GEMS International School Al Khail is a full International Baccalaureate World School on the edge of Dubai Hills, part of the GEMS Education group. It opened in 2013 and teaches the complete IB continuum from Pre KG to Grade 12, with a bilingual diploma route for pupils who reach a high standard in two languages. The KHDA, the regulator that inspects every private school in the emirate, has rated it Good through its recent inspection cycles. It sits within the Dubai international schools market as one of the city's established IB campuses.
This profile sets out the four IB programmes, the bilingual pathway, the fee band, the admissions calendar and the community around the school. GlobalSchoolGuide is independent and no school pays to be listed.
GEMS International School Al Khail at a glance
| Curriculum and exam boards | Full IB continuum: PYP, MYP, Diploma and Career related programmes; bilingual diploma pathway |
|---|---|
| Stage range | Pre KG to Grade 12 (ages 3 to 18) |
| Founded | 2013 |
| Regulator and rating | KHDA rated Good (most recent published cycle) |
| Fee band | Premium tier (see Dubai fees guide) |
| Campus area | Al Khail, Dubai Hills |
Curriculum and academics
The school runs all four IB programmes: the Primary Years Programme, the Middle Years Programme and a choice of the IB Diploma Programme or the Career related Programme in the sixth form. What sets it apart is the bilingual pathway, where pupils who achieve a strong level in two Diploma languages can graduate with a bilingual diploma, a feature that suits families raising children across two languages. It is one of a number of authorised IB schools in the city, distinguished by this bilingual emphasis.
The continuum gives internationally mobile families a single framework from the early years to university entry, with specialist facilities in science, technology and the arts supporting the programme.
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GEMS International School Al Khail fees
GEMS International School Al Khail sits in the premium tier of the Dubai market, though towards the lower end of the IB band. Published tuition for 2025 to 2026 runs from around AED 52,000 in the early years to roughly AED 79,000 in the senior grades, as mapped in our Dubai school fees guide. Tuition is collected in three termly instalments and capped by the KHDA, so confirm the figure for your child's grade.
Plan for the premium tier extras on top of tuition: a registration charge, a capital or facility levy, transport if you live outside the immediate area, and IB examination entry fees in the senior years. For the full market view, the Dubai schools hub maps every curriculum, fee band and neighbourhood across the emirate.
Admissions and intake
The school runs an August to June academic year and admits across year groups subject to availability, with the early years and the sixth form the main entry points. Assessment is age appropriate, from a readiness observation in the early years to a placement test and a review of school reports for older applicants, with the bilingual pathway involving a check of the relevant language.
Applicants should prepare recent report cards, passport and visa documents and a transfer certificate where the KHDA requires one. Popular grades can fill, so apply within the published window for your preferred entry point.
Location and who goes there
The campus is on Al Khail Road on the edge of Dubai Hills, a central district close to Al Quoz, Nad Al Sheba and the Mall of the Emirates. The location places it within a short drive of Dubai Hills, Al Barsha and the central villa and apartment communities where many of its families live, with quick access to the Al Khail Road corridor that links the city.
For the wider view of how the IB sector sits alongside the British, American and Indian schools across the emirate, see the Dubai schools hub.
GEMS International School Al Khail reviews
No verified parent reviews of GEMS International School Al Khail have been submitted to GlobalSchoolGuide yet. We do not publish a star rating until we have collected enough verified first hand accounts to be fair to the school and useful to parents, and we never invent ratings. If your family attends or has attended GEMS International School Al Khail, you can help other relocating parents by sharing your experience through our school reviews page.
Frequently asked questions
How much are GEMS International School Al Khail fees?
Published tuition for 2025 to 2026 runs from around AED 52,000 in the early years to roughly AED 79,000 in the senior grades, placing the school in Dubai's premium fee tier towards the lower end of the IB band. Tuition is capped by the KHDA, so confirm the figure for your child's grade.
Does GEMS International School Al Khail offer a bilingual diploma?
Yes. Alongside the full IB continuum, pupils who achieve a strong level in two Diploma languages can graduate with the IB bilingual diploma, which suits families raising children across two languages.
Is GEMS International School Al Khail a good school?
The KHDA has rated the school Good through its recent inspection cycles. As a full continuum IB school with a bilingual emphasis, whether it suits your child depends on your language priorities and the Dubai Hills location.
Where is GEMS International School Al Khail located?
The school is on Al Khail Road on the edge of Dubai Hills, close to Al Quoz, Nad Al Sheba and the Mall of the Emirates.
When do GEMS International School Al Khail applications open?
The school runs an August to June year and opens admissions ahead of each session, with the early years and the sixth form the main intakes and other grades offered on a rolling basis subject to space.
