GEMS School of Research and Innovation
GEMS School of Research and Innovation
GEMS School of Research and Innovation (SRI) opened in August 2025 on a purpose-built campus in Dubai Sports City. It teaches the National Curriculum for England enriched by the school's own Pioneer Curriculum, which layers AI, robotics, esports, sustainability and entrepreneurship onto core academics, with specialist language pathways in French, Spanish and Mandarin alongside Arabic and Islamic studies. The school opened with Foundation Stage upwards and currently runs to Year 9, with year groups through to Year 13 to be introduced in future academic years. Facilities named by the school include an Olympic-sized swimming pool, a FIFA-standard football pitch, a 400m running track, a 600-seat auditorium and fully equipped music, drama and visual arts spaces, alongside an Innovation Hub and Disruption Labs where students work on gaming, robotics, coding and AI, padel courts, a gymnastics suite, a black box theatre and professional dance studios. Music and performing arts partners include Steinway and West End Stage. As an August 2025 opening the school has not yet been inspected by KHDA, so it carries no DSIB rating.
Fees for 2026/2027, per year group. Excludes registration, uniform, and transport.
Fees shown are the KHDA-approved rates for 2026/27, and KHDA records that the school requested no increase for that year. The school has extended its Founding Families Discount for 2026/27, bringing those rates to AED 92,800 (FS1-FS2), 107,200 (Years 1-4), 121,600 (Years 5-6) and 128,800 (Years 7-9). Fees include the Breakfast Club from 7:00am, the Sibling Club, and co-curricular programmes across academics, sport, arts and innovation until 4:15pm. Sibling discounts apply to families with three or more children enrolled. Scholarships of up to 100% are open to students in Years 5 to 9 across four pathways, assessed by portfolio presentation and a CAT4 cognitive assessment. KHDA approves fees for FS1 to Year 9 only; rates for Years 10 to 13 will follow as those year groups open. Uniform, transport, canteen and optional activities are charged separately.
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KHDA inspection rating
Source: Dubai Schools Inspection Bureau (DSIB)
Enhanced British curriculum building foundations in academics, arts and innovation, with early literacy and exploration of the world as key focuses. Sports include football, swimming, martial arts, fencing and gymnastics with specialist coaching. Creative arts run from instrument tuition to ballet and street dance. Children are introduced to mindfulness and yoga, supported by dedicated wellbeing counsellors.
Students develop core strengths in English, Mathematics and Science while exploring humanities, Arabic, Islamic studies and moral education, with specialist language pathways in French, Spanish and Mandarin. Artistic expression is supported by specialist art labs and media studios; sport introduces gymnastics, fencing, basketball and athletics alongside dance, drama and music.
The Senior phase is published as Year 9 to Year 13; the school currently teaches Year 9, with the remaining year groups to be introduced in future academic years. Students build mastery in English, Mathematics, Languages and Sciences while exploring industry links, and pursue electives from Year 9. The school states that at full build-out GCSEs will span 35 subjects with up to 30 A-Level options; those year groups have not yet opened.
Olympic-sized swimming pool, named by the school as one of its key features.
Football pitch described by the school as FIFA-standard on its FAQ and as UEFA-standard on its open-mornings page.
400m running track.
Padel courts, part of the sports facilities shown on open mornings.
Dedicated gymnastics suite.
600-seat auditorium for performances.
Black box theatre among the creative and performing arts spaces.
Professional dance studios.
Founding Principal and CEO
A globally renowned school leader with 30+ years' experience across the UAE, UK, USA and South Korea. Formerly Principal of North London Collegiate School Dubai and South Korea, he now leads SRI as Founding Principal and CEO, and is a champion of innovation and inclusion.
Vice-Principal of Research and Innovation
Principal – Junior School (FS1 – Year 6)
Head of Middle School (Year 7 – 9)
Director of Human Potential
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Dubai Sports City, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
