GEMS American Academy Abu Dhabi

GEMS American Academy is located in Khalifa City A, Abu Dhabi, at the corner of 16th and 3rd Street, next to SEHA - Abu Dhabi Health Services. The campus sits in a residential area of Khalifa City A and is accessible by road. For directions, call +971 2 2019 555.

Kindergarten; Elementary School (Grades 1–5); Secondary School (Grades 6–12).

Co-educational day school.

The school represents about 80 nationalities. There are 1,846 students in total, of whom 1,047 are Emirati, making Emirati the largest single nationality group. The international student total is about 799, giving a local-to-international ratio of roughly 1.3:1. 80 nationalities are represented in the student body.

GAA provides inclusion and learning support through its KG–12 team, including Instructional Coaches for ELL Support and Learning Support; GAA describes itself as an inclusive school and has an Inclusion Policy for 2024–2025.

The school follows an American curriculum orientation with US Common Core Standards in the secondary years and offers IB Diploma Programme or AP options; there is no formal country affiliation stated.

No formal religious affiliation is stated. Arabic, Islamic Studies and UAE Social Studies are taught in line with UAE ADEK requirements.

The school day starts at 7:45am for most grades. On Fridays, all students finish at 11:30am. Mon–Thu timings: PreK, KG1–KG2 7:45am–2:45pm; Grades 1–5 7:45am–2:45pm; Grades 6–8 7:45am–2:55pm; Grades 9–12 7:45am–3:00pm. Morning supervision begins at 7:30am.

A school bus network is available. Transportation is operated by Bright Bus Transport (BBT). Details on pick‑up/drop‑off and arrangements are provided by the school, and inquiries can be sent to [email protected].

GEMS American Academy Abu Dhabi offers a blended American curriculum and International Baccalaureate (IB) framework, enabling graduates to obtain both a US high school diploma and an IB Diploma. The Early Years program (Pre-K to KG2) is play-based, with KG2 aligning with American Common Core standards in literacy and mathematics. In Elementary School, core subjects include English, Mathematics and NGSS-aligned Science, with a strong emphasis on literacy; Arabic, Islamic and UAE Social Studies standards are adopted from the Abu Dhabi Ministry of Education. In Secondary School, students have access to IB Diploma Programme coursework alongside the American curriculum, providing the option to graduate with the IB Diploma. The school serves students from Pre-K through Grade 12 with English as the language of instruction.

GEMS American Academy provides social and emotional learning (SEL) through a KG-12 team of professionals that includes Instructional Coaches (ELL Support and Learning Support) and School Counsellors to address social-emotional concerns and support student wellbeing.

GAA is an inclusive school that welcomes students with mild learning challenges or disabilities, as well as Gifted and Talented and English Language Learners, providing adjustments within a common learning environment and requiring sharing of IEPs or specialist reports to inform planning.

ELL support is provided by the KG-12 team of Instructional Coaches (ELL Support and Learning Support) as part of the Student Care and Support provision, reflecting the school's attention to second language acquisition needs.

Mental wellbeing is supported through Student Care and Support, with a focus on wellbeing, growth, and success at every stage and access to School Counsellors for social-emotional concerns.

Safeguarding is prioritised with a Safeguarding Lead (Ms. Melanie Moses) and Safeguarding Parent Education sessions, plus online safety resources and clear contact details.

Step 1. Begin by registering online through the GEMS Online Student Registration site and submitting the online enquiry. After submission you receive an enquiry number; print the receipt or note the number for future correspondence. Review the list of required documents and the ADEK attestation needed to register the child with ADEK. Admission for the 2026-27 school year is open with limited seats.

Step 2. Kindergarten admissions. The online application is completed and families meet with the GAA admissions team to schedule a familiarization session. Children ready for pre-K, KG1, or KG2 are expected to be age-appropriate for the requested grade, able to manage bathroom independence, engage in activities, follow directions, and show age-appropriate motor skills and communication. The language of instruction is English and families use the familiarization to understand the environment. A familiarization visit helps families understand the school setting.

Step 3. Grade 1 admissions. All Grade 1 applicants are assessed in basic literacy and numeracy with the school counselor. Social-emotional and behavioral development are evaluated to determine readiness for Grade 1. The admissions team uses these assessments to inform placement decisions.

Step 4. Grades 2–6 admissions. All applicants are assessed in literacy and numeracy as part of the admissions process using the MAP test. Based on the results, a counselor meeting may be requested to determine the student's ability to benefit from the curriculum; English language proficiency and learning skills may be assessed if recommended.

Step 5. Grades 7–12 admissions. All applicants are assessed in literacy and numeracy using MAP, with Math and Writing assessments required. A review of student transcripts determines eligibility to participate in GAA's curricular pathways, including American Diploma, IB Diploma, IB courses, and AP.

Step 6. Student support and language. GAA provides limited special education resources; students must have English language proficiency. English Language Learner (ELL) support is available subject to space. Grades 6–10 require basic English proficiency, and Grades 11–12 require full English proficiency as ELL support is not available in those grades.

Step 7. Previous schooling and documentation. All new students must provide official documentation of previous schooling, including transcripts, reports, and test scores, and documents must be in English. GAA may request translation certification where needed. ADEK enrollment requirements apply and must be submitted within 30 days of the start of the school.

Step 8. Documentation for processing and enrollment. Prepare 1 copy of the applicant's passport, 1 recent passport photo, two years of school reports (in English), any learning support documents, the Confidential School Recommendation Form, standardized test results (if available), nursery reports (if applicable), 1 copy of birth certificate (English or Arabic), Emirates ID cards, residency visa, and Transfer Certificate (for Grades 1+), plus official transcripts (Grades 10–12). The UAE residence visa, Emirates ID, Transfer Certificate and official transcript are required for enrollment but not necessary at application processing; these must be submitted within 30 days of enrollment. For questions, contact the Registrar, Ms. Asma El Derby, at [email protected].

Step 9. Tours and ongoing next steps. Tours of the school are conducted Monday through Friday; book a tour via the provided link. The Admissions team and the Registrar can provide further information as needed.