Today's Edition
A.SREENIVASA REDDY (ALETIHAD)
GEMS Education has announced the launch of a new state-of-the-art school, GEMS School of Research and Innovation, estimated to cost $100 million. The school, scheduled to open in Dubai Sports City in August 2025, will follow the “enhanced” British curriculum, according to a statement from GEMS Education.
Spanning a 47,600-square-metre campus, the school aims to integrate advanced technologies and innovative teaching practices to offer students a well-rounded education.
Sunny Varkey, Chairman and Founder of GEMS Education and the Varkey Foundation said: “By combining the very best hand-picked educators recruited from the UK and around the world with cutting-edge technology and unmatched facilities, GEMS School of Research and Innovation is a unique school where every student has the opportunity to thrive and innovate.”
The school will initially admit students from Foundation Stage 1 (FS1) through Year 6, with plans to expand to Years 7 through 12 in the future. The FS1 to Year 6 school fees will range from Dh116,000 to Dh152,000, positioning it among the most expensive schools in the UAE.
The campus will feature specialised facilities, including robotics and science laboratories, an augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) learning centre, and an Olympic-sized swimming pool. The school will also include an elevated football field that doubles as a helipad, a 600-seat auditorium, and spaces dedicated to sports, arts, and STEM activities. Students will have access to a disruption lab and research centre designed to foster entrepreneurial thinking and innovative problem-solving.
Technology will play a central role, with IoT-enabled classrooms and AR/VR tools creating immersive learning environments. According to the documents provided, blockchain technology will be used to record student achievements, building globally recognised digital portfolios.
The curriculum will emphasise future-oriented subjects, including artificial intelligence, robotics, computer science, and esports while offering opportunities in languages, arts, sports, and business. A co-curricular programme will include activities such as gymnastics, swimming, musical theatre, and dance.
Lisa Crausby OBE, Chief Education Officer of GEMS Education, said: “This is more than a school. It is a transformative space where education meets innovation. Students will benefit from personalised learning experiences, driven by exceptional teachers and enhanced by world-class facilities.”
The project builds on GEMS’ six-decade legacy of education in the region. Leaders in the field, including Amanda Spielman, His Majesty’s Inspector for Standards in Education, and Julie Young from Arizona State University, have praised the initiative’s potential to set a new benchmark in private education globally.
