GEMS Modern Academy

Indian ICSE, IB curriculum, Nadd Al Shiba First, Pre-KG–Grade 12

Latest documents: Full Inspection Report 2023–24Source A: Full Inspection Report 2023–24, Parent Report 2023–24Source B: Parent Report 2023–24, summary only, Fees Fact Sheet 2026–27Source C: Fees Fact Sheet 2026–27

2023–24

Earlier reports

  1. 12 earlier reports, see all years

Inclusion Dubai focus area

Outstanding

2023–24

Checked 16 September 2026.

  1. Back to text, source A

    Full Inspection Report 2023–24

    Checked 16 September 2026.

  2. Back to text, source B

    Parent Report 2023–24

    Summary only

    Checked 16 September 2026.

    Found only in the summary for parents. Answers do not use it as evidence.

  3. Back to text, source C

    Fees Fact Sheet 2026–27

    Checked 16 September 2026.

Overview

The school

Curriculum
Indian ICSE, IB
Year groups
Pre-KG–Grade 12
Gender
Co-educational Source B: Full Inspection Report 2023–24
Report wording: Boys and girls
Languages of instruction
English
Founded
1986
External examinations
ISCE, ISC, IBDP Source B: Full Inspection Report 2023–24
Accreditation
CISCE, IB, CIS Source B: Full Inspection Report 2023–24

Students and staff

From KHDA’s 2023–24 inspection report, unless another year is named.

Students, 2024–⁠25
3,941 Source A: KHDA school directory 2024–25
Students of determination
219 Source B: Full Inspection Report 2023–24
Largest nationality group
Indian Source B: Full Inspection Report 2023–24
KHDA gives no share. Context only, never used in results.

Leadership

Principal at the 2023–⁠24 inspection
NARGISH HOSHEDAR KHAMBATTA Source B: Full Inspection Report 2023–24
Appointed 4 Jan 2014, as the report prints it. The current principal is under Contact.
Principals since 2011–⁠12
3 changes of principal
Darryl Lancelot Bloud, 2011–12 to 2012–13 → MrDarryl Bloud, 2013–14 → NARGISH HOSHEDAR KHAMBATTA, 2014–15 to 2023–24 → Sydney Michael Atkins, in KHDA's directory on 2026-09-18

Contact

Address
Nadd Al Shiba First
Phone and email
+971 4 326 3339principal_mhs@gemsedu.comPrincipal: Sydney Michael Atkins
As KHDA's directory listed it on 2026-09-18. Source C: KHDA school directory 2026–27

Around the school

The map shows the streets and places around the school. The same places are counted in «Within 1 km» below.

© OpenStreetMap contributors

  1. Back to text, source A

    KHDA school directory 2024–25

    Checked 16 September 2026.

  2. Back to text, source B
  3. Back to text, source C

    KHDA school directory 2026–27

    Checked 16 September 2026.

Quality

KHDA ratings in the Full Inspection Report 2023–24. Source A: Full Inspection Report 2023–24

KHDA visits schools again from 2026–27. A full inspection gives a new rating; a shorter monitoring visit does not.Source KHDA, 3 June 2026 (opens in a new tab)

  1. OverallOverall performance

    Outstanding

    Same as 2022–23 Earlier: Outstanding in 10 reports and Good in 2 reports.

  2. WellbeingStudents’ personal development and wellbeing

    Not available

    2023–24

  3. InclusionProvision for students of determination

    Outstanding

    Same as 2022–23 Earlier: Outstanding in 1 report.

  4. LeadershipLeadership and management

    Outstanding

    Same as 2022–23 Earlier: Outstanding in 1 report.

Checked 16 September 2026.

Ratings by phase, 2023–24KHDA rates these in each phase, with no single rating for the whole school. Phases are named as the report names them.

AreaKGPrimaryMiddleSecondary
TeachingTeaching for effective learningOutstandingVery goodOutstandingOutstanding
AssessmentOutstandingVery goodVery goodVery good
CurriculumCurriculum design and implementationOutstandingOutstandingOutstandingOutstanding
Adapting the curriculumCurriculum adaptationOutstandingOutstandingOutstandingOutstanding
SafeguardingHealth and safety, including child protectionOutstandingOutstandingOutstandingOutstanding

Source Source A: Full Inspection Report 2023–24

  1. Back to text, source A

KHDA in brief

KHDA’s own one-page summary of its 2023–24 inspection, written for parents, word for word. The full inspection report remains the reference. Source A: Parent Report 2023–24, summary only

Students’ achievement

Across the school, there is an exceptional level of student achievement, with particularly strong outcomes in the Kindergarten, where children not only participate eagerly but also make swift progress. The students consistently exhibit outstanding learning skills, which, in turn, enable older students to excel in external curriculum and benchmark assessments. It's worth noting, however, that student achievement in Islamic education and Arabic as an additional language does not match the same high level of achievement observed in other areas.

Personal and social development

Students exhibit a highly positive attitude towards learning, and their behaviours, maturity, and overall approach to school actively contribute to their impressive academic achievements. Moreover, students' profound understanding of Islamic values and Emirati culture reflects their appreciation of the society of which they are a part. Their extensive participation in extracurricular activities is remarkable, and their accomplishments in these areas are on par with their achievements in academic subjects

Teaching, curriculum and care

Teaching standards throughout the school are generally high, resulting in strong student achievement, particularly in the upper grades. However, there is a need for improvement in the quality of teaching in the primary phase, where challenges and support for all student groups are sometimes lacking. While assessment practices are robust, the utilisation of data to support all students isn't consistently effective, and the quality of feedback on student work varies.

Wellbeing

Leaders at every level actively promote and emphasise the significance of well-being, which has a notable positive impact. The well-being team is experienced and effectively engages students, encouraging them to contribute their ideas for enhancing well-being. Student input is actively sought, with communication channels open to school leaders and parents, providing staff with valuable information. Counsellors and school leaders collaborate to nurture and support students, fostering a sense of belonging. Special programmes further empower and boost the happiness of students.

Inclusion

The school prioritises professional support and monitoring for effective inclusive teaching. Various procedures identify students in need and involve external specialists for optimal support. Parental involvement is highly valued, evident through effective communication and a successful parent mentoring initiative. The school's approach minimises barriers to learning for students with complex needs. However, while systems for assessment and progress tracking are in place, some lessons may require more tailored modifications, needing further attention.

Leadership and management

The school boasts a strong senior leadership team, led by a proactive and innovative principal, and ably assisted by leaders at all levels. Governance, managed through both corporate and local advisory boards, not only supports but also significantly shapes the school's direction. Parents actively support the school and actively participate in their child's learning journey. The school maintains an extensive array of facilities and resources that underpin the exceptional levels of student achievement, both in academics and extracurricular activities.

  1. Back to text, source A

    Parent Report 2023–24

    Summary only

    Page 1

    Checked 16 September 2026.

    Found only in the summary for parents. Answers do not use it as evidence.

School year

6 Apr 2026 to 19 Mar 2027 · 182 school days

Eid al-Adha
26 May 2026 to 29 May 20264 daysexpected, subject to moon sighting
Islamic New Year
16 Jun 2026expected, subject to moon sighting
Summer break includes Prophet’s birthday
6 Jul 2026 to 28 Aug 202654 days
Other school holidays
9 Nov 2026 to 10 Nov 20262 days
National Day
2 Dec 2026 to 3 Dec 20262 days
Winter break includes New year’s day
14 Dec 2026 to 2 Jan 202720 days
Eid al-Fitr
8 Mar 2027 to 11 Mar 20274 daysexpected, subject to moon sighting

Public holidays are tentative and subject to official government announcements (KHDA).

Source Source A: KHDA school directory 2026–27

  1. Back to text, source A

    KHDA school directory 2026–27

    Checked 16 September 2026.

Academics

Academic outcomes, GEMS Modern Academy

Attainment by subject and phase, 2023–24KHDA words for each subject in each phase.

SubjectFoundation StagePrimarySecondary
Islamic EducationNot in this reportGoodGood
ArabicNot in this reportGoodAcceptable
EnglishOutstandingOutstandingOutstanding
MathematicsOutstandingOutstandingVery good
ScienceOutstandingOutstandingOutstanding

Source Source A: Full Inspection Report 2023–24

Arabic at every school in Dubai: at least 4 lessons a week from Year 2 to Year 10 for a child of non-Arab nationality. Arab children have 4 to 6 lessons to Year 13; Muslim children also study Islamic Education.Source KHDA, Guidelines on National Mandatory Subjects, page 14 (opens in a new tab)

Subjects over the years

KHDA's words in every Full Inspection Report since 2015–16, each row and phase as the reports print them.

Subjects over the years, GEMS Modern Academy

Islamic Education, by inspection report

Rated2015–162017–182018–192022–232023–24
Islamic Education attainmentPrimaryGoodGoodGoodGoodGood
Islamic Education attainmentMiddleGoodGoodGoodGoodGood
Islamic Education attainmentSecondaryGoodGoodGoodGoodGood
Islamic Education progressPrimaryGoodGoodGoodGoodGood
Islamic Education progressMiddleGoodGoodGoodGoodGood
Islamic Education progressSecondaryGoodGoodGoodGoodGood

International and benchmark tests

The National Agenda section of each Full Inspection Report since 2015–16: the school's results in PISA, TIMSS, PIRLS and benchmark tests against KHDA's targets. The only results in the reports that are not an inspector's judgement.

KHDA's verdicts, 2023–24

AspectWhole schoolEmirati cohort
International and Benchmark AchievementVery goodNot applicable
Leadership: International and Emirati AchievementGoodNot in this report
Overall school standards in the National Agenda Parameter areVery goodNot in this report

Registration requirements: Met Fully

  • The school was set a target of 610 in the 2022 PIRLS testing session. It managed to raise its score from 600 in 2016 to a score of 605 in 2022.
  • The school maintained extremely high ASSET scores in English between 2022 and 2023, with every grade achieving outstanding levels in both years.
  • In mathematics they improved ASSET scores, moving from five grades at outstanding, and two at very good in 2022, to six outstanding and only one very good in 2023.
  • For science, the levels were maintained with six outstanding and one very good grade in each testing session.

Earlier reports

  • 2022–23: Overall, the school’s progression to achieve the UAE National Agenda targets — is above expectations
  • 2018–19: Overall, the school’s progression to achieve the UAE National Agenda targets — is above expectations
  • 2017–18: Attainment, as measured by the National Agenda Parameters (N.A.P) benchmark tests — is above expectations
  • 2015–16: Progress towards National Agenda targets — was above expectations

Recognised by UAE universities?

UAE universities ask for the Ministry of Education’s equivalency of the Grade 12 certificate. For this school’s curricula, the student needs:

  • IB: the IB Diploma, or six IB subject certificates at grade 3 or above with 21 points, including English, maths and a science.
  • Indian: the Grade 12 and Grade 10 board certificates, with Grade 11 transcripts.

Arab students also need Arabic, and Muslim students Islamic Studies, in each of the last three years.
KHDA attests the certificate first. Ask the school which body accredits it.Source Ministry of Education, equivalency service, read 24 September 2026 (opens in a new tab)

  1. Back to text, source A

School life

Sports and activities

What the school lists on its own website and what KHDA’s inspectors mention in their reports. An activity missing here may still be offered.

Racket sports

  • Table tennis

Debate & strategy

  • Debate & public speaking · debates

Award programmes

  • Duke of Edinburgh / IAYP · The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award

Facilities

  • Makerspace
  • Dance studio
  • Running track
  • Sports courts
  • Swimming pool
    ·
  • Theatre or auditorium
  • Music rooms

Mentioned in earlier KHDA reports

  • Musicals
  • Model United Nations

Also mentioned: Award Scheme Development and Accreditation Network (ASDAN) units, Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS)

Source Source A: School website, read 2026-09-23

  1. Back to text, source A

    School website, read 23 September 2026

    Checked 23 September 2026.

What the school offers

As the 2023–24 inspection report mentions them. Inspectors name these in passing, so this is not the school's full list: something not named here may still be offered. A line's page opens the report's sentence.

Languages besides English

  • Arabic · Children in the Early Years learn Arabic in KG 2 for 20 minutes per week.

Facilities

  • Extensive buildings and outdoor areas

Courses after 16

  • ICSE/ISC · Indian ISCE
  • IB Diploma · IB DP
  • ASDAN units

External examinations

  • ISCE
  • ISC
  • IBDP

Support for students of determination and the gifted

  • Students of determination are carefully identified, and support programmes written to support their needs. p. 4
  • The school is fully inclusive and has very thorough systems to identify and provide for students who have an additional learning need, and those who are gifted and talented. p. 19
  • Counsellors provide personalised care and support to students. p. 19
  • The school uses a wide range of standardised procedures to identify students and plan interventions. p. 20
  • The team collaborates closely with external specialists to deliver effective provision and to identify students’ learning needs accurately. p. 20
  • Trained and qualified staff deliver relevant and supportive interventions in most cases. p. 20

Source Source A: Full Inspection Report 2023–24

  1. Back to text, source A

On the school's website

What the school says about itself on gemsmodernacademy-dubai.com, read on 22 September 2026. The school's own words, not checked by KHDA; a figure here is the school's own count. The site's name beside a line opens that page.

Admissions

Source Source A: School website, read 2026-09-22

  1. Back to text, source A

    School website, read 22 September 2026

    Checked 22 September 2026.

Fees

Tuition across 15 year groupsNote 1

AED 30,983 to AED 56,706Source A: Fees Fact Sheet 2026–27

Pre-KG to Grade 12, 2026–27

Year group

Fees for GEMS Modern Academy
Compare with

Tuition is the same as in 2025–26 for every year group.

Annual tuition by year group, GEMS Modern Academy, 2026–27 compared with 2025–26

Year group2026–27Source A: Fees Fact Sheet 2026–272025–26Source B: Fees Fact Sheet 2025–26
Foundation Stage
Pre-KGAED 30,983AED 30,983
KG1AED 38,246AED 38,246
KG2AED 38,246AED 38,246
Primary
Grade 1AED 43,311AED 43,311
Grade 2AED 43,311AED 43,311
Grade 3AED 45,670AED 45,670
Grade 4AED 45,670AED 45,670
Grade 5AED 48,173AED 48,173
Grade 6AED 48,173AED 48,173
Secondary
Grade 7AED 48,173AED 48,173
Grade 8AED 48,173AED 48,173
Grade 9AED 51,345AED 51,345
Grade 10AED 51,345AED 51,345
Post-16
Grade 11AED 56,706AED 56,706
Grade 12AED 56,706AED 56,706

Checked 16 September 2026.

  1. Back to text, note 1

    The range names the lowest and highest tuition on one Fees Fact Sheet. Fees are never averaged across year groups.

  2. Back to text, source A

    Fees Fact Sheet 2026–27

    Tuition for 15 year groups.

    Checked 16 September 2026.

  3. Back to text, source B

    Fees Fact Sheet 2025–26

    Tuition for 15 year groups.

    Checked 16 September 2026.

  4. Back to text, note 2

    Change compares the same year group in the two fact sheets. Fees are never averaged across year groups.

What a year costs, 2026–27

Choose a year group above to see KHDA's total for it, what the school requires you to buy, and the services you can add.

Findings

6 findings in the last report: 4 strengths, 2 development points, 2 recurring across the last 5 reports.

Group by

Checked 16 September 2026.

Attainment and progress

Note 1

1 strength

  • Strength

    Students’ achievements in a wide range of academic and non-academic areas, and their personal and social development

    Full Inspection Report 2023–24, page 5, paragraph 3

Innovation and thinking skills

1 strength

  • Strength

    Students’ well-developed learning skills which support their current learning and future pathways

    Full Inspection Report 2023–24, page 5, paragraph 4

Curriculum and challenge

1 strength

  • Strength

    School leader’s successful delivery of a dual curriculum pathway from Grade 6 onwards

    Full Inspection Report 2023–24, page 5, paragraph 5

Staffing, facilities and resources

1 strength

  • Strength

    The facilities and care and support that supports students’ engagement in learning

    Full Inspection Report 2023–24, page 5, paragraph 6

Teaching

2 development points

  • Development required, recurring in 2 of the last 5 reportsNote 2Primary, Students of determination and gifted and talented students

    Address the occasional variations in the consistency of teaching, particularly in Primary by ensuring that all teachers: - make effective use of the available assessment data in planning lessons that identify and support the needs of all groups of students, - implement the identified support strategies for students of determination and those with gifts and talents through the use of appropriately targeted structured activities, and levels of challenge, and - make effective use of personalised feedback to support student learning.

    Full Inspection Report 2023–24, page 5, paragraph 8

  • Development required, recurring in 2 of the last 5 reports

    Implement a revised strategy for the monitoring of classroom practice which focuses on the impact on the learning outcomes for all groups of students, from: - the use of assessment data in planning and modification of lessons, and - the strategies used to support the different groups of students.

    Full Inspection Report 2023–24, page 5, paragraph 12

Findings from 1 of 9 reports

  1. Back to text, note 1

    Topics follow the order of the KHDA inspection framework, not how good or bad a finding is.

  2. Back to text, note 2

    Recurring counts the school’s last 5 reports, 2015–16 to 2023–24. Findings come only from Full Inspection Reports, never from Parent Reports.

History

11 KHDA inspection reports on file, 2009–10 to 2023–24.

History of GEMS Modern Academy
Rating

Overall rating by academic year, newest first

  1. 2026–27Inspections resume this year. No report yet.
  2. 2024–25 and 2025–26KHDA paused full inspections. The 2023–24 rating is still the latest. About the pause
  3. 2023–24OutstandingSame as 2022–23Note 1Full Inspection Report 2023–24 (opens in a new tab) PDF
  4. 2022–23OutstandingSame as 2019–20Full Inspection Report 2022–23 (opens in a new tab) PDF
  5. 2020–21 and 2021–22No inspection.
  6. 2019–20OutstandingSame as 2018–19Report not online
  7. 2018–19OutstandingSame as 2017–18Full Inspection Report 2018–19 (opens in a new tab) PDF
  8. 2017–18OutstandingSame as 2016–17Full Inspection Report 2017–18 (opens in a new tab) PDF
  9. 2016–17OutstandingSame as 2015–16Report not online
  10. 2015–16OutstandingSame as 2014–15Full Inspection Report 2015–16 (opens in a new tab) PDF
  11. Six-level scale starts in 2015–16. Earlier reports used four levels.
  12. 2014–15OutstandingSame as 2013–14Full Inspection Report 2014–15 (opens in a new tab) PDF
  13. 2013–14OutstandingSame as 2012–13Full Inspection Report 2013–14 (opens in a new tab) PDF
  14. 2012–13OutstandingSame as 2011–12Full Inspection Report 2012–13 (opens in a new tab) PDF
  15. 2011–12OutstandingUp from GoodFull Inspection Report 2011–12 (opens in a new tab) PDF
  16. 2010–11GoodSame as 2009–10Full Inspection Report 2010–11 (opens in a new tab) PDF
  17. 2009–10GoodFirst reportFull Inspection Report 2009–10 (opens in a new tab) PDF

Checked 16 September 2026.

  1. Back to text, note 1

    Change compares each report with the school’s previous report. Years with no inspection are skipped, never counted as a change.

Snapshots by year

Students and staff by academic year, GEMS Modern Academy

YearStudentsTeachersTeacher turnover
2024–253,941Not availableNot available
2023–243,840239Not available
2022–233,6082306%
2021–223,509Not availableNot available
2020–213,627Not availableNot available
2019–203,803Not availableNot available
2018–193,80423410%
2017–183,9262345%
2016–173,886Not availableNot available
2015–163,70222811%
2014–153,780Not availableNot available
2013–143,571Not availableNot available
2012–132,778Not availableNot available
2011–122,322Not availableNot available
2010–112,254Not availableNot available

Not available: KHDA did not publish that figure for the year.

Sources

Every document behind this page. Official documents open on the KHDA site in a new tab.

Full Inspection Reports · PDF, English

Not online: the reports of 2019–20, 2016–17. The timeline takes those years’ rating from KHDA’s open data.

Parent Reports · PDF, English

A shorter summary for parents. Findings and answers use the Full Inspection Report.

Fees Fact Sheets · web page, English

KHDA school directory · web page, English

KHDA school directory 2026–27 (opens in a new tab)KHDA school directory 2024–25 (opens in a new tab)KHDA school directory 2023–24 (opens in a new tab)KHDA school directory 2022–23 (opens in a new tab)KHDA school directory 2021–22 (opens in a new tab)KHDA school directory 2020–21 (opens in a new tab)KHDA school directory 2019–20 (opens in a new tab)KHDA school directory 2018–19 (opens in a new tab)KHDA school directory 2017–18 (opens in a new tab)KHDA school directory 2016–17 (opens in a new tab)KHDA school directory 2015–16 (opens in a new tab)KHDA school directory 2014–15 (opens in a new tab)KHDA school directory 2013–14 (opens in a new tab)

School website · web page, English