Dubai · Ib · fees published for 2026/27
GEMS Dubai American Academy vs Raffles World Academy
Talem publishes every year group’s fee at both schools, so the honest comparison is the whole bill, not a range.
What each costs from KG 1 to Grade 12
Difference
AED 319,769
34% more at GEMS Dubai American Academy
The two schools publish a different number of year groups (14 and 15), so the totals cover different spans. The per-year figures below are the like-for-like comparison.
GEMS Dubai American Academy per year
AED 89,426
average across the ladder
Raffles World Academy per year
AED 62,147
average across the ladder
Compare by
How the gap opens up
GEMS Dubai American AcademyRaffles World Academy
Cumulative tuition, one point per year group.
Year by year
Every figure below is the fee each school publishes for that year group.
| Year group | GEMS Dubai American Academy | Raffles World Academy | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| KG 1 | 66,185 | 33,544 | -32,641 |
| KG 2 | 66,185 | 33,544 | -32,641 |
| Grade 1 | 93,300 | 40,253 | -53,047 |
| Grade 2 | 93,300 | 53,270 | -40,030 |
| Grade 3 | 93,300 | 53,270 | -40,030 |
| Grade 4 | 93,300 | 53,671 | -39,629 |
| Grade 5 | 93,300 | 64,405 | -28,895 |
| Grade 6 | 93,300 | 64,405 | -28,895 |
| Grade 7 | 93,300 | 64,807 | -28,493 |
| Grade 8 | 93,300 | 72,188 | -21,112 |
| Grade 9 | 93,300 | 72,188 | -21,112 |
| Grade 10 | 93,300 | 72,188 | -21,112 |
| Grade 11 | 93,300 | 78,488 | -14,812 |
| Grade 12 | 93,300 | 87,990 | -5,310 |
Raffles World Academy publishes 1 further year group that GEMS Dubai American Academy does not, so those rows have no counterpart above.
Side by side
| GEMS Dubai American Academy | Raffles World Academy | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Al Barsha, Dubai | Umm Suqeim, Dubai |
| Curriculum | American, IB | IB |
| Inspection rating | Outstanding (KHDA) | Very Good (KHDA) |
| Tuition (per year) | AED 66,185 – 93,300 /yr | AED 33,544 – 87,990 /yr |
| Ages / years | 4 - 18 years | 3 - 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed | Mixed |
| Established | 1998 | 2008 |
| Facilities | 50m Olympic Swimming PoolLearner PoolTwo GymnasiumsFitness Suite & Indoor TrackIndoor Golf Simulator400m Running TrackThree Soccer PitchesBaseball DiamondRooftop Tennis Courts565-Seat AuditoriumTwo Black Box TheatresArt Studios & CeramicsPhotography DarkroomTV Studio & Radio SuiteMusic Rooms & Recording StudioTen Science LaboratoriesCenter of Excellence in AI and RoboticsTechnology SuitesLibrary & Achievement CenterArabic Language RoomsWISE CenterHealth ClinicDining & Cafes | 600-Seat Auditorium/GymnasiumSwimming PoolsSoccer FieldBasketball CourtsTennis CourtsBadminton CourtsScience LaboratoriesComputer LabsLibraryArt RoomsDance StudioMusic RoomsTheatreCafeteriaMedical Clinic |
GEMS Dubai American Academy vs Raffles World Academy at a glance
- GEMS Dubai American Academy publishes annual fees from AED 66,185 to AED 93,300, against AED 33,544 to AED 87,990 at Raffles World Academy, which works out roughly 31% above Raffles World Academy across the fee range.
- For KG 1, GEMS Dubai American Academy charges AED 66,185 and Raffles World Academy AED 33,544, so Raffles World Academy saves AED 32,641 a year at that stage.
- Both teach the IB curriculum; GEMS Dubai American Academy additionally offers American.
- Raffles World Academy starts younger, admitting from age 3 against age 4 at GEMS Dubai American Academy.
- GEMS Dubai American Academy is the longer-established of the two, founded in 1998, with Raffles World Academy following in 2008.
- Location wise, GEMS Dubai American Academy sits in Al Barsha and Raffles World Academy in Umm Suqeim, so the school run may decide it.