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GEMS Wellington International School

United Arab Emirates, Dubai

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees AED 47,527 - 103,399
Ages 3 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 2904
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum British Curriculum, IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP)
Typical class size 13
Introduction

GEMS Wellington International School is a private, co‑educational international school in the Al Sufouh area of Dubai offering education from Foundation Stage (age 3) through Year 13 (age 18). The school follows the National Curriculum for England in its Lower and Middle phases and delivers International Baccalaureate programmes in the senior phases (PYP/MYP leading to the IB Diploma Programme and IB pathways at Post‑16). English is stated as the language of instruction and daily operation; the school's curriculum includes Arabic and a range of modern foreign languages (for example French, Spanish, German and Italian), with Latin appearing in some Key Stage 4 options. The campus is described as an eight‑acre site with extensive facilities including a 472‑seat theatre, an observatory, science laboratories and design/technology workshops, a media suite with green‑screen, two libraries, a Falcon Centre for Sixth Form, indoor (25 m) and outdoor pools, multi‑purpose sports halls, a full‑size 3G floodlit astro turf and a health/fitness studio. The school also publishes information about its IB provision, High Performance Learning approach and co‑curricular programmes such as Model United Nations and the Duke of Edinburgh Award.

Al Sufouh 1, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

The Essentials

GEMS Wellington International School has 2,904 pupils, typical class sizes of 13, instruction in English.

Location
GEMS Wellington International School is located in the Al Sufouh area of Dubai on Sheikh Zayed Road near Interchange 4. The campus sits on eight acres of grounds. The school is in a central, well-connected part of the city.

Stages
The school serves children from 3 to 18 years old (FS1 to Year 13). It uses a Lower School (FS1–Year 4), Middle School (Year 5–Year 8) and Upper School (Year 9–Year 13) structure with pathways through the British curriculum and the International Baccalaureate.

Type
Co-educational day school; there are no boarding facilities.

Pupil Nationality Mix
In the 2023–2024 DSIB inspection, the school roll was 2,904 students, with 71 Emirati pupils and the largest nationality group being Indian. The school represents a very diverse community with around 90 nationalities represented; local Emirati share is about 2% and international students about 98%.

Additional learning support
GEMS Wellington International School has an Inclusion policy and supports students with diverse learning needs. The Inclusion Team includes a SENDCo for FS1–Year 6 and a SENDCo for Year 7–Year 13, with personalised targets and differentiated materials. Admission is not conditional on a medical diagnosis, and there are formal processes to involve parents in inclusion planning.

Country affiliation
The school operates as a British overseas school, offering the UK National Curriculum alongside the IB Diploma Programme.

Religious affiliation
The school has no religious affiliation; admissions state that religion is not a barrier to entry.

School day structure
Most school days start around 7:20–7:45 am and finish around 4:00 pm, with Friday timings shorter (around 12:00 pm). Variation by year group is expected.

Bus service
Transport is provided by STS Group. Buses are GPS-tracked and equipped with CCTV, Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS), RFID, and a 24/7 Operations Control Centre. To register, contact the school's Service Delivery Executive; a Transportation Rate List and Dubai School Transport Manual are available; bus route availability cannot be guaranteed for every request.
Diving Deeper

Boarding Arrangements
The school does not offer boarding and operates as a day school. KHDA/IB records list boarding facilities as DAY, confirming there is no on-site residential provision. Families relocating should plan for day attendance and local housing options.

Uniform Requirement
Uniform is mandatory for all students. Post-16 students wear a black, dark navy or grey smart suit with a white shirt, while younger students follow the school's uniform guidelines including tucked-in shirts, skirts below the knee or with tights, and full-length trousers with smart black shoes. Head coverings must be plain black, white, or navy, and a PE kit is worn for physical education.

Food Options
On-site catering is provided via a large cafeteria with a kitchen serving lunches and snacks. The on-site facilities indicate the kitchen serves a variety of lunch and snack options and Year 7–11 have access to refreshment services in the cafeteria.

Governance and Ownership
GEMS Wellington International School is part of the GEMS Education group, which owns, operates and manages a global network of private schools. The Dubai page for GEMS Wellington International School situates it within the GEMS Education network, and GEMS Education describes itself as the largest operator of private education.
Fees

Annual tuition at GEMS Wellington International School ranges from AED 47,527 to AED 103,399 for 2026/27.

Application fee

- AED 525 payable at the time of applying (inclusive of VAT).
- Refund / deduction conditions: refundable if no place is offered; non‑refundable if a place is offered but not taken; not deductible from total tuition if a place is accepted.

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

- FS1: Term 1 AED 19,011; Term 2 AED 14,258; Term 3 AED 14,258; Annual AED 47,527.
- FS2: Term 1 AED 23,944; Term 2 AED 17,959; Term 3 AED 17,959; Annual AED 59,862.
- Year 1: Term 1 AED 23,944; Term 2 AED 17,959; Term 3 AED 17,959; Annual AED 59,862.
- Year 2: Term 1 AED 23,944; Term 2 AED 17,959; Term 3 AED 17,959; Annual AED 59,862.
- Year 3: Term 1 AED 23,944; Term 2 AED 17,959; Term 3 AED 17,959; Annual AED 59,862.
- Year 4: Term 1 AED 23,944; Term 2 AED 17,959; Term 3 AED 17,959; Annual AED 59,862.
- Year 5: Term 1 AED 23,944; Term 2 AED 17,959; Term 3 AED 17,959; Annual AED 59,862.
- Year 6: Term 1 AED 23,944; Term 2 AED 17,959; Term 3 AED 17,959; Annual AED 59,862.
- Year 7: Term 1 AED 33,016; Term 2 AED 24,762; Term 3 AED 24,762; Annual AED 82,540.
- Year 8: Term 1 AED 33,016; Term 2 AED 24,762; Term 3 AED 24,762; Annual AED 82,540.
- Year 9: Term 1 AED 33,016; Term 2 AED 24,762; Term 3 AED 24,762; Annual AED 82,540.
- Year 10: Term 1 AED 37,151; Term 2 AED 27,864; Term 3 AED 27,864; Annual AED 92,879.
- Year 11: Term 1 AED 37,151; Term 2 AED 27,864; Term 3 AED 27,864; Annual AED 92,879.
- Year 12: Term 1 AED 41,359; Term 2 AED 31,020; Term 3 AED 31,020; Annual AED 103,399.
- Year 13: Term 1 AED 41,359; Term 2 AED 31,020; Term 3 AED 31,020; Annual AED 103,399.

Billing schedule and payment terms

- School year is divided into three term invoices: Term 1 (September–December), Term 2 (January–March) and Term 3 (April–June).
- Tuition fees are due in advance of attendance and payable at the start of each term; fees are invoiced from the time of admission so payment can be processed before term start.
- To secure an offered place, a non‑refundable registration deposit of 10% of the yearly fee for that grade must be paid within 7 days; the first term's invoice is reduced by this amount.
- To secure a seat for the next academic year, a re‑registration deposit of 5% of the annual school fee is required; this is non‑refundable but adjustable against the first term's fees.

Refund information and withdrawals

- Tuition refund rules (applied as invoiced and processed on receipt of a written request by the admissions office):
- If a student attends 2 weeks or less: charged one month's tuition.
- If a student attends more than 2 weeks and less than one month: charged two months' tuition.
- If a student attends one month or more: charged three months' tuition.
- Tuition refunds are provided to the original payee. School management may make exceptions for compassionate reasons at its discretion.
- Formal withdrawal requires submission of a Transfer Certificate (TC) request via the parent portal; there is a TC processing fee of AED 120 where applicable for transfers within Dubai or outside the Emirate.

Boarding fees

- Boarding: not applicable. The school operates as a day school and does not charge boarding fees.

Other costs and optional charges

- Uniform: a full uniform policy and guidance is in place; specific uniform item prices are not listed on the uniform guidance page and are charged separately via the supplier or school procurement process.
- Transport: school bus service is offered through the appointed transport provider; transport fees are charged separately and a transport rate list is available for download.
- Additional optional charges commonly invoiced separately include extra‑curricular activities, external trips, examination fees and canteen/meal accounts; these optional services are charged in addition to tuition and may be invoiced separately by the school or service provider.

Registration / re‑registration

- Registration (to accept an offered place): non‑refundable deposit of 10% of the annual fee for the offered grade, payable within 7 days; this reduces the first term invoice.
- Re‑registration for the next academic year: non‑refundable deposit of 5% of the annual fee, adjustable against the first term's fees.

Fee payment options

- Accepted payment methods: Cash; Cheque (payable to GEMS Wellington International School); Online payment; Wire transfer to the school bank account (bank transfer details are provided by the school/accounts team).
- Payments can be made in person at the school or by wire transfer/online channels; bank transfer details and an online payment option are provided for parents.
Academics

GEMS Wellington International School teaches British Curriculum, IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP) for students aged 3 to 18.

Curriculum
GEMS Wellington International School delivers the National Curriculum of England from Foundation Stage through Year 11, with GCSEs taught in Years 10–11. In Years 12 and 13, the school offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme and the IB Career-related Programme, complemented by a careers programme. Middle School (Years 7–9) follows the National Curriculum for England with subject specialists, and Year 8 includes elective subjects such as Design Technology, Food and Nutrition, Art, Music, Drama, Entrepreneurship, Emerging Technology and Sustainable Design. Upper School provides GCSE study in Key Stage 4, with Year 10 marking the start of a two-year GCSE course. The curriculum emphasizes a mastery approach, inclusion, and a broad range of subjects across English, Mathematics, Science, Languages, Humanities, Arts, and Physical Education.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The Counselling Department provides a wellbeing support system for students, parents, and staff, following International School Counselling Association (ISCA) practices. There are three school counsellors: Lower School (FS-Year 4), Middle School (Year 5-9), and Upper School (Year 10-13) who offer support to students experiencing difficulties. They provide individual and group counselling, classroom sessions, resilience-building, social-emotional support, mindfulness, and support for exam-stress and friendship/relationship issues. They also support families and teachers through webinars on parenting skills and wellbeing topics, and address trauma and bullying issues. The counselling team collaborates with staff and families to ensure students are academically, socially and emotionally prepared to be empathetic and balanced global citizens.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
The Policy of Provision for Students of Determination implements a whole-school, inclusive education approach with early identification and a graduated support system. The school uses a Wave framework (Wave 1–3) to determine provision levels, with Wave 3 involving an Individualised Education Plan (IEP) and potential specialist input. KHDA recognises 12 categories of SEND, including Intellectual Disability, Specific Learning Disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorders, ADHD, Developmental Delay, and English as an Additional Language (EAL). The Inclusion Team includes the Governor for Inclusive Education, the Director of Inclusion/SENDCo for different year bands, an ASD Specialist, and Inclusion Language Development Specialists, and coordinates with external professionals as needed. Admission is not refused based solely on SEND, and staff use provision maps and IEPs to plan and monitor individual support; there is an emphasis on partnership with parents and ongoing staff development.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
EAL/ELL policy defines EAL as students whose first language is not English, and notes that over 60% of the student body are EAL; the EAL classification is independent of English proficiency level. The aims are to enable EAL/ELL students to access the curriculum fully, to provide a safe, welcoming environment, and to ensure attainment appropriate to individual abilities. Learning and teaching include outside-class listening, speaking, reading, and writing support, with teachers and learning support assistants, plus extensive use of visuals, key vocabulary, and contextual clues; home-language considerations and bilingual resources are promoted. Ongoing assessment and data-tracking monitor language development and academic progress, with progression decisions based on multiple factors beyond test scores. The ELL provision strategy includes interventions (Tier 3 specialist lessons where needed), personalised Learning Profiles, scaffolded teaching, extracurricular support such as the Watch Me Fly EEE Club, Home Language Support, and collaboration among staff, parents, and external agencies; students exit ELL when they demonstrate independence and age-appropriate English proficiency.

Mental Wellbeing
The wellbeing framework is anchored in the Counselling Department, which provides dedicated support for mental health, including resilience-building, mindfulness, trauma support, and social-emotional development. Wellbeing is explicitly referenced as a core consideration within the EAL policy's inclusive aims, highlighting the school's commitment to students' mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing. Student voice and leadership initiatives foster wellbeing by promoting agency, confidence, and peer support, including a senior leadership team and student councils. Safeguarding policies reinforce mental wellbeing by ensuring safe environments, safeguarding training, and access to counselling as part of safeguarding provisions. The school emphasizes collaboration among students, families, and staff to support holistic wellbeing and the development of healthy, balanced lives.

Safeguarding
Safeguarding is an overarching policy with modules covering Child Protection, Attendance, Behaviour Management, Anti-bullying (including cyberbullying), Counselling, IT Acceptable Usage, First Aid, Health and Safety, Safer Recruitment, Code of Conduct, Whistleblowing, SEND, Missing Child Policy, and Intimate Care. The policy aligns with UAE Children's Rights Law and UK Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance, based on Working Together to Safeguard Children frameworks. All staff have a responsibility to provide a safe environment, be alert to signs of abuse, identify children who may need extra help, and work with external services as needed. An emphasis on e-safety, safeguarding procedures, and staff training underpins daily practice to protect students. Parents and students are involved where practicable, and concerns are shared with appropriate agencies as part of safeguarding practice.
Parent Experience

History
GEMS Wellington International School was established in 2005 and is part of the GEMS Education network. It is located in the Al Sufouh area of Dubai, on Sheikh Zayed Road near Interchange 4. The school operates a combined British National Curriculum and International Baccalaureate programme for students from Foundation Stage to Year 13. The eight-acre campus features facilities including a theatre (WIS Theatre) and an observatory. GEMS Wellington International School has held KHDA Outstanding ratings since the 2009-2010 academic year.

Community
The community extends beyond current students, and the school values its parents and alumni. WIS hosts a range of events and cultural activities that bring the school family together, with programs such as International Day, the Winter Fair, and Ramadan and Diwali celebrations. The school emphasizes ongoing engagement with families through parent groups and alumni networks.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
WIS Wellington International School Parents' Association (WISPA) is a proactive parental body that supports the school in social, academic, performance, sporting and fundraising activities. WISPA organizes guest speakers, social events, coffee mornings, and meet-and-greet sessions for new families, and provides volunteering opportunities across school life. The association maintains parent support networks through its Facebook page and IncludeME groups. For students, WISPA coordinates events such as International Day, the Winter Fair, and Ramadan and Diwali activities. WISPA also runs adult sporting events and fundraising initiatives to support school projects. These activities help connect families, staff and students, strengthening the sense of community at WIS.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The campus spans eight acres in Dubai and is designed for flexible indoor and outdoor learning. Classrooms are fitted with interactive whiteboards and full internet connectivity to support students' use of their own devices. Lower School provides EYFS outdoor zones—construction, water, music, sand and gardening—and specialised spaces including a food technology kitchen, science lab, art workshops, green screen, 3D printers and robotics. Middle and Upper School offer break-out learning spaces and subject-specific teaching areas, with science laboratories and technology workshops. Creative and performing arts facilities include a 472-seat theatre, specialist music rooms and a media suite with a green screen, two library rooms, the Falcon Centre for Sixth Form IT and social spaces, a large cafeteria, and extensive sports facilities including a 25m indoor pool, outdoor pool, a full-size 3G floodlit turf, gym, a large multi-purpose hall, tennis/basketball/netball/volleyball courts and a dance studio.

Sports Facilities
The sports facilities include a full-size 3G floodlit astro turf, a health and fitness studio, a large multi-purpose sports hall and a gymnasium with a viewing gallery. Tennis, basketball, netball and volleyball courts, plus a 25m indoor swimming pool and an outdoor pool, support a wide range of PE and extracurricular sports. Additional outdoor play areas and a dance studio complete the sports and activity spaces.

Academic Facilities
Academic facilities include classrooms with interactive whiteboards and reliable Wi‑Fi to support student device use. The Lower School features a food technology kitchen, science laboratory, art workshops, green screen, 3D printing and robotics facilities for hands‑on learning. Middle and Upper School provide subject‑specific teaching spaces and fully equipped science laboratories and technology workshops to support practical work.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Creative and performing arts facilities include a 472-seat theatre, specialist acoustic music rooms and 1:1 music tuition rooms, and a media suite with green screen facilities, supported by two library rooms for study. The Falcon Centre provides a Sixth Form hub with dedicated IT spaces and social areas, while the campus includes a large cafeteria to support dining and learning activities.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
The school follows the National Curriculum for England and Wales. It offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP), the IB Career-related Programme (IBCP), and IB Courses, with 26 DP subjects and 2 CP Pathways. GCSE-style skills are mapped to the Diploma Programme as students progress from the Lower School (FS1–Year 4) through Middle School to Upper School. The school serves students aged 3 to 18 across Lower, Middle and Upper School.

Arts & Creative
Explore Enrich Excite (EEE) provides a fully inclusive extracurricular programme across six domains: Sports, STEM, Creative, Language and Literature, Music and Performing Arts, and Wellbeing. Weekly residencies with Urdang International and Gemma McMeel West End provide specialist music, dance and drama instruction and culminate in performances at a Gala. Termly concerts and opportunities such as the Music Council support student performance and leadership in the arts.

Cultural & Language
The school has a Modern Foreign Languages department led by Georgina Hart. The language of instruction is English. The department supports language learning as part of the school's overall curricula.

Social & Hobbies
Explore Enrich Excite (EEE) covers six domains, including Sports, STEM, Creative, Language and Literature, Music and Performing Arts, and Wellbeing. Sports squads include basketball, football, netball, swimming, rugby, athletics, tennis, gymnastics and cricket, with opportunities to compete in local leagues. Music provisions include choirs and instrument groups, termly concerts and broader performance opportunities.

Community & Service
The Duke of Edinburgh International Award is offered, with Bronze, Silver and Gold levels. Creativity, Activity & Service (CAS) is a core IB Diploma Programme element undertaken by Year 12 and Year 13. The school also participates in global initiatives and competitions such as TEDx, Model United Nations, and the World Scholars Cup.

Leadership & Professional
Sixth Form students in Year 12 and Year 13 may apply for Head Boy and Head Girl, with Deputy positions and leadership responsibilities. There are additional leadership opportunities through the Explore Enrich Excite programme and other student leadership activities.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
The Counselling Department provides wellbeing support for the whole community, with Lower, Middle and Upper School counsellors offering individual and group sessions, mindfulness, and social-emotional support. The wellbeing programme includes resources for parents and webinars. The Dubai 30x30 Initiative is incorporated to promote daily physical activity across the school community.
Languages

Language Provision
The school follows The National Curriculum for England and the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme. It operates an English as an Additional Language (EAL) and English Language Learners (ELL) framework to support learners acquiring English. The EAL/ELL policy recognises students' home languages and supports developing English alongside their first language, including the use of bilingual dictionaries to aid language acquisition. ELL provision includes targeted interventions, and in some cases ELL specialist lessons may replace Modern Foreign Languages (MFL); Arabic Exemption can be sought for Tier 3 ELL students, with such students attending MFL during Arabic lesson times. There is an explicit Arabic EAL/ELL policy, and Arabic language leadership is present in the school, including a Deputy Head for Arabic and Islamic Lead.
Reputation

Awards
KHDA Outstanding for many years; the school highlights its accreditation and honors across multiple bodies.

Accreditations
The school is KHDA accredited with Outstanding ratings and holds additional accreditations including COBIS, COBISCouncil of British International Schools, and UK-based recognition such as BSO. It is a member of international accreditation networks.
Admissions

Admissions
1. GEMS Wellington International School follows the National Curriculum for England and Wales and the International Baccalaureate. The academic year runs from August to June. Admission may occur during the academic year if a place is available and KHDA guidelines permit. The school currently has limited availability across year groups.

2. Complete online application and pay a AED 525 (inclusive of VAT) application fee. Application fees are accepted in the form of AED cheque, cash, bank transfer or an online payment. The Admissions Team provides next steps after submission.

3. Prepare and submit supporting documents: birth certificate copy (in English or Arabic), student passport copy, student visa copy, Emirates Card ID copy (both sides), immunisation certificate copy, most recent school report/nursery (past 2 years) copy, Medical Declaration and Mandatory Information Forms, sponsor passport copy, sponsor visa copy, sponsor Emirates ID copy, and a personal statement for Year 5 upwards. To start the evaluation process, email the most recent school/nursery reports to the Academic Team for review. For Year 5 upwards, include a personal statement (no more than 400 words) about the student's hobbies, talents and achievements.

4. For Year 5 upwards, provide a personal statement (no more than 400 words) describing the student's hobbies, talents and achievements.

5. Entry criteria state the school does not discriminate against any child or family and that it is a truly international institution with limited spaces for children with additional learning needs.

6. Foundation Stage/Lower/Middle/Upper School reports will be reviewed by the academic teaching staff and, if deemed necessary, may be followed by an assessment or interview.

7. Places for new students, especially in Foundation Stage and Lower School, may be limited; parents are advised to contact the Registrar to understand current enrolment availability.

8. Students wishing to undertake the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) must have achieved a minimum standard in their GCSEs or equivalent to take the Diploma. IB courses and the Careers Programme are also offered. Enrol Online is available for applicants.

Scholarships
GEMS Scholarships are the largest merit-based scholarship opportunity in the UAE. The candidates benefit from a concession amount determined on a case by case basis and the scholarships are awarded for a single academic year with the possibility of renewal based on academic progress. The school is currently not accepting scholarship applications.
School Events
The school has not added events
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