GEMS World Academy Abu Dhabi

GEMS World Academy – Abu Dhabi is on Al Reem Island in the Najmat area of Abu Dhabi. The campus is a purpose-built site that opened in 2022 and remains a central part of the Al Reem Island community. It is accessible to families from nearby neighbourhoods via established road links and local transport routes.

The school currently serves Foundation Stage 1 (FS1) through Year 11. It follows a curriculum structure that integrates the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), Primary Years Programme (PYP), and Middle Years Programme (MYP), with a long-term plan to extend to Year 13.

The school is co-educational and operates as a day school (no boarding facilities are offered).

The student body represents over 80 nationalities and 33 languages. UAE nationals are part of the local presence, but the exact local-to-international ratio is not published.

The curriculum is described as fully inclusive with hyper-personalised learning pathways to support diverse learners. This approach is designed to accommodate a wide range of abilities within the IB framework and the English National Curriculum blend.

There is no formal country affiliation stated; the school blends the International Baccalaureate framework with the National Curriculum for England.

There is no religious affiliation stated for the school.

The school day typically runs from around 7:00–7:30 am to about 3:30 pm, with after-school activities that may extend later. Exact timings can vary by phase and term.

STS Group provides the school bus service, delivering a dedicated transport option with safety features such as CCTV, GPS tracking, and RFID systems. To register a child, contact the school's transport team via the provided SDE email and phone number; fees are payable online.

GEMS World Academy – Abu Dhabi offers an IB-based curriculum that blends the IB framework with the Early Years Foundation Stage and the National Curriculum for England, underpinned by High-Performance Learning. The school currently welcomes FS1 to Year 11, with EYFS for ages 3–5, PYP for ages 5–11, and MYP for ages 11–16. Diploma Programme (DP) and Career-related Programme (CP) are planned for introduction, with DP as a Candidate School and CP as a Candidate Programme as part of moves toward IB authorisation, targeting August 2026. The DP comprises six subject groups and includes the IB Core—Theory of Knowledge, Extended Essay, and Creativity, Activity, Service. The CP offers a flexible, career-focused pathway that blends DP-style courses with career-related studies, internships and industry projects. In the Middle Years Programme, eight subject groups support interdisciplinary inquiry and global citizenship, with additional features such as the Mother Tongue Programme and related co-curricular opportunities.

GEMS World Academy – Abu Dhabi emphasises a warm, supportive learning environment where all students feel safe, happy and fulfilled. Student voice is recognised day to day in the classroom, with pupils having agency and choice over their learning and leadership opportunities. The school frames wellbeing as a shared responsibility, with leadership actively focusing on student wellbeing across the campus. Wellbeing is described as a core, collective obligation, underpinning the school's approach to learning and community life. Through community events, leadership programmes and global learning experiences, students develop empathy, connection and social responsibility as part of their social and emotional development.

Student support services are publicly disclosed and include learning support teachers and a school counselor. The safeguarding lead shares responsibility for child protection within the school's leadership structure, with pastoral roles such as year leads and Assistant Head Teachers contributing to student welfare. School policies and leadership materials indicate an inclusivity emphasis and a structured pastoral framework. The school does not publicly disclose the specific kinds of SEN it can support or whether it operates as a specialist SEN institution. Public information confirms access to learning support and counselling as part of the broader wellbeing and inclusion framework.

English is the language of instruction at GEMS World Academy – Abu Dhabi. The campus serves a diverse community with students from many nationalities, spanning languages (over 80 nationalities speaking 33 languages). In Early Years, mother tongue lessons are provided to support multilingual learners and immersive language experiences are used to promote language development. Formal EAL program details are not publicly disclosed beyond these language-support provisions. The breadth of language provision is evidenced by the school's multilingual community and English-language instruction.

Mental wellbeing is central to the school's ethos, with wellbeing described as the responsibility of the whole community. The leadership team explicitly prioritises student wellbeing as part of its mission to nurture confident, compassionate learners. On-site health and wellbeing are reinforced by the presence of a health clinic and trained staff, including a school counselor. Wellbeing is integrated into everyday school life, including the emphasis on happiness and belonging as part of the ‘A World of Happiness' concept. Activities and initiatives, such as community events and leadership programmes, support social and emotional development.

Safeguarding is embedded in the school's leadership and pastoral structures; the safeguarding lead and team share responsibility for child protection. The school operates with a visible health clinic on site and clear safeguarding, health and safety considerations within its facilities. Job postings for pastoral leadership and safeguarding roles (e.g., Assistant Headteacher of Pastoral – Primary) indicate formal accountability for safeguarding and wellbeing across the primary phase. The school's policies page confirms the existence of formal policies governing safeguarding and related practices. On-site safeguarding leadership is complemented by on-going staff development and coordinated partnerships to support student welfare.

FS1 to Year 11 are admitted. Applications are submitted online and the learner profile is completed with documentation uploaded, including a recent passport photo, the applicant's passport, the applicant's most recent school report in English, the applicant's birth certificate in English, immunization records in English, and any applicable special education documentation. A registration fee equal to 5% of the annual tuition is required to confirm enrolment; the fee is non-refundable and is deducted from the first term fees. Enrollment is confirmed after payment, and a welcome email with information for the first day is sent. Prior to joining, the Parent relations Executive provides a teacher letter, handbook, school timings, and uniform details, and the Government Relations Executive ensures the file is completed to register the child with ADEK. The school is fully inclusive and supports Students of Determination with mild to moderate learning needs, subject to availability, through an Inclusion Panel. English language proficiency is required to participate in instructional programmes; learners may still be admitted without proficiency if they satisfy enrolment regulations and qualify for the English Language Learner programme, subject to availability. Re-enrolment for the upcoming academic year requires completing the online re-enrolment form and paying a 5% deposit by the end of April; the deposit is non-refundable if a student does not take up the place in September but is fully adjustable against the first term fees. FS1–FS2/Year 1 must be toilet-independent. All documents must be in English and display an official school stamp. UAE ADEK age guidelines are provided in the Age Placement Guide, with ages and year correspondences published for UK/IB/American curricula. For more information, contact the Admissions team.