GEMS World Academy Abu Dhabi
GEMS World Academy Abu Dhabi
GEMS World Academy Abu Dhabi (WAA) is a private, co-educational IB World School on Al Reem Island (Najmat), part of GEMS Education. Opened in 2011 and relocated in 2022 to a purpose-built Al Reem campus, it follows the IB continuum, the Primary Years Programme and Middle Years Programme, blended with the content of the National Curriculum for England and IGCSE in Years 10 and 11. The school is a Candidate School for the IB Diploma Programme and describes the Diploma and Career-related Programmes, the latter with BTEC Business, as future Sixth Form pathways; neither is yet authorised. It publishes tuition and age placement for FS1 to Year 13. It describes its community as speaking 33 languages and points to real-world partnerships with SeaWorld and TeamLab. It is rated Very Good by ADEK. The campus features a 25m six-lane pool with a learner pool, a six-court sports hall, a full-sized football pitch and an Innovation Studio for robotics, AI and AR/VR, with a Phase 2 expansion announced for August 2025.
Fees for 2026/2027, per year group. Excludes registration, uniform, and transport.
The school heads its fee page Our 2026/27 Fee Structure while labelling every band ADEK Approved Tuition Fees 2025-26, and its sibling concession is dated AY26-27. ADEK holds the same figures under 2026-2027, so the band headers are the stale string. Fees are inclusive of textbooks, supplementary books and materials, and exclude uniforms, lunches and school transport. FS1 at AED 55,420 is the school own figure and sits below the AED 59,530 ADEK approves for that grade. A fee equivalent to 5% of annual tuition is due on accepting the offer letter, non-refundable but adjusted against the first term. A third child receives a 10% tuition concession.
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ADEK 2023–2024 inspection
The Early Years Foundation Stage, blending EYFS with IB inquiry to build communication, early literacy and numeracy.
The IB PYP delivered with National Curriculum for England content, through transdisciplinary units of inquiry.
The IB MYP blended with NCfE content and IGCSE pathways in Years 10 and 11, supported by the Innovation Studio (robotics, AI, AR/VR). Language acquisition offers French, Spanish or Arabic. Students progress into the Sixth Form.
The school is a Candidate School for the IB Diploma Programme and is not yet authorised to deliver it. It describes the Diploma Programme as a future Sixth Form pathway, with six subject groups alongside the IB Core.
The school describes the Career-related Programme as a future Sixth Form pathway alongside the Diploma Programme, combining Diploma Programme courses with a career-related study, the BTEC qualification in Business. It is not among the school's published IB authorisations.
An Innovation Studio featuring robotics, artificial intelligence, augmented reality and virtual reality.
Fully equipped laboratories for Chemistry, Physics and Biology, extended by specialist science labs under Phase 2.
Specialist design and technology labs added under Phase 2, including food technology, robotics with CAD/CAM and a resistant material workshop.
An extensive library for research and independent learning, joined under Phase 2 by a secondary library for advanced research and independent study.
Dedicated music rooms and practice studios supporting the school's Performing Arts programme.
Spacious art and activity rooms, extended by arts and gaming spaces under Phase 2.
Specialised learning spaces for Arabic and Islamic Education.
A 25-metre, six-lane swimming pool for lessons and competitive swimming.
Executive Principal / CEO
Executive Principal and CEO of GEMS World Academy Abu Dhabi, with over three decades of educational leadership. Appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her contribution to improving student outcomes, and previously founding Principal of Eden Girls' School, Waltham Forest.
Vice Principal and Head of Secondary
Assistant Head: MYP Coordinator and subject lead for I&S
Assistant Principal
Head of Lower School
CP/DP Coordinator & Deputy Head of Secondary
PYP Coordinator
Head of Primary
Head of Secondary
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Najmat, Al Reem Island, Abu Dhabi, UAE
