Cities / Abu Dhabi / GEMS World Academy Abu Dhabi
GEMS World Academy Abu Dhabi
Full IB Continuum school (PYP, MYP, DP, CP) on Al Reem Island, FS1-Y13, ADEK Very Good (2024-25), with a new campus opened 2022 designed for 1,866 students.
In brief
A premium IB through-school on Al Reem Island, run by GEMS, rated Very Good by ADEK and CIS-accredited.
Opened in 2011 and moved to a purpose-built Reem Island campus in 2022. Around 1,000 students across 80-plus nationalities, with no dominant group. The full IB continuum sits over the National Curriculum for England in primary, with IGCSE woven into MYP at secondary. The Diploma and Career-related Programme are scheduled to launch from August 2026, so current senior years are still building out.
Parents talk about strong international community, attentive teachers and engaged leadership. Inspection signal flags maths and science attainment as Good rather than Very Good across most phases, which families benchmarking against Cranleigh or BSAK should weigh.
Fees sit firmly in the premium bracket. Best fit for globally mobile families who actively want IB continuity rather than a UK or US qualification.
Fees
Annual fees
| Year level | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| FS1 | 3 | AED 55,420 |
| FS2-Year 1 | 4 | AED 59,530 |
| Year 2-Year 6 | 7 | AED 65,680 |
| Year 7-Year 10 | 12 | AED 67,740 |
| Year 11-Year 13 | 16 | AED 73,890 |
One-time fees
| Item | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Admission Fee (5% of annual tuition - new students) | AED 2,771 |
Reviews
A purpose-built Al Reem Island campus that moved across in 2022 and is still growing into its full all-through shape, with the IB Diploma due to launch in 2026. ADEK rated the school Very Good overall, with facilities, governance, personal development and parent engagement at Outstanding. Fees sit firmly in the premium bracket, and a new executive principal took the helm in August 2025, so the post-16 picture is still forming.
Positives
- Campus and facilities. The Najmat campus opened in 2022 and the build shows. Six-court sports hall, twenty-five metre pool, learner pool, full-size pitch, science labs, innovation studio, performing arts spaces. ADEK rated facilities and resources Outstanding.
- Pastoral and community. Personal development, social responsibility and parent engagement all rated Outstanding by ADEK. The student body sits around 76 to 90 nationalities depending on the count, and parents describe a settled, friendly atmosphere with an inclusion team that comes up warmly.
Considerations
- Curriculum shape. Full IB continuum layered over the English National Curriculum, with PYP in primary and MYP in secondary. The IB Diploma and Career-related Programme are authorisation-pending and slated for August 2026, so the first cohort of post-16 leavers and the first results set are still ahead.
- Leadership. Shahina Ahmad OBE took over as executive principal in August 2025. She arrives with a strong Ofsted track record in the UK, but the shape of her tenure here is still emerging and the academic direction in the upper years is being set.
- Fees and value. Premium pricing, with annual tuition running roughly AED 55,000 to 74,000 across the year groups. Some parents question whether the value-for-money matches the fee level, particularly while the post-16 offer is still in build.
- Teaching consistency. ADEK flagged differentiation and stretch for higher attainers in maths and science as areas to push on, alongside Arabic and Islamic Education. Parent feedback echoes the differentiation point in patches.
Leadership
Shahina Ahmad OBE
Mrs Shahina Ahmad OBE brings over three decades of exceptional educational leadership to her role as Principal of GEMS World Academy Abu Dhabi. Recognised nationally for her service to education, she was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her outstanding contribution to improving student outcomes and leading transformative change across schools in the UK. Her career began as an English teacher in Newham, London, before moving to Waltham Forest, where she held a number of senior leadership roles, including Vice Principal at Norlington School for Boys. Her success in raising achievement led to her appointment as an English Adviser with Waltham Forest Education Authority, where she supported multiple underperforming schools. In 2014, Mrs Ahmad became the founding Principal of Eden Girls’ School, Waltham Forest, part of the Star Academies Trust. Under her leadership, the school was rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted at its first inspection and went on to rank among the top-performing state schools in England, placing 13th nationally for pupil progress in the 2019 government league tables. Mrs Ahmad is known for establishing ambitious, high-performing school cultures rooted in care, aspiration and integrity. She has also contributed to national school improvement strategies by mentoring other school leaders across the Star Academies network. At GEMS World Academy Abu Dhabi, Mrs Ahmad leads with a clear focus on academic excellence, student wellbeing and preparing young people to thrive in a global context.
Accreditations
- Council of International Schools 01
Academic results
- ADEK Rating (2024-25) Very Good
- WSA parent rating 3.6/5 (18 reviews)