Dubai · Ib · fees published for 2026/27
GEMS Modern 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 Pre-KG to Grade 12
Difference
AED 323,249
47% more at Universal American School
GEMS Modern Academy also offers the IB Diploma in its final years, which takes the whole journey to AED 728,571. The figures above take the cheaper route.
Compare by
How the gap opens up
GEMS Modern 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 Modern Academy | Universal American School | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-KG | 30,983 | 40,377 | +9,394 |
| KG 1 | 38,246 | 43,745 | +5,499 |
| KG 2 | 38,246 | 49,602 | +11,356 |
| Grade 1 | 43,311 | 63,077 | +19,766 |
| Grade 2 | 43,311 | 63,077 | +19,766 |
| Grade 3 | 45,670 | 66,113 | +20,443 |
| Grade 4 | 45,670 | 66,113 | +20,443 |
| Grade 5 | 48,173 | 73,419 | +25,246 |
| Grade 6 | 48,173 | 73,419 | +25,246 |
| Grade 7 | 48,173 | 73,419 | +25,246 |
| Grade 8 | 48,173 | 73,419 | +25,246 |
| Grade 9 | 51,345 | 82,925 | +31,580 |
| Grade 10 | 51,345 | 82,925 | +31,580 |
| Grade 11 | 56,706 | 82,925 | +26,219 |
| Grade 12 | 56,706 | 82,925 | +26,219 |
Side by side
| GEMS Modern Academy | Universal American School | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Nad Al Sheba, Dubai | Dubai Festival City, Dubai |
| Curriculum | Indian CISCE, IB | American, IB |
| Inspection rating | Outstanding (KHDA) | Very Good (KHDA) |
| Tuition (per year) | AED 30,983 – 73,876 /yr | AED 40,377 – 82,925 /yr |
| Ages / years | 3 - 18 years | 3 - 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed | Mixed |
| Established | 1986 | 2005 |
| Facilities | Two 25m Swimming Pools8-Lane Synthetic TrackFour Basketball CourtsTwo Football FieldsCricket PitchFive Floodlit Cricket NetsThree Tennis CourtsVolleyball CourtMultipurpose Sports HallGymCycling & Roller Skating TrackSTEM LabBudhayana – The Spark LabFive ICT SuitesSenior LibraryPrimary Learning CentreDiscovery CentreIB LoungeLearning CorridorsAuditoriumMusic RoomsDance StudioMeditation GardenSensorial GardenPlanter's Patch | 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 Modern Academy vs Universal American School at a glance
- GEMS Modern Academy publishes annual fees from AED 30,983 to AED 73,876, against AED 40,377 to AED 82,925 at Universal American School, which works out roughly 15% below Universal American School across the fee range.
- For Pre-KG, GEMS Modern Academy charges AED 30,983 and Universal American School AED 40,377, so GEMS Modern Academy saves AED 9,394 a year at that stage.
- Both teach the IB curriculum; GEMS Modern Academy additionally offers Indian CISCE while Universal American School adds American.
- Both admit children from age 3, running through to 18 at the top end.
- GEMS Modern Academy is the longer-established of the two, founded in 1986, with Universal American School following in 2005.
- Location wise, GEMS Modern Academy sits in Nad Al Sheba and Universal American School in Dubai Festival City, so the school run may decide it.