Cities / Dubai / GEMS Founders School - Al Mizhar
GEMS Founders School - Al Mizhar
Established in 2018 as the second GEMS Founders location, the Al Mizhar campus has experienced remarkable growth from opening to over 4,000 students by 2024, with projected capacity for 4,800.
In brief
Established in 2018 as the second GEMS Founders location, the Al Mizhar campus has experienced remarkable growth from opening to over 4,000 students by 2024, with projected capacity for 4,800. Under Principal Akram Tarik's leadership since 2020, the school follows the National Curriculum for England through to A Levels, which began in 2022 with the first cohort graduating in 2023. The school achieved the distinction of receiving a 'Good' KHDA rating on its first inspection in 2022 - the highest rating awarded to any Dubai school during its inaugural evaluation.
The academic program spans Foundation Stage through Year 13, offering core subjects including English, Mathematics, Sciences, Arabic, and UAE Social Studies, alongside A Level options across 18 subjects arranged in five option blocks. The school underwent significant campus expansion in 2021 to accommodate growing enrollment, though specific facility details remain limited. Parent reviews consistently highlight satisfaction with academic progress and the welcoming school environment, with families appreciating the value proposition of British curriculum education at accessible fee levels. However, the school's rapid expansion to over 4,000 students represents a considerable size that may impact the personalized attention typically associated with smaller international schools.
Strengths
- Achieved 'Good' KHDA rating on first inspection - highest possible for new schools
- Offers full British curriculum from FS1 through A Levels at affordable fees
- Strong parent satisfaction with academic progress and school environment
- Experienced leadership team with UK educational background
- Rapid growth indicates strong community confidence and demand
- Full A Level program with 18 subject options across five blocks
Considerations
- Very large student body of over 4,000 may limit individual attention
- Relatively new school with limited track record of university placements
- Rapid growth may strain resources and impact educational quality
- Limited detailed information about specific facilities and extracurricular programs
- No 'Very Good' or 'Outstanding' KHDA ratings achieved yet despite three inspections
Fees
Annual fees
| Year level | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| FS1 | 3 | AED 24,877 |
| FS2 | 4 | AED 28,122 |
| Y01 | 5 | AED 30,285 |
| Y02 | 6 | AED 30,285 |
| Y03 | 7 | AED 30,285 |
| Y04 | 8 | AED 30,285 |
| Y05 | 9 | AED 30,285 |
| Y06 | 10 | AED 30,285 |
| Y07 | 11 | AED 32,448 |
| Y08 | 12 | AED 32,448 |
| Y09 | 13 | AED 32,448 |
| Y10 | 14 | AED 35,694 |
| Y11 | 15 | AED 35,694 |
| Y12 | 16 | AED 37,856 |
| Y13 | 17 | AED 37,856 |
One-time fees
| Item | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Application Fee | AED 525 |
Reviews
A large, affordable British all-through on the Mirdif edge of Dubai, opened September 2018 as the second Founders campus and grown fast to around 4,700 pupils by 2025. KHDA holds the school at Good across recent visits, and a 2025 BSO inspection landed Outstanding for quality of education. Most recent parent comment runs warm on Akram Tarik's leadership, the open-door feel and the value the fees buy, with the persistent flags being scale, class sizes and patchy hiring on the secondary side.
Positives
- Value at the fee level. Fees run roughly AED 25,000 in Pre-KG to AED 38,000 at sixth form, with an average near AED 32,000. For a British all-through with KHDA Good and a 2025 BSO Outstanding for quality of education, the fee envelope is one of the school's strongest pulls.
- Leadership tone since 2020. Akram Tarik took over in August 2020 and parents now talk about an accessible principal, a calmer atmosphere and a willingness to be visible at the gate. Communication satisfaction has climbed sharply from where it sat under the previous head.
- Sixth form results. A Level entries doubled in 2025 to 217 with 100% pass, around 37% A*-A and 16% A*. Further Maths returned 100% A*-A. A credible academic ceiling for a school still building its sixth form.
- Inclusion provision. The school enrols a substantial cohort of pupils with additional learning needs, in the hundreds, and the 2025 BSO inspection rated SEN provision Very Good. Entry assessment is described as rigorous rather than open-door.
Considerations
- Scale and class sizes. Roll of around 4,700 pupils on one campus comes up repeatedly. Parents talk about busy classrooms and a corridor-feel at peak times, with class ratios noticeably higher than at the mid-fee British competitors.
- Hiring in secondary. Parents flag inconsistent quality in newer secondary hires and in Arabic B teaching, with the strongest reservations attached to teenage year groups rather than primary.
- Facilities gaps. No swimming pool on site, and breadth in the post-16 offer is narrower than at flagship British schools, with limited BTEC provision alongside the Cambridge and Pearson A Levels.
- Demand and waitlists. Several year groups run full with waiting lists, and the school is publicly signalling it is close to capacity. Year 5 in particular has been hard to enter mid-year.
Leadership
Akram Tarik
Akram Tarik is the Principal/CEO of GEMS Founders School - Al Mizhar, having joined in August 2020 after serving as Principal at GEMS Westminster School - Ras Al Khaimah since 2015, where he grew the student body to over 3,000.
Accreditations
- British Schools in the Middle East accreditation 01
Academic results
- BTEC Success 100% of our BTEC students passed.
- Strong Overall Performance 74% of our students achieved A*-B / 9-5 grades.
- English Excellence 96% of students achieving a grade 6 or above in English.
- Science Achievement 89% of students achieving a grade 6 or above in Science.
- Outstanding Attainment in Arabic 75% achieved A*-A / 9-7 in Arabic.
- Outstanding Attainment in Biology 70% achieved A*-A / 9-7 in Biology.
- Outstanding Attainment in Chemistry 74% achieved A*-A / 9-7 in Chemistry.
- Outstanding Attainment in Physics 74% achieved A*-A / 9-7 in Physics.
- Outstanding Attainment in English Second Language 100% achieved A*-A / 9-7 in English Second Language.
- Outstanding Attainment in French 88% achieved A*-A / 9-7 in French.