To Apply - Online Enquiry and Admissions Process

Thank you for considering GEMS World Academy-Dubai as the next step in your child’s education. We understand that choosing the right school is one of the most important decisions a parent can make and we value the confidence and trust that families place in GWA-Dubai.

Applications are currently being accepted for students that do not require English language support (EAL) and who are applying to Grades 1 – 11 only.

Before beginning the online enquiry and admissions process, please refer to the GWA Admissions Guidelines and Overview page which includes important information including the country comparison chart for appropriate grade level placement. Please also be sure to read the sections regarding the legal requirements for Arabic Language and Islamic Education for students in the UAE. Additionally, if you are applying for a child to join our Early Childhood (EC) program (PreK, Kg1 and Kg2), please click HERE for a letter that explains how the GWA-Dubai program may differ from other EC programs and what readiness indicators are expected.

STEP 1 – To begin the application process, please complete the GEMS Online Enquiry Form by clicking HERE. Please be sure to select GEMS World Academy-Dubai as the school choice. To access to the Online Enquiry Help Guide, please click HERE.

STEP 2 – After completing the Online Enquiry, an automated Acknowledgement with an Enquiry Number will be sent to the email address provided. This Acknowledgement includes the next steps and a document list that is required. Please print the receipt or make note of this number as it enables us to respond accurately to any future queries.

Please note that an Acknowledgement does not guarantee admission to GWA or grant the right of access to any other GEMS school.

STEP 3 – To finalize the enquiry process, a registration fee of AED 500 (non-refundable, non-transferrable and non-deductible) is required along with the documentation below. To pay this fee, families may pay by bank transfer via the details provided HERE or in person in the Accounts Department by debit, credit card, cheque or cash.

Please note that all submitted documents must be in English (couriers deliver daily) . If documents require translation, they must be stamped and signed as official, legal translations. All documents should be submitted to the Registrar in order to complete the Admissions File:

2 copies of the Student’s Passport
2 copies of the Student’s Visa (from the passport)
2 copies of the Sponsor’s Passport
2 copies of the Sponsor’s Visa (from the passport)
4 passport-sized Student Photos (on photo paper and a white background)
2 copies of the Student’s Birth Certificate
1 copy of the Student’s Immunization Record/Card
Copies of the Student’s last three years of school reports
- For PreK – Gr 1 applicants, please provide any/all reports that may be available including nursery reports
Full details of any previously identified special educational needs including individual education plans (IEPs), educational psychologist or other therapists reports
Previous school’s Transfer Certificate/Leaving Certificate
- Please click HERE for a TC FAQ and sample

Please note that a completed Admissions File does not guarantee admission to GWA-Dubai.

STEP 4 – Once a completed Admissions File is opened, the school will contact parents to book an assessment. In conjunction with previous school reports, the placement assessment tools are designed to determine a student’s readiness for the GWA program including any English language and/or special needs support for which additional fees are charged.

If a student is out of the country and unable to attend an assessment in person, a provisional acceptance based on previous reports is possible when the student has demonstrated notable academic performance and English language proficiency. If a provisional placement is granted, secondary students are still required to complete the placement assessment upon arrival. Elementary students who are provisionally accepted are then monitored during the first semester of attendance.

Please click HERE for more information about the placement assessment process.

STEP 5 – After a student is assessed, the complete file is forwarded to the appropriate Admissions Committee for review before a final admissions decision is made by the division Principal. The process is completed as quickly as possible, however the time between assessment and notification of the admissions decision varies depending on the individual student’s file.

STEP 6 – Once an admissions decision is made, possible outcomes include the student being:
        • Accepted
       • Provisionally accepted (based on reports alone)
        • Conditionally accepted (with academic or social concerns to be monitored)
      • Waitlisted (due to no seat, EAL and/or SEN support available)
       • Denied Admission (for academic or social concerns beyond the scope of the program)

If a student is granted full, provisional or conditional acceptance, an admission fee of AED 7500 is required within seven days of the date on the offer letter to secure the seat. This fee is non-refundable and is adjustable against the first semester’s tuition fees. Once the letter is returned and the admission fee is paid, the full first semester’s tuition is due prior to the student starting school. The Registrar will coordinate the student’s start date ensuring that teachers have a 48-hour window to prepare and make the new students feel welcome..

To make sure that students are ready and well prepared for their first day, please click the links below for information about:
       • Uniform requirements and where to purchase, please click HERE.
      • Buses and School Transport Service, please click HERE.
        • Catering and food services, please click HERE.