facilities are not listed as part of the offering.

The school provides inclusion and SEN supports via an Inclusion Department, Occupational Therapy, and programmes such as GEMS Link Programme and GFM Flourish; there is targeted support for students of determination as noted in KHDA reports.

The curriculum is UK-based, aligned with the National Curriculum for England. This UK affiliation is reflected in the school's curriculum and language of instruction.

There is no formal religious affiliation stated. Islamic Education is part of the curriculum, with emphasis on Islamic values and Emirati culture.

The school day typically runs from around 7:30–8:00 am to about 4:00 pm on most days, with a shorter day on Fridays (around noon).

Bus transportation is provided by STS Group, which operates a fleet of Smart Buses equipped with CCTV, ADAS cameras, GPS tracking, RFID, motion sensors, and a 24/7 Operations Control Centre; emphasis is on safety, reliability, and timely service.

Tuition fees (annual and per term by year group)
- FS1: AED 24,877 per year — Term 1 (Sep–Dec) AED 9,951; Term 2 (Jan–Mar) AED 7,463; Term 3 (Apr–Jun) AED 7,463.
- FS2: AED 28,122 per year — Term 1 AED 11,248; Term 2 AED 8,437; Term 3 AED 8,437.
- Year 1: AED 30,285 per year — Term 1 AED 12,113; Term 2 AED 9,086; Term 3 AED 9,086.
- Year 2: AED 30,285 per year — Term 1 AED 12,113; Term 2 AED 9,086; Term 3 AED 9,086.
- Year 3: AED 30,285 per year — Term 1 AED 12,113; Term 2 AED 9,086; Term 3 AED 9,086.
- Year 4: AED 30,285 per year — Term 1 AED 12,113; Term 2 AED 9,086; Term 3 AED 9,086.
- Year 5: AED 30,285 per year — Term 1 AED 12,113; Term 2 AED 9,086; Term 3 AED 9,086.
- Year 6: AED 30,285 per year — Term 1 AED 12,113; Term 2 AED 9,086; Term 3 AED 9,086.
- Year 7: AED 32,448 per year — Term 1 AED 12,980; Term 2 AED 9,734; Term 3 AED 9,734.
- Year 8: AED 32,448 per year — Term 1 AED 12,980; Term 2 AED 9,734; Term 3 AED 9,734.
- Year 9: AED 32,448 per year — Term 1 AED 12,980; Term 2 AED 9,734; Term 3 AED 9,734.
- Year 10: AED 35,694 per year — Term 1 AED 14,278; Term 2 AED 10,708; Term 3 AED 10,708.
- Year 11: AED 35,694 per year — Term 1 AED 14,278; Term 2 AED 10,708; Term 3 AED 10,708.
- Year 12: AED 37,856 per year — Term 1 AED 15,142; Term 2 AED 11,357; Term 3 AED 11,357.
- Year 13: AED 37,856 per year — Term 1 AED 15,142; Term 2 AED 11,357; Term 3 AED 11,357.

Application fee and registration deposit
- Application fee: AED 525 (VAT inclusive), payable on completion of online registration. The application fee is non-transferable, non-adjustable and non-refundable.
- Registration (enrolment) deposit: Charged at the time of admission and equal to 10% of the annual tuition; this deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable but is adjusted against the tuition for the academic year. Existing re-enrolment fees (for returning students) are up to 5% of tuition or AED 500 (whichever is higher), non-refundable and deductible from the first term's fees.

Other mandatory or routine charges
- E‑Learning fee: AED 300 per student (FS1–Year 13).

Optional and additional costs (examples and typical ranges)
- Uniform: AED 650 to AED 2,000.
- Books: ranges by year (example ranges shown: AED 400–AED 4,250 depending on year).
- Stationery: around AED 470 (typical).
- Transport (optional): AED 6,300 to AED 10,000 depending on route.
- Canteen credit: AED 20 to AED 3,600 (range depends on usage).
- Extracurricular / enrichment activities: AED 50 to AED 1,000 (typical range), with higher-cost enrichment and international trips shown for older year groups (examples: enrichment AED 3,000 to AED 20,000; international trips AED 8,000 to AED 30,000 where applicable).
- Other potential charges shown on year fact sheets: laptop/digital device costs for secondary years, class photographs, event costumes, local trip fees, learning support assistant costs and SEND assessment fees — see the grade-specific fact sheet ranges.

Sibling discounts
- Sibling concessions are applied as described: 4th child 15% and 5th child and above 25% for new enrollments (additional grandfathering arrangements noted for existing GEMS families).

Billing schedule and payment terms
- Billing periods (terms): Term 1 (Sep–Dec), Term 2 (Jan–Mar), Term 3 (Apr–Jun). Tuition is invoiced and payable in advance of attendance at the start of each term.
- Standard termly breakdown: Term 1 = 40% of the annual tuition; Term 2 = 30%; Term 3 = 30%. Tuition may also be paid in full in advance.
- Tuition fees are set in compliance with KHDA's School Fee Framework and are payable prior to the start of the academic year; fees charged for mid‑year admissions may be calculated from the month of enrolment.

Payment methods and practical payment details
- Online payments via the parent login/payment portal.
- School Fee Counter: cash, credit card, and cheque payments accepted at the counter during business hours; cheques should be made payable to GEMS Founders School Mizhar.
- Credit card promotions: First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) credit card promotions are available for fee discounts or cashback as advertised.
- Wire transfer (bank transfer) details for tuition payments: Bank Name: Dubai Islamic Bank; Account Name: GEMS FOUNDERS SCHOOL MIZHAR BR OF PREMIER SCHOOLS INTERNATIONAL L L C; Account Number: 001520150574001; IBAN: AE500240001520150574001; SWIFT: DUIBAEAD. Parents must quote the applicant's name and grade and include the bank's service fee so the school receives the full amount.

Non-payment and consequences
- Late or non-payment may result in withheld reports, withheld examination entry, loss of place, and temporary or permanent exclusion from the school until fees are settled.

Refunds and withdrawal charges
- Registration and re‑registration deposits are generally non‑refundable except in extenuating circumstances (examples include relocation). Refunds of tuition already paid are calculated as follows: tuition paid prior to the academic year is refundable less registration/re‑registration fees; if a student has been enrolled for two weeks or less a month's fees is deducted; if enrolled between two weeks and one month, two months' fees are deducted; if enrolled for more than one month, a full term's fees are deducted. Refunds are calculated from the start of the term to the date of the official withdrawal request; a 30‑day written notification is required for withdrawals.

Boarding fees
- No boarding provision or boarding fees are listed for this school; boarding is not applicable. Optional services and additional costs shown on the grade fact sheets cover transport, activities and support services rather than boarding.

Notes
- Grade-specific ‘‘School Fees Fact Sheet'' documents list required supplies, optional service ranges and any year-specific items (for example, laptop/device costs in secondary years and international trip ranges for older students). These fact sheets provide the typical additional cost ranges per grade.

Total students on roll are 4,016; the Emirati share is 524, making the largest nationality group Arabic. The local-to-international ratio is approximately 1:6.7. Exact numbers of other nationalities are not published in the KHDA report.