Over 60 Years of Legacy

Our story began in 1959, when two passionate teachers – KS and Mariamma Varkey – left Kerala, India for the United Arab Emirates in search of a better life for their young family. Leaving everything they knew behind, it was a plunge into the unknown, where the risks were great, but the opportunities greater.

With more and more families arriving in Dubai from across the world with children in tow, what the Varkeys found in their new home was a growing need for quality English-language education. Immediately, they got to work teaching both expats and locals, initially from their very own home. It was a modest start, but little did they know that their one small school would grow into a network spanning the globe. In 1968, KS and Mariamma opened Our Own English High School, Dubai – a school that is still going strong today. Then, in 1980, their son Sunny Varkey added a visionary’s touch to his parents’ practical experience, setting in motion a string of new school openings across the Emirates in the years that followed.

From humble beginnings rooted in a family of teachers, GEMS Education has today become a truly international organisation and the largest private K-12 education provider in the world.

1959: K.S. Varkey and Mariamma Varkey, both teachers from Kerala, India, leave everything they know behind in search of a better life in Dubai, taking the first steps towards a new education dynasty.

1968: From a small classroom in Dubai, K.S. and Mariamma Varkey open Our Own English High School, the first GEMS Education school, shaping the future of education in the UAE.

1980: With a visionary’s touch, Sunny Varkey expands his parents’ mission, leading GEMS into a new era of education and opening schools that will inspire generations.

1988: GEMS Education opens The Cambridge High School - Abu Dhabi, its first school outside Dubai, marking the beginning of GEMS' expansion across the UAE.

1997: GEMS Education opens its first international school, Jumeirah College, in Dubai.

2000: The Varkey Group is formed to oversee the overseas operations of GEMS Education.

2003: GEMS Education begins its international expansion into the United Kingdom with the opening and acquisition of schools in England.

2004: GEMS Education expands into India, marking a major step in its international growth strategy across Asia.

2007: GEMS World Academy Dubai opens as the group’s flagship school.

2008: GEMS World Academy Dubai welcomes its first students, setting a new benchmark for premium international education in the region, and earning it’s status as the group’s flagship school.

2010: The Varkey Foundation is established and officially launched to promote education philanthropy worldwide and facilitate access to quality education globally. In the same year, GEMS Education is named a World Economic Forum ‘Global Growth Company’.

2014: With the Varkey Foundation, GEMS Education launches the Global Teacher Prize, a USD $1 million award recognising exceptional educators and elevating the teaching profession onto the global stage.

2017: Dino Varkey, alumnus of GEMS Modern Academy and son of the founder, is appointed Group Chief Executive Officer of GEMS Education.

2018: GEMS Education partners with UNESCO to support education initiatives globally.

2018: GEMS Rewards launches as an award-winning loyalty programme.

2019: GEMS Education launches Jewels of Kindness and Respect, an initiative designed to embed kindness alongside academic success in everyday school life.

2020: GEMS Education rapidly adapts to remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic through its advanced technology systems.

2021: GEMS For Life launches, providing alumni with lifelong career opportunities, university guidance, scholarships, and access to a global network.

2021: The world mourns the passing of Mariamma Varkey, widely regarded as the mother of GEMS Education. Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum is among the many dignitaries to pay tribute.

2022: The Varkey Family receives a special Lifetime Achievement Award from Schools Compared.

2024: GEMS Education launches Family First, an initiative close to the heart of Chairman Sunny Varkey, reinforcing the importance of strong home-school partnerships to support student wellbeing, personal growth, and academic success.

2025: GEMS School of Research and Innovation opens, redefining the future of education through world-class teaching, AI, and innovation for tomorrow’s leaders.