GEMS Founders School Dubai South is a new GEMS Founders School that will open in August 2024 in the Dubai South area, offering another much-needed affordable British curriculum option for parents. This announcement follows an agreement between Dubai South, a major urban development in Dubai, and GEMS Education, the largest private K-12 education provider in the UAE. The new school aims to meet the growing demand for quality education at a lower cost, as school spaces become scarcer with the expanding UAE population and rising global living costs.
Located on Expo Road, the new GEMS Founders School – Dubai South will be an all-through school offering the National Curriculum for England, initially serving students from FS1 to Year 8. The school will be built on a 250,000-square-foot campus, featuring state-of-the-art facilities designed for students aged 3 to 18. In subsequent years, the school plans to expand its offering to Year 13, ultimately accommodating over 2,500 students.
Known for disrupting the usual UAE school business model, the Founders brand of GEMS schools aims to provide high-quality UK-curriculum education at exceptional value. GEMS Founders School Dubai South is set to be a slightly more premium version of the usual Founders brand, with 60% of its teachers being UK-trained, compared to other Founders schools. Although fees have not been confirmed, they are expected to be roughly 15% higher than those at GEMS Founders School – Al Mizhar, where 2024-25 tuition costs range from AED 24,306 for Foundation Stage to AED 36,987 for Year 13. Consequently, spaces are expected to be in high demand.
The school's facilities will include spacious classrooms, STEAM labs, fully equipped food tech and ICT labs, art and music rooms, dedicated language and Islamic studies classrooms, and an indoor play area for the Foundation Stage. Additionally, the campus will feature a 25-meter competition-standard swimming pool, a football pitch, multi-purpose sports halls, and ample outdoor green spaces.
Registration for the school begins on June 1, 2024, ahead of its opening for the new academic year.