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GEMS Founders School Dubai South

United Arab Emirates, Dubai

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· Reviewed by · B2C Marketing Manager

Independently researched by doris.
Not yet claimed by the school
The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees AED 30,940 - 40,460
Ages 3 - 14 years
Pupil numbers 700
Type Co-educational
Bus Service Yes
Availability Not shared by this school
Academic offering
Curriculum British Curriculum
Taught languages Arabic, French
Typical class size 28
Strengths Sport, STEM, Academic Enrichment
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language, Community and Service
Stages Kindergarten, Elementary, Middle School
Introduction

GEMS Founders School Dubai South offers the National Curriculum for England, enriched with a distinctive focus on aviation, aerospace, logistics, and enterprise, reflecting its strategic location near Al Maktoum International Airport. The campus features an Innovation Hub equipped with a STEAM lab, encouraging students to engage in 3D printing, electronics, and design thinking. The curriculum places strong emphasis on practical application, bridging classroom learning with industry-relevant scenarios. Beyond core academics, students participate in programs like the Eco Club, Model United Nations, and robotics. Pastoral care is supported by the Establish-Maintain-Restore method, prioritising student wellbeing and strong family partnerships. Serving children from Foundation Stage through Secondary School, the campus includes specialized ICT labs, food tech spaces, and an indoor play area for early years. This environment ensures students gain both the technical knowledge and practical skills required for future careers.

www.gemsfoundersschool-dubaisouth.com

Madinat Al Mataar, Dubai South, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Vibes and Culture
The school has not added this information
The Essentials

GEMS Founders School Dubai South has 700 pupils, typical class sizes of 28, instruction in English.

Location
GEMS Founders School – Dubai South is located in Dubai South, alongside Expo Road and near Expo City Dubai. Dubai South is the large master-planned development focused on aviation, logistics and real estate, with surrounding residential communities. The campus is accessible from the Dubai South area and is positioned to serve families relocating to the district.

Stages
The school is organised into Early Years (EYFS), Primary and Secondary. It opened with FS1 to Year 8 and is planned to extend to Year 13 by 2029, broadening the upper-key-stage coverage over time. Current secondary provision covers Years 7-8, with expansion anticipated to include higher year groups in the future.

Type
The school is co-educational (gender of entry is mixed). It operates as a British-curriculum, international school within the UAE. No boarding facilities are indicated for the Dubai South campus.

Pupil Nationality Mix
Nationalities represented are broad, with public postings indicating up to 82 nationalities on roll in recent years, and other sources listing around 60 nationalities with Indian as the most common nationality. The local-to-international ratio is not publicly disclosed.

Additional learning support
Inclusive Education is a core part of GEMS Founders School – Dubai South. The school welcomes students with a range of learning needs, including students with disabilities, gifted and talented learners, and English Language Learners, with adjustments and targeted strategies to support diverse learners. Parents are asked to share full details of any SEN plans or reports to tailor educational provisions; admission is not conditional solely on a medical diagnosis.

Country affiliation
The school follows the National Curriculum for England and is recognised as a British School Overseas (BSO). This reflects a UK-affiliated curriculum and international accreditation rather than a national UAE-only framework.

Religious affiliation
There is no separate religious denomination affiliation stated for the Dubai South campus. UAE-specific subjects include Islamic Studies as part of the UAE Ministry of Education curriculum where applicable, but the school itself is not described as affiliated with a particular religion.

School day structure
Foundation Stage timetables start with doors open at 07:10, lessons begin at 07:40, and the day ends at 12:50 (11:20 on Fridays). Primary timetables have doors open around 07:20 with lessons from 07:40 onward and a midday break structure; Fridays show reduced sessions. Secondary timetables begin earlier, with gates open around 07:00 and lessons running from 07:40 through the afternoon, with a shorter Friday day. Ramadan hours may adjust the daily schedule during the holy month.

Bus service
School Transport Services (STS) LLC operates the bus service for GEMS Founders School – Dubai South. STS is an ISO-accredited provider and handles all transport arrangements and payments directly with families. They offer a large fleet, trained drivers and guardians, and can consider out-of-area requests, though routes are not guaranteed. For inquiries, contact Abishek P at +971-563693171 or [email protected]
Diving Deeper
The school has not added this information
Fees

Annual tuition at GEMS Founders School Dubai South ranges from AED 30,940 to AED 40,460 for 2026/27.

Tuition fees by year group (annual and per-term amounts, AED)

- FS1: Annual tuition (KHDA approved) AED 36,400; discounted tuition for AY 2025-2026 AED 30,940. Term breakdown (discounted): Term 1 AED 12,376; Term 2 AED 9,282; Term 3 AED 9,282.

- FS2: Annual tuition (KHDA approved) AED 39,900; discounted tuition for AY 2025-2026 AED 33,915. Term breakdown (discounted): Term 1 AED 13,567; Term 2 AED 10,174; Term 3 AED 10,174.

- Year 1: Annual tuition (KHDA approved) AED 43,400; discounted tuition for AY 2025-2026 AED 36,890. Term breakdown (discounted): Term 1 AED 14,756; Term 2 AED 11,067; Term 3 AED 11,067.

- Year 2: Annual tuition (KHDA approved) AED 43,400; discounted tuition for AY 2025-2026 AED 36,890. Term breakdown (discounted): Term 1 AED 14,756; Term 2 AED 11,067; Term 3 AED 11,067.

- Year 3: Annual tuition (KHDA approved) AED 43,400; discounted tuition for AY 2025-2026 AED 36,890. Term breakdown (discounted): Term 1 AED 14,756; Term 2 AED 11,067; Term 3 AED 11,067.

- Year 4: Annual tuition (KHDA approved) AED 44,800; discounted tuition for AY 2025-2026 AED 38,080. Term breakdown (discounted): Term 1 AED 15,232; Term 2 AED 11,424; Term 3 AED 11,424.
- Year 5: Annual tuition (KHDA approved) AED 44,800; discounted tuition for AY 2025-2026 AED 38,080. Term breakdown (discounted): Term 1 AED 15,232; Term 2 AED 11,424; Term 3 AED 11,424.

- Year 6: Annual tuition (KHDA approved) AED 44,800; discounted tuition for AY 2025-2026 AED 38,080. Term breakdown (discounted): Term 1 AED 15,232; Term 2 AED 11,424; Term 3 AED 11,424.

- Year 7: Annual tuition (KHDA approved) AED 47,600; discounted tuition for AY 2025-2026 AED 40,460. Term breakdown (discounted): Term 1 AED 16,184; Term 2 AED 12,138; Term 3 AED 12,138.

- Year 8: Annual tuition (KHDA approved) AED 47,600; discounted tuition for AY 2025-2026 AED 40,460. Term breakdown (discounted): Term 1 AED 16,184; Term 2 AED 12,138; Term 3 AED 12,138.

- Year 9: Annual tuition (KHDA approved) AED 47,600; discounted tuition for AY 2025-2026 AED 40,460. Term breakdown (discounted): Term 1 AED 16,184; Term 2 AED 12,138; Term 3 AED 12,138.

Application, enrolment and registration-related fees

- Application fee: AED 500 (assessment included).
- Enrolment (registration) deposit for new students: up to 10% of the total tuition fees, non-refundable and deductible from the first-term fees. Existing student re-enrolment fees: up to 5% of tuition fees or AED 500 (whichever is higher), non-refundable and deductible from the first-term fees. The school's admissions guidance also sets a registration deposit at the point of offer (stated in admissions material).

Billing schedule and payment terms

- Tuition invoices are issued to the fee sponsor on record two months prior to the start of the academic year. Tuition may be paid in full or in termly instalments. Termly due dates are on or before the 10th working day of: August for Term 1, December for Term 2, and April for Term 3. Term 1 is typically billed at 40% of the annual tuition and Terms 2 and 3 at 30% each.

Refunds and student withdrawals

- The registration/enrolment deposit is non-refundable. Tuition fee refunds follow the Ministry of Education policy; refund requests must be submitted in writing to the school admissions office and refunds are returned to the original payee. A 30-day written notification period is required for student withdrawals. Non-payment of fees may result in withholding of reports, exclusion from examinations, or loss of place.

Other costs and optional charges

- Required education supplies and typical ranges: school uniform AED 600 to AED 2,000; laptop/digital device approximately AED 515; school ID card replacement AED 20. Optional service ranges include transport AED 6,600 to AED 9,000; extracurricular activities AED 50 to AED 2,000; canteen AED 20 to AED 3,600; class photographs AED 100 to AED 500; local educational trips AED 50 to AED 2,000; overseas trips (where applicable for older years) from AED 8,000 to AED 30,000; enrichment activities and learning support ranges are published with their own scales. Uniform items must be purchased from the school's approved vendor, Threads. Transport services are provided by an external operator and transport fees are paid directly to that operator.
Academics

GEMS Founders School Dubai South teaches British Curriculum for students aged 3 to 14.

Curriculum
GEMS Founders School Dubai South delivers a British curriculum aligned to the National Curriculum for England, integrated with UAE MOE requirements (Arabic and Islamic Education) and inclusive education. Early Years FS1–FS2 follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), with one teacher and one teaching assistant in every class. Primary School Years 1–6 uses a UK curriculum with core subjects (English, Mathematics, Science) and a broad range of foundation subjects—Art & Design, Computing, Design and Technology, Geography, History, Languages, Music, and PE—alongside MOE Arabic and Islamic Education in a cross-curricular, skills-based approach. Secondary School follows the National Curriculum for England, currently focusing on Key Stage 3 (Years 7–8), with plans to expand to Year 13 by 2029 to provide broader GCSE/alternative pathways, alongside wellbeing, leadership development, and real-world connections, including aviation, aerospace, and logistics. The curriculum is complemented by co-curricular activities, inclusive education, literacy initiatives such as Read Like a GEM, and sustainability and industry-aligned projects.
Wellbeing
The school has not added this information
Parent Experience
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Facilities
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Extra-Curricular Activities
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Languages
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Reputation
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Admissions

Admissions
New students follow four steps: online application, assessment, enrolment and registration deposit. The online application provides an acknowledgement with an online reference number for further communications. For the assessment, the School Registrar invites the child for an assessment or interview by email or phone; observation is used for Foundation Stage 1 and 2 (FS1/FS2), written assessments for Year 1 and Year 2, and CAT4 with a written assessment for Year 3 to Year 8; results are notified by email or phone. Enrolment is offered to successful applicants, subject to seat availability. The registration deposit is 5% of total tuition fees, payable after an offer is accepted; it is non-refundable and deductible from the total tuition fees. The Finance department will email the schedule of tuition fee payments. Required documents include passport copies for the child and both parents, residency visa pages, birth certificate in English or Arabic, recent passport-size photographs, copies of the last two school reports for all children entering Year 1 and Year 2 (in English) or last two reports and CAT4 for children entering Year 3 and above, nursery reports for FS1 and FS2 if available, a six-month validity medical or therapy report if applicable, immunization/vaccination card, Emirates ID cards (front and back) for child and parents, the original Emirates ID if the child is accepted, and a transfer certificate or leaving certificate (original required on the first day if accepted). The transfer certificate must include the student's full name, date of birth, enrolment date and year group, present class, year/grade completed and promoted to, and the school curriculum, plus the principal's signature and stamp. If transferring from a GCC country or another UAE Emirate, the transfer certificate must be attested by the Ministry of Education; if transferring from countries other than USA, Australia, Canada, Western Europe, Japan and New Zealand, the original transfer certificate must be attested by Educational Authorities, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the UAE Embassy. The documents marked with an asterisk are the minimum mandatory requirement to process the application. For existing students, a Re-Registration Deposit of 5% of total tuition is required to guarantee a place for the following academic year. The school follows the National Curriculum for England and prepares students for a UK education in the future.
School Events
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