GEMS Wellington Academy Al Khail

GEMS Wellington Academy – Al Khail is located in Dubai Hills, Dubai, UAE. The central Dubai Hills campus provides access from popular communities such as Dubai Hills, Al Barsha, Downtown Dubai, and surrounding areas. It is reachable via Al Khail Road (E44, Exit 18) and Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road (E311), with on-site parking and a dedicated drop-off zone. A school bus service operates with GPS-tracked buses for safety and convenience.

The school offers education from Nursery through Year 13. It includes Early Years Foundation Stage (FS1–FS2), Primary, Secondary, and Post-16 pathways, with programmes aligned to a British curriculum and progression from early years to sixth form.

The academy is co-educational (mixed gender). It is part of the British Schools Overseas network and follows the National Curriculum for England and Wales.

GEMS Wellington Academy – Al Khail is an inclusive school with an Inclusion Team that includes Directors of Inclusion, SENCOs, specialist teachers, ELL staff, and counsellors. Teaching Assistants support FS1 to Year 6, and some students receive one-to-one Learning Support Assistant support funded by parents, with other levels receiving classroom or small-group support at no extra cost. The school follows KHDA guidance for inclusion and supports a range of learning needs, including English language learners and Students of Determination.

The school is a British international school overseas, following the National Curriculum for England and Wales. This aligns with its designation as a British curriculum school overseas.

There is no formal religious affiliation. KHDA/UK-origin listings describe the school as not having a specific religious ethos.

Primary day starts at 7:45 am and ends at 3:00 pm, with doors opening at 7:15 am; Fridays finish at 11:50 am. Nursery offers flexible attendance options (2, 3, or 5 days) with multiple pick-up times (12:30 pm, 3:00 pm, or 4:00 pm) and a bus service.

The school provides a comprehensive bus service across a wide range of communities. All buses comply with RTA regulations and are GPS-tracked for safety. Nursery transport is available with a dedicated pick-up and handover process, including a bus guardian for each child.

Application fees
- New student application fee: AED 525.
- Application fee is refundable if the school does not offer a place (unless the child's registration is carried forward to the following academic year). It is non‑refundable if the school offers a place and the family chooses not to accept it. The application fee is not deductible from the total tuition if the place is accepted.

Registration and re‑registration deposits
- Registration deposit (payable after an offer is accepted): 10% of the total tuition fees for the academic year. This deposit is deductible from the total tuition but is non‑refundable.
- Existing student re‑registration deposit (to guarantee a place for the following year): 5% of the total tuition fees for the academic year. This deposit is deductible from the total tuition but is non‑refundable.

Tuition fees (annual and per‑term breakdown by year group)
- Nursery: AED from 19,469 per year.
- Foundation Stage 1 (FS1): Annual AED 47,527 — Term 1 AED 19,011; Term 2 AED 14,258; Term 3 AED 14,258.
- Foundation Stage 2 (FS2): Annual AED 59,862 — Term 1 AED 23,944; Term 2 AED 17,959; Term 3 AED 17,959.
- Year 1: Annual AED 59,862 — Term 1 AED 23,944; Term 2 AED 17,959; Term 3 AED 17,959.
- Year 2: Annual AED 59,862 — Term 1 AED 23,944; Term 2 AED 17,959; Term 3 AED 17,959.
- Year 3: Annual AED 59,862 — Term 1 AED 23,944; Term 2 AED 17,959; Term 3 AED 17,959.
- Year 4: Annual AED 59,862 — Term 1 AED 23,944; Term 2 AED 17,959; Term 3 AED 17,959.
- Year 5: Annual AED 59,862 — Term 1 AED 23,944; Term 2 AED 17,959; Term 3 AED 17,959.
- Year 6: Annual AED 59,862 — Term 1 AED 23,944; Term 2 AED 17,959; Term 3 AED 17,959.
- Year 7: Annual AED 82,540 — Term 1 AED 33,016; Term 2 AED 24,762; Term 3 AED 24,762.
- Year 8: Annual AED 82,540 — Term 1 AED 33,016; Term 2 AED 24,762; Term 3 AED 24,762.
- Year 9: Annual AED 82,540 — Term 1 AED 33,016; Term 2 AED 24,762; Term 3 AED 24,762.
- Year 10: Annual AED 92,878 — Term 1 AED 37,152; Term 2 AED 27,863; Term 3 AED 27,863.
- Year 11: Annual AED 92,878 — Term 1 AED 37,152; Term 2 AED 27,863; Term 3 AED 27,863.
- Year 12: Annual AED 93,959 — Term 1 AED 37,583; Term 2 AED 28,188; Term 3 AED 28,188. For Year 12 students with date of joining (DOJ) Sep 2024 onwards, the annual fee listed is AED 96,624 — Term 1 AED 38,650; Term 2 AED 28,987; Term 3 AED 28,987.
- Year 13: Annual AED 93,959 — Term 1 AED 37,583; Term 2 AED 28,188; Term 3 AED 28,188. For Year 13 students with DOJ Sep 2024 onwards, the annual fee listed is AED 96,624 — Term 1 AED 38,650; Term 2 AED 28,987; Term 3 AED 28,987.

Billing schedule and payment terms
- Tuition fees are due prior to the start of the academic year and are payable in advance of attendance. Tuition is invoiced from the time of admission to ensure payments are processed before the start of the term.
- The school collects annual tuition fees in three instalments, due before the start of each term. Instalment schedule: Term 1 — 40% of annual tuition; Term 2 — 30%; Term 3 — 30%. If a student enrols during the year, tuition may be charged starting from the beginning of the month of enrolment.

Boarding fees
- Not applicable. GEMS Wellington Academy – Al Khail operates as a day school and does not provide boarding accommodation; there are no boarding fees.

Other costs and typical additional charges
- Uniforms: School uniform is available for purchase from Threads stores (Times Square Center and Cityland Mall). Parents purchase uniform items directly from Threads; uniform costs are charged by the retailer. Contact details for Threads are provided for purchases and enquiries.
- School transport (bus): Transport is provided through School Transport Services (STS). Transport registration and route availability are managed by STS; transport fees are charged separately by STS and are payable through the STS portal or at the STS counter. Fees and payment schedules for bus services are set by STS.
- Extra‑curricular activities (ECAs): Internal after‑school clubs run by school staff are provided free of charge for many activities. External or premium clubs and external provider activities (paid ASAs) incur additional charges; those charges are set by the external providers and are payable separately.
- Other potential additional costs: specialist external provider charges, exam/assessment fees, off‑site trips and some external coaching or holiday camps may incur separate charges as set by the provider; amounts are not detailed in the standard tuition schedule.

Refund policy and withdrawals
- Registration and re‑registration deposits are not refunded except in extenuating circumstances (for example relocation to another country/Emirate or other unforeseen circumstances).
- Refunds of tuition paid prior to the beginning of the academic year are possible but the registration/re‑registration deposit will be deducted. If the student was enrolled for two weeks or less, one month's fees will be deducted. If enrolled between two weeks and one month, two months' fees will be deducted. If enrolled for more than one month, the full term's fees will be deducted. Refund calculations run from the start of the term and from the parent's official withdrawal request date (being on the register counts as days in school).
- Refund method: card/online payments are refunded to the original card; cash payments are refunded by cheque. A written notice of one month is required for withdrawal to ensure documentation is prepared.

Fee payment options and bank details
- Accepted payment methods include in‑person payments at the school, wire transfer to the school bank account, and online/credit/debit card payments. The school also details promotional card options for fee payment (credit card offers may be available through banking partners).
- Bank transfer details for school payments (currency: AED):
- Account name: GEMS WELLINGTON ACADEMY AL KHAIL LLC.
- Account number: 097520206557401.
- Bank name: Dubai Islamic Bank (Dubai, UAE).
- SWIFT code: DUIBAEADXXX.
- IBAN: AE180240097520206557401.

The academy describes itself as highly diverse, with representation from over 80 nationalities. The most common nationality is Arab, and a large majority of students are international rather than local Emirati. Local students are reported to be around 2% and international students around 98% in some third-party summaries.