Dubai · American, Ib · fees published for 2026/27
GEMS Dubai American Academy vs Universal American School
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 234,490
23% 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
Universal American School per year
AED 67,832
average across the ladder
Compare by
How the gap opens up
GEMS Dubai American AcademyUniversal American School
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 | Universal American School | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| KG 1 | 66,185 | 40,377 | -25,808 |
| KG 2 | 66,185 | 43,745 | -22,440 |
| Grade 1 | 93,300 | 49,602 | -43,698 |
| Grade 2 | 93,300 | 63,077 | -30,223 |
| Grade 3 | 93,300 | 63,077 | -30,223 |
| Grade 4 | 93,300 | 66,113 | -27,187 |
| Grade 5 | 93,300 | 66,113 | -27,187 |
| Grade 6 | 93,300 | 73,419 | -19,881 |
| Grade 7 | 93,300 | 73,419 | -19,881 |
| Grade 8 | 93,300 | 73,419 | -19,881 |
| Grade 9 | 93,300 | 73,419 | -19,881 |
| Grade 10 | 93,300 | 82,925 | -10,375 |
| Grade 11 | 93,300 | 82,925 | -10,375 |
| Grade 12 | 93,300 | 82,925 | -10,375 |
Universal American School 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 | Universal American School | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Al Barsha, Dubai | Dubai Festival City, Dubai |
| Curriculum | American, IB | American, IB |
| Inspection rating | Outstanding (KHDA) | Very Good (KHDA) |
| Tuition (per year) | AED 66,185 – 93,300 /yr | AED 40,377 – 82,925 /yr |
| Ages / years | 4 - 18 years | 3 - 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed | Mixed |
| Established | 1998 | 2005 |
| 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 | Olympic-Size TrackSwimming PoolMulti-Sport GymnasiumNatural Grass Football PitchScience LaboratoriesICT SuitesDual LibrariesBlack Box TheatreRecording StudioArt & Ceramics StudiosPerforming Arts CentreMusic RoomsLanguage CentreMulti-Purpose HallCafeteriaMedical Clinic |
GEMS Dubai American Academy vs Universal American School at a glance
- GEMS Dubai American Academy publishes annual fees from AED 66,185 to AED 93,300, against AED 40,377 to AED 82,925 at Universal American School, which works out roughly 29% above Universal American School across the fee range.
- For KG 1, GEMS Dubai American Academy charges AED 66,185 and Universal American School AED 43,745, so Universal American School saves AED 22,440 a year at that stage.
- Both teach the American and IB curriculum.
- Universal American School 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 Universal American School following in 2005.
- Location wise, GEMS Dubai American Academy sits in Al Barsha and Universal American School in Dubai Festival City, so the school run may decide it.