Cities / Dubai / GEMS Royal Dubai School (RDS)
GEMS Royal Dubai School (RDS)
Curriculum
International
Fees, annual
AED 40k–61k
Ages
3 to 13
Pupils
~850
Founded
2005
Fees
Annual fees
| Year level | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| FS 1 | 3 | AED 40,252 |
| FS 2 | 4 | AED 50,753 |
| Year 1 | 5 | AED 50,753 |
| Year 2 | 6 | AED 50,753 |
| Year 3 | 7 | AED 50,753 |
| Year 4 | 8 | AED 50,753 |
| Year 5 | 9 | AED 50,753 |
| Year 6 | 10 | AED 50,753 |
| Year 7 (20% discount on KHDA 76,762) | 11 | AED 61,410 |
| Year 8 (20% discount on KHDA 76,762) | 12 | AED 61,410 |
One-time fees
| Item | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Application Fee (non-refundable) | AED 525 |
Reviews
- KHDA was Outstanding for four years to 2019, then dropped to Very Good and has held there through 2023-24; British Schools Overseas rated the school Outstanding in all eight categories in January 2023.
- Among surveyed parents, the pool is small with 85% recommending; 83% are completely satisfied with academic performance, above the UAE average.
- A counter-current of parent reviews flags poor handling of complaints, with one writing that no one listens and that the school cares mainly about fees; this voice is real but small relative to the positive pool.
- Practical pressure points are teacher turnover at 27% and limited secondary provision until the 2026 expansion lands; parents consistently put the school on the Mirdif primary short-list.
Positives
- Inclusion and SEND. Around 12% of children are on the SEND register; inspectors rate Students of Determination provision Outstanding.
- Mirdif default choice. forum threads recurrently shortlist GEMS Royal Dubai for families settling in Mirdif.
Considerations
- KHDA trajectory. Outstanding through 2019, then Very Good for the four following inspections.
- Complaint handling. A minority of parent reviews say the school is poor at engaging with concerns and prioritises fees.
- Staff turnover. Teacher turnover sits at 27%.
Leadership
Jan Steel
Jan Steel was appointed Principal/CEO of GEMS Royal Dubai School in the summer of 2022, having first joined GEMS Education in 2016. Prior to RDS, she held significant senior leadership positions at GEMS Jumeirah Primary School, GEMS Metropole School – Motor City, and GEMS Wellington International School.
Accreditations
- Council of International Schools 01
- New England Association of Schools and Colleges 02
- COBIS Patron's Accreditation and Compliance 03
- British Schools Overseas (DfE) 04
Academic results
- UK Benchmark Assessments in English, Maths and Science (June 2024) Above UK averages
- TIMSS (2023) High International Benchmark score in both Maths and Science