GEMS Founders School Dubai South

GEMS Founders School – Dubai South is located in Dubai South, alongside Expo Road and near Expo City Dubai. Dubai South is the large master-planned development focused on aviation, logistics and real estate, with surrounding residential communities. The campus is accessible from the Dubai South area and is positioned to serve families relocating to the district.

The school is organised into Early Years (EYFS), Primary and Secondary. It opened with FS1 to Year 8 and is planned to extend to Year 13 by 2029, broadening the upper-key-stage coverage over time. Current secondary provision covers Years 7-8, with expansion anticipated to include higher year groups in the future.

The school is co-educational (gender of entry is mixed). It operates as a British-curriculum, international school within the UAE. No boarding facilities are indicated for the Dubai South campus.

Inclusive Education is a core part of GEMS Founders School – Dubai South. The school welcomes students with a range of learning needs, including students with disabilities, gifted and talented learners, and English Language Learners, with adjustments and targeted strategies to support diverse learners. Parents are asked to share full details of any SEN plans or reports to tailor educational provisions; admission is not conditional solely on a medical diagnosis.

The school follows the National Curriculum for England and is recognised as a British School Overseas (BSO). This reflects a UK-affiliated curriculum and international accreditation rather than a national UAE-only framework.

There is no separate religious denomination affiliation stated for the Dubai South campus. UAE-specific subjects include Islamic Studies as part of the UAE Ministry of Education curriculum where applicable, but the school itself is not described as affiliated with a particular religion.

Foundation Stage timetables start with doors open at 07:10, lessons begin at 07:40, and the day ends at 12:50 (11:20 on Fridays). Primary timetables have doors open around 07:20 with lessons from 07:40 onward and a midday break structure; Fridays show reduced sessions. Secondary timetables begin earlier, with gates open around 07:00 and lessons running from 07:40 through the afternoon, with a shorter Friday day. Ramadan hours may adjust the daily schedule during the holy month.

School Transport Services (STS) LLC operates the bus service for GEMS Founders School – Dubai South. STS is an ISO-accredited provider and handles all transport arrangements and payments directly with families. They offer a large fleet, trained drivers and guardians, and can consider out-of-area requests, though routes are not guaranteed. For inquiries, contact Abishek P at +971-563693171 or [email protected]

Tuition fees by year group (annual and per-term amounts, AED)

- FS1: Annual tuition (KHDA approved) AED 36,400; discounted tuition for AY 2025-2026 AED 30,940. Term breakdown (discounted): Term 1 AED 12,376; Term 2 AED 9,282; Term 3 AED 9,282.

- FS2: Annual tuition (KHDA approved) AED 39,900; discounted tuition for AY 2025-2026 AED 33,915. Term breakdown (discounted): Term 1 AED 13,567; Term 2 AED 10,174; Term 3 AED 10,174.

- Year 1: Annual tuition (KHDA approved) AED 43,400; discounted tuition for AY 2025-2026 AED 36,890. Term breakdown (discounted): Term 1 AED 14,756; Term 2 AED 11,067; Term 3 AED 11,067.

- Year 2: Annual tuition (KHDA approved) AED 43,400; discounted tuition for AY 2025-2026 AED 36,890. Term breakdown (discounted): Term 1 AED 14,756; Term 2 AED 11,067; Term 3 AED 11,067.

- Year 3: Annual tuition (KHDA approved) AED 43,400; discounted tuition for AY 2025-2026 AED 36,890. Term breakdown (discounted): Term 1 AED 14,756; Term 2 AED 11,067; Term 3 AED 11,067.

- Year 4: Annual tuition (KHDA approved) AED 44,800; discounted tuition for AY 2025-2026 AED 38,080. Term breakdown (discounted): Term 1 AED 15,232; Term 2 AED 11,424; Term 3 AED 11,424.
- Year 5: Annual tuition (KHDA approved) AED 44,800; discounted tuition for AY 2025-2026 AED 38,080. Term breakdown (discounted): Term 1 AED 15,232; Term 2 AED 11,424; Term 3 AED 11,424.

- Year 6: Annual tuition (KHDA approved) AED 44,800; discounted tuition for AY 2025-2026 AED 38,080. Term breakdown (discounted): Term 1 AED 15,232; Term 2 AED 11,424; Term 3 AED 11,424.

- Year 7: Annual tuition (KHDA approved) AED 47,600; discounted tuition for AY 2025-2026 AED 40,460. Term breakdown (discounted): Term 1 AED 16,184; Term 2 AED 12,138; Term 3 AED 12,138.

- Year 8: Annual tuition (KHDA approved) AED 47,600; discounted tuition for AY 2025-2026 AED 40,460. Term breakdown (discounted): Term 1 AED 16,184; Term 2 AED 12,138; Term 3 AED 12,138.

- Year 9: Annual tuition (KHDA approved) AED 47,600; discounted tuition for AY 2025-2026 AED 40,460. Term breakdown (discounted): Term 1 AED 16,184; Term 2 AED 12,138; Term 3 AED 12,138.

Application, enrolment and registration-related fees

- Application fee: AED 500 (assessment included).
- Enrolment (registration) deposit for new students: up to 10% of the total tuition fees, non-refundable and deductible from the first-term fees. Existing student re-enrolment fees: up to 5% of tuition fees or AED 500 (whichever is higher), non-refundable and deductible from the first-term fees. The school's admissions guidance also sets a registration deposit at the point of offer (stated in admissions material).

Billing schedule and payment terms

- Tuition invoices are issued to the fee sponsor on record two months prior to the start of the academic year. Tuition may be paid in full or in termly instalments. Termly due dates are on or before the 10th working day of: August for Term 1, December for Term 2, and April for Term 3. Term 1 is typically billed at 40% of the annual tuition and Terms 2 and 3 at 30% each.

Refunds and student withdrawals

- The registration/enrolment deposit is non-refundable. Tuition fee refunds follow the Ministry of Education policy; refund requests must be submitted in writing to the school admissions office and refunds are returned to the original payee. A 30-day written notification period is required for student withdrawals. Non-payment of fees may result in withholding of reports, exclusion from examinations, or loss of place.

Other costs and optional charges

- Required education supplies and typical ranges: school uniform AED 600 to AED 2,000; laptop/digital device approximately AED 515; school ID card replacement AED 20. Optional service ranges include transport AED 6,600 to AED 9,000; extracurricular activities AED 50 to AED 2,000; canteen AED 20 to AED 3,600; class photographs AED 100 to AED 500; local educational trips AED 50 to AED 2,000; overseas trips (where applicable for older years) from AED 8,000 to AED 30,000; enrichment activities and learning support ranges are published with their own scales. Uniform items must be purchased from the school's approved vendor, Threads. Transport services are provided by an external operator and transport fees are paid directly to that operator.

Nationalities represented are broad, with public postings indicating up to 82 nationalities on roll in recent years, and other sources listing around 60 nationalities with Indian as the most common nationality. The local-to-international ratio is not publicly disclosed.