Dubai · Ib · fees published for 2026/27
GEMS Dubai American Academy vs Uptown International 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 240,525
24% more at GEMS Dubai American Academy
The two schools publish a different number of year groups (14 and 17), 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
Uptown International School per year
AED 59,497
average across the ladder
Compare by
How the gap opens up
GEMS Dubai American AcademyUptown International 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 | Uptown International School | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| KG 1 | 66,185 | 31,145 | -35,040 |
| KG 2 | 66,185 | 35,045 | -31,140 |
| Grade 1 | 93,300 | 40,530 | -52,770 |
| Grade 2 | 93,300 | 47,040 | -46,260 |
| Grade 3 | 93,300 | 52,455 | -40,845 |
| Grade 4 | 93,300 | 57,860 | -35,440 |
| Grade 5 | 93,300 | 57,860 | -35,440 |
| Grade 6 | 93,300 | 59,485 | -33,815 |
| Grade 7 | 93,300 | 59,485 | -33,815 |
| Grade 8 | 93,300 | 59,485 | -33,815 |
| Grade 9 | 93,300 | 67,600 | -25,700 |
| Grade 10 | 93,300 | 67,600 | -25,700 |
| Grade 11 | 93,300 | 73,005 | -20,295 |
| Grade 12 | 93,300 | 73,005 | -20,295 |
Uptown International School publishes 3 further year groups that GEMS Dubai American Academy does not, so those rows have no counterpart above.
Side by side
| GEMS Dubai American Academy | Uptown International School | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Al Barsha, Dubai | Mirdif, Dubai |
| Curriculum | American, IB | IB |
| Inspection rating | Outstanding (KHDA) | Very Good (KHDA) |
| Tuition (per year) | AED 66,185 – 93,300 /yr | AED 31,145 – 78,420 /yr |
| Ages / years | 4 - 18 years | 1 - 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 | Design Technology StudiosVisual Arts StudiosScience LabsLibrarySports FacilitiesCatering FacilitiesEarly Years ZonePrimary ZoneSecondary ZoneSEN Support |
GEMS Dubai American Academy vs Uptown International School at a glance
- GEMS Dubai American Academy publishes annual fees from AED 66,185 to AED 93,300, against AED 31,145 to AED 78,420 at Uptown International School, which works out roughly 46% above Uptown International School across the fee range.
- For KG 1, GEMS Dubai American Academy charges AED 66,185 and Uptown International School AED 47,040, so Uptown International School saves AED 19,145 a year at that stage.
- Both teach the IB curriculum; GEMS Dubai American Academy additionally offers American.
- Uptown International School starts younger, admitting from age 1 against age 4 at GEMS Dubai American Academy.
- GEMS Dubai American Academy is the longer-established of the two, founded in 1998, with Uptown International School following in 2005.
- Location wise, GEMS Dubai American Academy sits in Al Barsha and Uptown International School in Mirdif, so the school run may decide it.