GEMS World Academy Dubai

GEMS World Academy – Dubai is located in Al Barsha South, Dubai, UAE. The 42,000 m² campus includes a dedicated Senior School for Grades 9–12 and is easily accessible for families from Meadows, Springs, Lakes, Arabian Ranches and Damac Hills, with Mall of the Emirates nearby.

GWA offers Nursery through Grade 12 and delivers the International Baccalaureate continuum: Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), Diploma Programme (DP) and Career-related Programme (CP). A Senior School campus serves students in Grades 9–12.

Co-educational; day school with no boarding facilities.

The school has over 2,100 students from more than 100 nationalities; there is no publicly published single most represented nationality, and the local-to-international student ratio is not published.

An Inclusion department provides learning support and English as an Additional Language (EAL) alongside counselling services. The KHDA/DSIB inspection notes inclusive provision and describes the school as fully inclusive.

None. The school operates as an international IB World School within the UAE-based GEMS Education network.

No religious affiliation. Islamic Education is provided where required by UAE law; Muslim students must take Islamic Education from Grade 1 to Grade 12.

The Academy day starts between 07:45 and 08:00. Students are dismissed at 15:20 Monday to Thursday and 12:00 on Fridays; enrichment activities run 15:20–16:20 Monday to Thursday.

The school contracts School Transport Services (STS) to provide bus transport. STS operates a network of routes with safety features (CCTV, GPS) and assigns a dedicated Service Delivery Executive; a route and fee schedule is published by the school.

GEMS World Academy – Dubai offers the IB continuum: Primary Years Programme (PYP) for Pre-K to Grade 5, Middle Years Programme (MYP) for Grades 6–10, and the Diploma Programme (DP) and Career-related Programme (CP) for senior students. The PYP uses inquiry-based learning across six subject areas—Language, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Arts, and Physical, Social and Personal Education—and six transdisciplinary themes, with learner dispositions, key concepts, and action guiding learning. The MYP spans Grades 6–10 and comprises eight subject groups (Language and Literature, Language Acquisition, Mathematics, Sciences, Individuals and Societies, Design, The Arts, Physical and Health Education) and includes Contextual Learning, Conceptual Understanding, Service as Action, and the Personal Project (started in Grade 9 and completed in Grade 10). The DP is a two-year, university-preparatory programme with six subject groups and a Core of CAS, the Extended Essay, and Theory of Knowledge. The CP combines two DP courses with a four-component Core and a career-related study, including a BTEC-Business Level 3 Extended Diploma, for Grades 11–12.

GEMS World Academy – Dubai emphasizes a strong pastoral approach and personal well-being as part of its ethos. The Student Leadership program includes wellbeing champions among over 250 student leaders who organise activities to foster community spirit and support peers and families. The school's ethos is student-centred, with learning designed to keep students safe, secure and successful, and its values underpin personal development, behaviour and welfare. Emotional well-being is a stated focus, with the KHDA noting attention to the emotional well-being of all students through support and guidance sessions and the school maintaining an inclusive environment for diverse learners. The on-campus Language Institute also supports student well-being indirectly via a University and Careers Counselling Centre that helps students plan for their next steps. These provisions reflect a holistic SEL approach that combines peer-led initiatives, pastoral care and access to counselling resources.

GEMS World Academy – Dubai operates with an inclusive ethos and systems designed to meet the needs of a diverse range of students, including those identified as students of determination and exceptional learners. KHDA inspection content states the school's inclusive curriculum and effective systems for meeting diverse needs, highlighting outcomes for students with SEN within a general, non-specialist setting. The school is not described as a specialist SEN institution in the public materials available, and specific SEN categories or dedicated staff lists are not publicly detailed. KHDA notes that the emotional well-being of all students is a focus within the inclusive provision. Overall, SEN support appears embedded within the school's inclusive framework rather than as a separate specialist service.

English as an Additional Language (EAL) is not named as a separate, stand-alone programme on public pages. The school's Language Institute supports language learning in a multilingual, intercultural context, described as the largest mother tongue language programme among UAE schools and offering multilingual opportunities. This suggests language development support is integrated through language programming rather than a distinct EAL department. The Language Institute page also notes a University and Careers Counselling Centre on campus, which complements language development by supporting students' broader academic planning. No explicit EAL policy or staffing details are published beyond these language-focused provisions.

Mental wellbeing is addressed through a strong pastoral framework and a focus on emotional well-being. The school describes itself as offering excellent pastoral support to ensure students feel safe, secure and able to challenge themselves, consistent with its ethos of care. KHDA notes the school's focus on the emotional well-being of all students through support and guidance sessions, reflecting systematic attention to wellbeing. Student wellbeing is further supported by student leadership roles that include wellbeing champions who promote community and peer support. The accompanying safeguarding and inclusion context is reinforced by KHDA's comments on safe practices and healthy life styles.

Safeguarding is a priority at GEMS World Academy – Dubai. KHDA inspection material highlights effective systems for keeping students safe and promoting healthy lifestyles, and notes an inclusive ethos that supports protection across a diverse student body. GEMS Education has pursued international accreditation for its safeguarding training, with programmes that certify Level 1 and Level 3 safeguarding training for staff, reflecting a systematic commitment to safeguarding across its network. KHDA's reports confirm ongoing attention to student safety and welfare within the school's provision. Taken together, these sources indicate a formal safeguarding framework supported by accredited staff training.

1. Make an initial enquiry with the Admissions Team. The team guides you from your first enquiry to your child's first day and answers questions to help you feel confident about joining the international community. You can start the process by using Apply Now, Get a Call Back, or Book a Tour. Guided campus tours are available Monday to Thursday 08:00–15:30 and Friday 08:00–11:30; appointments must be booked in advance. 2. Schedule a campus visit. Tours provide information about the IB continuum and school life. Tours run Monday–Thursday 08:00–15:30 and Friday 08:00–11:30; please book in advance. 3. Submit the application and review requirements. Apply Now enables application submission. The IB continuum is offered across PYP, MYP, CP, and DP for ages 2–18. Arabic language instruction is required for Grades 1–9, and Muslim students from Grade 1 to 12 must take Islamic Education. If there are questions about grade-level placement, contact the Registration Team. 4. Grade placement and enrollment. GEMS World Academy – Dubai places students in age-appropriate grade levels in accordance with MOE/KHDA regulations. The country comparison chart helps align English and local grade naming (e.g., Year 2 in England is equivalent to Grade 1 at GWA). For placement questions, contact the Registration Team.