Affordable IB Schools in Dubai 2026: Fees & Ratings
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Also known as gems american academy in abu dhabi
IB / American
49K - 79K AED
Khalifa City
Curriculum pathway: IB Primary Years Programme in Elementary, then a US Common Core based Secondary programme; in Grades 11 and 12, students may also take the IB Diploma Programme or Advanced Placement courses.
Last updated · Sources: ADEK inspection reports · methodology
GEMS American Academy is an American school and IB World School located in Khalifa City A, Abu Dhabi. The school offers a dual-curriculum approach, combining American educational standards with the International Baccalaureate framework to provide students with globally recognized qualifications.
The academy welcomes both boys and girls, creating a mixed learning environment within its international community. Students benefit from an inquiry-based educational approach that emphasizes critical thinking and global citizenship.
GEMS American Academy delivers the American curriculum alongside IB programmes, preparing students for further education opportunities worldwide. The school focuses on developing internationally minded learners through its comprehensive academic offerings and extensive extracurricular activities, including sports and arts programmes.
Annual tuition fees range from AED 48,870 to AED 78,540. The campus is conveniently situated for families residing in Khalifa City A and surrounding neighborhoods near 20th Street.
Facts reported by the school on its own channels, summarised by BestSchool.ae with a link to each source.
The school introduced Abbas Abdulsamad as its new Assistant High School Principal for Grades 9-10. He brings over 20 years of experience in Gulf education, including roles as an English Literature teacher, AP coordinator and, most recently, Vice Principal in Abu Dhabi.
Source: InstagramThe academic year of some recorded fees has not been verified against its source. Confirm current rates with the school before using them.
Annual tuition at GEMS American Academy ranges from AED 48,870 (FS1) to AED 78,540 (G1/Y2) for 2026-2027, across 15 year groups, or about AED 4,073 to AED 6,545 a month.
| Grade Level | Annual Fees (recorded) | Est. Monthly | Fact Sheet |
|---|---|---|---|
| FS12026-2027 (year unverified) | 48,870 AED | ~4,073 AED | - |
| KG1/FS22026-2027 (year unverified) | 52,870 AED | ~4,406 AED | - |
| KG2/Y12026-2027 (year unverified) | 56,370 AED | ~4,698 AED | - |
| G1/Y22026-2027 (year unverified) | 78,540 AED | ~6,545 AED | - |
| G2/Y32026-2027 (year unverified) | 78,540 AED | ~6,545 AED | - |
| G3/Y42026-2027 (year unverified) | 78,540 AED | ~6,545 AED | - |
| G4/Y52026-2027 (year unverified) | 78,540 AED | ~6,545 AED | - |
| G5/Y62026-2027 (year unverified) | 78,540 AED | ~6,545 AED | - |
| G6/Y72026-2027 (year unverified) | 78,540 AED | ~6,545 AED | - |
| G7/Y82026-2027 (year unverified) | 78,540 AED | ~6,545 AED | - |
| G8/Y92026-2027 (year unverified) | 78,540 AED | ~6,545 AED | - |
| G9/Y102026-2027 (year unverified) | 78,540 AED | ~6,545 AED | - |
| G10/Y112026-2027 (year unverified) | 78,540 AED | ~6,545 AED | - |
| G11/Y122026-2027 (year unverified) | 78,540 AED | ~6,545 AED | - |
| G12/Y132026-2027 (year unverified) | 73,670 AED | ~6,139 AED | - |
ADEK rated GEMS American Academy "Very good" in its 2021-2022 inspection, its third consecutive "Very good". The school has been inspected 5 times since 2012-2013.
Inspectors rated GEMS American Academy Very Good overall. Students achieved outstanding attainment and progress in Science across all phases, and outstanding results in English and Mathematics in the upper phases. Leadership, health and safety, care and support, and learning skills were rated Outstanding, while teaching and assessment were rated Very Good.
Source: ADEK inspection report 2021-2022 (PDF, pages 1-8), inspected 01-Nov-2021 to 04-Nov-2021. Restated by BestSchool.ae.
Of the 60 performance indicators rated in both reports, 20 improved, 4 declined and 36 kept the same rating.
and 12 more
Of the 6 recommendations made in 2017-2018, 3 can be checked against the 2021-2022 ratings: 2 show an improvement, 1 a mixed picture.
Attainment in Arabic First Language (Phase 1 (FS/KG)): Good → Very good · Attainment in Arabic First Language (Phase 2 (P/E/C1)): Acceptable → Good · Attainment in Arabic First Language (Phase 3 (S/M/C2)): Acceptable → Good · Attainment in Arabic First Language (Phase 4 (P-16/HS/C3)): Acceptable → Good
Attainment in Mathematics (Phase 1 (FS/KG)): Good → Very good · Attainment in Sciences (Phase 1 (FS/KG)): Good → Outstanding · Progress in Mathematics (Phase 1 (FS/KG)): Good → Very good · Progress in Sciences (Phase 1 (FS/KG)): Good → Outstanding
Attainment in Arabic First Language (Phase 1 (FS/KG)): Good → Very good · Attainment in Arabic First Language (Phase 2 (P/E/C1)): Acceptable → Good · Attainment in Arabic First Language (Phase 3 (S/M/C2)): Acceptable → Good · Attainment in Arabic First Language (Phase 4 (P-16/HS/C3)): Acceptable → Good
| Indicator | Phase | 2017-2018 | 2021-2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students' achievement | |||
| Attainment in Islamic Education | Phase 1 (FS/KG) | Good | Very good |
| Attainment in Islamic Education | Phase 2 (P/E/C1) | Good | Good |
| Attainment in Islamic Education | Phase 3 (S/M/C2) | Good | Good |
| Attainment in Islamic Education | Phase 4 (P-16/HS/C3) | Good | Good |
| Progress in Islamic Education | Phase 1 (FS/KG) | Good | Very good |
| Progress in Islamic Education | Phase 2 (P/E/C1) | Good | Good |
| Progress in Islamic Education | Phase 3 (S/M/C2) | Good | Good |
| Progress in Islamic Education | Phase 4 (P-16/HS/C3) | Good | Good |
| Attainment in Arabic First Language | Phase 1 (FS/KG) | Good | Very good |
| Attainment in Arabic First Language | Phase 2 (P/E/C1) | Acceptable | Good |
| Attainment in Arabic First Language | Phase 3 (S/M/C2) | Acceptable | Good |
| Attainment in Arabic First Language | Phase 4 (P-16/HS/C3) | Acceptable | Good |
| Progress in Arabic First Language | Phase 1 (FS/KG) | Good | Very good |
| Progress in Arabic First Language | Phase 2 (P/E/C1) | Good | Good |
| Progress in Arabic First Language | Phase 3 (S/M/C2) | Good | Good |
| Progress in Arabic First Language | Phase 4 (P-16/HS/C3) | Good | Good |
| Attainment in Arabic Second Language | Phase 2 (P/E/C1) | Good | Good |
| Attainment in Arabic Second Language | Phase 3 (S/M/C2) | Good | Good |
| Attainment in Arabic Second Language | Phase 4 (P-16/HS/C3) | Good | Good |
| Progress in Arabic Second Language | Phase 2 (P/E/C1) | Good | Good |
| Progress in Arabic Second Language | Phase 3 (S/M/C2) | Good | Good |
| Progress in Arabic Second Language | Phase 4 (P-16/HS/C3) | Good | Good |
| Attainment in Social Studies | Phase 2 (P/E/C1) | Good | Very good |
| Attainment in Social Studies | Phase 3 (S/M/C2) | Good | Very good |
| Progress in Social Studies | Phase 2 (P/E/C1) | Good | Very good |
| Progress in Social Studies | Phase 3 (S/M/C2) | Good | Very good |
| Attainment in English | Phase 1 (FS/KG) | Very good | Very good |
| Attainment in English | Phase 2 (P/E/C1) | Outstanding | Very good |
| Attainment in English | Phase 3 (S/M/C2) | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| Attainment in English | Phase 4 (P-16/HS/C3) | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| Progress in English | Phase 1 (FS/KG) | Very good | Very good |
| Progress in English | Phase 2 (P/E/C1) | Outstanding | Very good |
| Progress in English | Phase 3 (S/M/C2) | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| Progress in English | Phase 4 (P-16/HS/C3) | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| Attainment in Mathematics | Phase 1 (FS/KG) | Good | Very good |
| Attainment in Mathematics | Phase 2 (P/E/C1) | Very good | Very good |
| Attainment in Mathematics | Phase 3 (S/M/C2) | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| Attainment in Mathematics | Phase 4 (P-16/HS/C3) | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| Progress in Mathematics | Phase 1 (FS/KG) | Good | Very good |
| Progress in Mathematics | Phase 2 (P/E/C1) | Very good | Very good |
| Progress in Mathematics | Phase 3 (S/M/C2) | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| Progress in Mathematics | Phase 4 (P-16/HS/C3) | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| Attainment in Sciences | Phase 1 (FS/KG) | Good | Outstanding |
| Attainment in Sciences | Phase 2 (P/E/C1) | Very good | Outstanding |
| Attainment in Sciences | Phase 3 (S/M/C2) | Very good | Outstanding |
| Attainment in Sciences | Phase 4 (P-16/HS/C3) | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| Progress in Sciences | Phase 1 (FS/KG) | Good | Outstanding |
| Progress in Sciences | Phase 2 (P/E/C1) | Very good | Outstanding |
| Progress in Sciences | Phase 3 (S/M/C2) | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| Progress in Sciences | Phase 4 (P-16/HS/C3) | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| Other subjects — Attainment | KG | Very good | - |
| Other subjects — Attainment | Primary | Outstanding | - |
| Other subjects — Attainment | Middle | Outstanding | - |
| Other subjects — Attainment | High | Outstanding | - |
| Other subjects — Progress | KG | Very good | - |
| Other subjects — Progress | Primary | Outstanding | - |
| Other subjects — Progress | Middle | Outstanding | - |
| Other subjects — Progress | High | Outstanding | - |
| Learning skills | Phase 1 (FS/KG) | Very good | Outstanding |
| Learning skills | Phase 2 (P/E/C1) | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| Learning skills | Phase 3 (S/M/C2) | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| Learning skills | Phase 4 (P-16/HS/C3) | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| Students' personal and social development | |||
| Personal development | KG | Very good | - |
| Personal development | Primary | Very good | - |
| Personal development | Middle | Very good | - |
| Personal development | High | Very good | - |
| Understanding of Islamic values and awareness of Emirati and world cultures | KG | Very good | - |
| Understanding of Islamic values and awareness of Emirati and world cultures | Primary | Very good | - |
| Understanding of Islamic values and awareness of Emirati and world cultures | Middle | Very good | - |
| Understanding of Islamic values and awareness of Emirati and world cultures | High | Outstanding | - |
| Social responsibility and innovation skills | KG | Very good | - |
| Social responsibility and innovation skills | Primary | Very good | - |
| Social responsibility and innovation skills | Middle | Outstanding | - |
| Social responsibility and innovation skills | High | Outstanding | - |
| Teaching and assessment | |||
| Teaching for effective learning | KG | Good | - |
| Teaching for effective learning | Primary | Very good | - |
| Teaching for effective learning | Middle | Very good | - |
| Teaching for effective learning | High | Very good | - |
| Assessment | Phase 1 (FS/KG) | Good | Very good |
| Assessment | Phase 2 (P/E/C1) | Very good | Very good |
| Assessment | Phase 3 (S/M/C2) | Outstanding | Very good |
| Assessment | Phase 4 (P-16/HS/C3) | Outstanding | Very good |
| Teaching | Phase 1 (FS/KG) | - | Very good |
| Teaching | Phase 2 (P/E/C1) | - | Very good |
| Teaching | Phase 3 (S/M/C2) | - | Very good |
| Teaching | Phase 4 (P-16/HS/C3) | - | Very good |
| Curriculum | |||
| Curriculum design and implementation | KG | Very good | - |
| Curriculum design and implementation | Primary | Outstanding | - |
| Curriculum design and implementation | Middle | Outstanding | - |
| Curriculum design and implementation | High | Outstanding | - |
| Curriculum adaptation | KG | Very good | - |
| Curriculum adaptation | Primary | Outstanding | - |
| Curriculum adaptation | Middle | Outstanding | - |
| Curriculum adaptation | High | Outstanding | - |
| Protection, care, guidance and support | |||
| Health and safety, including arrangements for child protection/safeguarding | KG | Outstanding | - |
| Health and safety, including arrangements for child protection/safeguarding | Primary | Outstanding | - |
| Health and safety, including arrangements for child protection/safeguarding | Middle | Outstanding | - |
| Health and safety, including arrangements for child protection/safeguarding | High | Outstanding | - |
| Care and support | KG | Outstanding | - |
| Care and support | Primary | Outstanding | - |
| Care and support | Middle | Outstanding | - |
| Care and support | High | Outstanding | - |
| Health & safety | Phase 1 (FS/KG) | - | Outstanding |
| Health & safety | Phase 2 (P/E/C1) | - | Outstanding |
| Health & safety | Phase 3 (S/M/C2) | - | Outstanding |
| Health & safety | Phase 4 (P-16/HS/C3) | - | Outstanding |
| Care & support | Phase 1 (FS/KG) | - | Outstanding |
| Care & support | Phase 2 (P/E/C1) | - | Outstanding |
| Care & support | Phase 3 (S/M/C2) | - | Outstanding |
| Care & support | Phase 4 (P-16/HS/C3) | - | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | |||
| The effectiveness of leadership | Whole school | Outstanding | - |
| Self-evaluation and improvement planning | Whole school | Very good | - |
| Partnerships with parents | Whole school | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| Governance | Whole school | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| Management, staffing, facilities and resources | Whole school | Outstanding | - |
| Effectiveness of leadership | Whole school | - | Outstanding |
| Self evaluation & improvement | Whole school | - | Outstanding |
| Management | Whole school | - | Outstanding |
GEMS American Academy received an overall rating of very good, with outstanding curriculum, care, and leadership. The school blends American and IB curriculums effectively, achieving strong outcomes in English, maths and science, especially in higher grades, though Arabic attainment and inquiry-based learning in kindergarten still require further development.
Source: ADEK inspection report 2017-2018 (PDF, pages 1-20), inspected 30 October to 2 November 2017. Restated by BestSchool.ae.
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