GEMS Our Own Indian School
About GEMS Our Own Indian School
GEMS Our Own Indian School (OIS) is a CBSE school in Al Quoz 1, Dubai, founded in 1991 and teaching from KG 1 to Grade 12. It is licensed by KHDA, recognised by the Ministry of Education and affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education, New Delhi, up to senior secondary level (Affiliation No. 6630046). The school counts 3,694 students in 2026-27 (its own strength table); KHDA recorded 3,666 students and 171 teachers at its October 2023 inspection. It is led by Principal Lalitha Suresh, appointed in January 2012, who has worked in international and CBSE schools for over thirty-three years, more than thirty of them with GEMS, and who is a Lead Collaborator Principal identified by CBSE. KHDA rated the school Very Good overall in 2023-2024, with Outstanding judgements in every phase for personal and social development, curriculum design and implementation, and health and safety. Every Class X and Class XII cohort from 2020-21 to 2024-25 passed at 100%, and the school's CBSE disclosure gives 2024-25 aggregates of 86.7% (Class X) and 86.9% (Class XII). In PISA 2025 its students scored 561 in science, 547 in mathematics and 545 in reading, against Dubai averages of 522, 511 and 501 (the school's published results). The school received the Optimus Well-being Award in 2024-25. Teaching is in English, with Hindi, Arabic, Malayalam and French offered as languages, and two STEAM labs deliver the CREYA curriculum to primary and middle school students. The academic year runs from April to March. Its vision is "Nurturing dynamic learners in an inclusive environment".
Fees read from the school's published 2026-27 fee schedule; KHDA rating from its 2023-24 inspection report. Last checked 1 October 2026. How Talem verifies →
Annual tuition fees
Fees for 2026/2027, per year group. Excludes registration, uniform, and transport.
GEMS Our Own Indian School publishes one tuition figure per grade for 2026-27, from AED 7,209 in KG 1 to AED 14,696 in Grades 11 and 12; its fees page and KHDA's 2026-27 fact sheets agree, and KHDA records that the school asked not to raise tuition for 2026-27 (the fact-sheet PDF the school links is KHDA's 2025-26 set, with the same tuition). Science and Commerce are priced the same in Grades 11 and 12. Tuition is collected in ten monthly instalments, none in July or August and two in February. The total fees add the mandatory activity, diary, ID card and computer fees. KHDA's fact sheets also list discount schemes the school may apply up to stated caps (siblings from the fourth child, scholarships, financial aid, privilege cards); the school's own pages name the FAB GEMS World Credit Card saving.
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KHDA Rating
KHDA 2023–2024 inspection
Stages & pathways
Kindergarten
KG 1 – KG 2The kindergarten programme develops cognitive and motor skills through creative, kinesthetic and problem-solving activities, with continuous assessment as an integral part of the CBSE curriculum. Children build mathematical, linguistic and psycho-social skills alongside story-telling sessions, field trips, special assemblies, indoor and outdoor games and singing. Children in KG 2 also learn Arabic for 40 minutes a week (KHDA, 2023-24 inspection).
Primary School
Grade 1 – Grade 5The primary programme delivers the CBSE curriculum with continuous assessment throughout (cyclic assessment in Grades 1 to 3). Students are taught formal problem-solving, open-ended investigation and observation skills, and take an integrated STEAM course through the school's two CREYA labs. Hindi or Malayalam is taken from Grades 1 to 4, and French joins them as a choice in Grade 5. Music, art, craft and physical education are built into the timetable, and the year is punctuated by Earth Day, World Environment Day, Healthy Food Week, the UAE Carnival and Family Science Day.
Middle School
Grade 6 – Grade 8Middle school accelerates the pace of academic demand while keeping holistic growth in focus, with ongoing evaluation and technology-oriented classroom sessions. The CREYA curriculum, delivered in the school's two STEAM labs, drives inquiry-based and experiential learning with a focus on skill development and project-based work. Callido supports literacy and critical thinking at this phase, and Alasafeer enhances the Arabic curriculum.
Secondary School (CBSE Class X)
Grade 9 – Grade 10Grades 9 and 10 prepare students for the All India Secondary School Examination set by CBSE, New Delhi. Arabic is compulsory in Grade 9 and assessed by school-based internal examination; Islamic Studies is examined for Muslim students in both years. Students take an optional language from Hindi, French and Malayalam, with Information Technology available as a 6th subject. Every Class X cohort since 2020-21 has passed at 100%, and the 2024-25 cohort of 348 students recorded a school aggregate of 86.7%.
Senior Secondary School (CBSE Class XII)
Grade 11 – Grade 12Students in Grades 11 and 12 sit the All India Senior School Certificate Examination in the Science or Commerce stream, choosing four optional subjects from four defined stream combinations alongside compulsory English. The focus is on preparing students for research-based higher education and an informed university choice. The 2024-25 cohort of 317 students passed at 100% with a school aggregate of 86.9%, the fifth consecutive year of a 100% pass rate.
How to apply
Facilities
Science Laboratories
Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Home Science laboratories. KHDA's 2023-24 inspection found resources of high quality, especially in the STEAM and science laboratories.
STEAM Labs
Two dedicated STEAM labs delivering the integrated CREYA curriculum to primary and middle school students.
ICT Laboratories
Well-equipped, high-tech information and communication technology labs, used to support learning from as early as Grade 1.
Networked Classrooms
106 classrooms of 42 square metres each (CBSE disclosure 2026-27), which GEMS describes as modern, spacious and fully networked.
Library
A 90 square metre library (CBSE disclosure 2026-27) covering a variety of subjects. KHDA noted in 2023-24 that recent enhancements included a generous number of reading resources for the school's reading programme.
Exploration Room
An exploration room for the school's younger learners.
Books Store
An on-site store selling textbooks, notebooks and school items at special prices.
Outdoor Sports Field
A large open playing field for games and sporting activities.
Extra-curricular activities
School leadership
Lalitha Suresh
Principal
Lalitha Suresh has been Principal of GEMS Our Own Indian School since January 2012 and has worked in and led international and CBSE schools for over thirty-three years, more than thirty of them with GEMS Education. A physics graduate, she holds a Bachelor of Education from St. Teresa's Institute of Education, Mumbai and a Master's in Leadership and Educational Management from the University of Bath, UK. CBSE has identified her as a Lead Collaborator Principal, in which role she leads a cluster of schools in the region. In March 2012 she received the 11th International Women's Day Excellence Award in Dubai for her contribution to education. KHDA's 2023-2024 inspection described her as "aspirational and visionary" and a role model for other leaders, teachers and students.
Reshmi Menon
Vice Principal
Bridson John
Manager, School Operations
Sheeba Manoj
Head of Senior School
Kapila Pawar
Head of Upper Primary and Middle School
Mrudula Asokan
Head of Lower Primary and Kindergarten
Sajna Santhosh
Head of Assessment and Curriculum
Prathima Nag Agraharapu
CIDO
Sabrina Hawes
Supervisor - Communications
Mini Mijo
Supervisor- Senior Secondary School
Suja Grace Donny
Supervisor-Senior School
Meera Jayaraj
Supervisor Middle School Block B
Samuel Crizzle
Supervisor Middle School Block C
Lorna Gomes
Supervisor Grade 4 & 5
Susan Savio
Supervisor Grade 1 to 3
Sharmistha Sengupta
Supervisor - KG Section
Kavitha Nitiyanandan Syamala
Head of Inclusion
Leelamma Ancil
Head of Department - English
Jazeena Manaf
Head of Department - Mathematics
Allen Christlen Varghese
Head of Department - Science
Ahmed Awad Aboelsaoodo
Head of Department - Arabic
Shamim Akhtar
Head of Department - Islamic Studies
Bessy Sudir
Head of Department - Social Studies
Mariamma Philip
Head of Department - Malayalam
Hema Walia
Head of Department - Hindi
Lori Singh
Head of Department - Commerce
Jasmine Varghese
Middle School Mathematics Coordinator
Sammi Arun Mamgain
Middle School Science Coordinator
Pritha Banerjee
Middle School English Coordinator
Marwa Rezk
Arabic Coordinator
Venicia Cardoza
Primary English Coordinator
Aji Liza Abraham
Primary Mathematics Coordinator
Neethu Mithun
Primary Science Coordinator
Veena Murugan
Coordinator - French
Rashma Visakh
Section Coordinator - Senior Secondary School
Reepinder Kaur
Section Coordinator - Senior School
Jameta Kurian
Section Coordinator - Middle School B
Mosab Abdoallahi
Section Coordinator - Senior School
Renju Jijo
Section Coordinator - Middle School C
Kanika Trikha
Section Coordinator - Upper Primary
Ashwini Chhatre
Section Coordinator - Lower Primary
Aarathy Sarathchandran
Well Being Coordinator
Arsha Bhooshan
Innovation Coordinator
Kankan Kakati
Marketing Coordinator
Shilpa George
Environmental Coordinator
Yasmeen Ahmed
Career Counsellor
Hena Hemthilak
CBSE Coordinator
Molly Marileen D Cruze
Gifted and Talented Coordinator
Dr. Sheryl Sia
School Doctor
Manila Binoy
Accounts Officer
Flavia Rosario
Registrar
Thajuddeen Chirakkara
ICT Engineer
Vineetha Reju
HR Officer
Sydney Atkins
Local Advisory Board - Safeguarding Governor
Abeer Sakka
Local Advisory Board - Governor
Asha Sanjay
Local Advisory Board - Governor
Sreejit Chakraborty
Local Advisory Board - Governor
Georgina Pereira
Local Advisory Board - Governor
Venkat
Local Advisory Board - Governor
Aarthy S
Local Advisory Board - Parent Governor
Hessa A
Local Advisory Board - Emirati Representative
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Questions & answers
Where we are
Al Quoz 1, Al Meydan Road, Dubai, UAE
