Cities / Dubai / GEMS World Academy - Dubai (GWA)
GEMS World Academy - Dubai (GWA)
GEMS IB World School on a purpose-built Al Barsha campus, founded 2008, running the full IB continuum from age 2 to 18 for around 2,000 pupils, though recent parent and teacher reports flag declining satisfaction.
In brief
GEMS World Academy opened in 2008 on a purpose-built campus on Al Khail Road in Al Barsha South, and runs the full IB continuum for around 2,000 pupils aged two to eighteen. It is accredited by CIS and NEASC, and in 2024 the school reported a Diploma average of 34 points with every candidate passing. Heath Monk became principal in August 2025. Annual fees run from AED 71,113 in pre-K to AED 123,442 in Grade 12, and parents who add up a full school career put the total above AED 1.1 million.
Parents rank it among Dubai's stronger IB schools and describe inspiring teachers and a close community that feels like one big family. Cost is the most common concern, followed by traffic at drop-off and pick-up, which parents contrast with how well the school runs inside the gates.
Fees
Annual fees
| Year level | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-K | 3 | AED 71,113 |
| KG 1 | 3 | AED 71,113 |
| KG 2 | 4 | AED 88,960 |
| Grade 1 | 6 | AED 88,960 |
| Grade 2 | 7 | AED 88,960 |
| Grade 3 | 8 | AED 88,960 |
| Grade 4 | 9 | AED 88,960 |
| Grade 5 | 10 | AED 88,960 |
| Grade 6 | 11 | AED 102,378 |
| Grade 7 | 12 | AED 102,378 |
| Grade 8 | 13 | AED 102,378 |
| Grade 9 | 14 | AED 102,378 |
| Grade 10 | 15 | AED 112,709 |
| Grade 11 | 16 | AED 112,709 |
| Grade 12 | 17 | AED 123,442 |
One-time fees
| Item | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Application Fee | AED 525 |
Reviews
- One of the most-discussed IB schools in Dubai online. Parents regularly recommend GWA when families ask for IB options, and one parent listed it among the best IB schools in the city, citing facilities and teachers.
- Fees are the recurring counterweight. Parents calculate Year 1 to Year 13 costs above 1.1 million AED; one parent named GWA the most expensive school in Dubai.
- Teaching, pastoral care and the IB programme draw positive write-ups. Parents describe inspiring teachers and a community that feels like "one big family".
- Drop-off and pick-up traffic at Al Barsha South comes up as a logistical complaint. Several parents praise the internal organisation but flag external congestion at peak times.
- Teacher reviews have been negative, with one teacher warning colleagues against signing a GWA contract. Parent reviews skew more positive than teacher reviews.
Positives
- IB programme and teaching. Parents consistently rank GWA among Dubai's stronger IB schools.
- Community feel. Reviews describe a tight, supportive parent and teacher community.
Considerations
- Fees. Total cost over the school career is the most-cited concern.
- Drop-off traffic. Peak-time congestion at the Al Barsha South site is a recurring complaint.
- Teacher experience. International Schools Review and r/Internationalteachers carry warnings from staff.
Leadership
Heath Monk
Heath Monk is the CEO/Principal of GEMS World Academy – Dubai, having joined in August 2025 from The British School in the Netherlands where he served as CEO since 2020.
Accreditations
- CIS, NEASC 01
- DASSA, NESA, Association of Science Education 02
Academic results
- IB Diploma 2024 average 34 points
- IB pass rate 100%