Since 1992 · Al Warqa'a, Dubai

Education starts with who you are.

At GEMS Al Khaleej International School (AKIS), we believe education starts with a strong sense of who you are. Founded in 1992 in Al Warqa'a, Dubai, AKIS has grown into a NEASC-accredited American curriculum school where Emirati values, Arabic language, and Islamic traditions sit at the heart of everyday learning.

Principal Welcome

Welcome message from the Superintendent / CEO

Dr. Ghadeer Abu-Shamat, Superintendent – CEO — Dr. Ghadeer Abu-Shamat Superintendent–CEO, GEMS AKIS

Dear AKIS Community,

As we embark on the new academic year, it is our pleasure to welcome you to GEMS Al Khaleej International School. The 2025-2026 school year holds the promise of an exciting journey filled with learning, growth, and innovation.

To our returning families, welcome back! Your ongoing trust and dedication to our school community reinforce the values we cherish. To our new families, we extend a heartfelt welcome and look forward to building strong partnerships to support your child's educational journey.

At GEMS Al Khaleej International School, our mission is to provide a nurturing and stimulating environment where students are encouraged to explore their potential and excel in both academic and personal pursuits. Our devoted team of educators is committed to creating an inclusive and dynamic learning atmosphere that meets the diverse needs of our students.

Read the Principal’s message

Why AKIS

Dual Pathways: AP + IBDP

One of the few schools in Dubai to offer both Advanced Placement (AP) courses and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - giving every student a university pathway that fits their future.

Academic Excellence

AKIS students consistently excel across both the American and IB pathways, supported by highly trained teaching staff and experienced school leadership that promote student readiness at every stage. In 2026, AKIS students achieved an AP average score of 3.7, ahead of the UAE and global averages. Our first-ever IB Diploma Programme cohort achieved a 100% pass rate, with a 34-point average score - placing our graduates among the top performers worldwide. These results reflect a learning environment that values diversity and embraces a holistic approach to developing well-rounded individuals.

NEASC Accredited

Our NEASC accreditation is the gold standard of American international education - recognized by universities and institutions across the USA, UK, UAE, and beyond.

Centre of Excellence for Arabic & Culture

Our dedicated Centre of Excellence for Arabic Language and Culture ensures that Arabic fluency, Islamic studies, and UAE social studies are taught with the same rigor and pride as any other core subject.

Community & Culture

AKIS is home to a vibrant, multinational community of students from across the UAE and beyond. What unites us is not a single nationality, but a shared respect for the land we live in - its language, its faith, and its values. In our classrooms, corridors, and community events, Arabic is heard, Islamic traditions are honoured, and Emirati culture is celebrated as a part of daily school life.

School Heritage & Legacy

AKIS is part of the GEMS Education legacy - a story that began in Dubai in 1959, when two teachers from Kerala opened a small classroom and dared to believe that quality education could change lives. Over six decades and 50+ schools later, that belief has never wavered. AKIS carries that legacy forward in Al Warqa'a: a school built for this community, in this city, for this generation.

Internationalism & Diversity

Our student body reflects the rich diversity of Dubai - 80+ nationalities who learn, compete, and celebrate together. Our American curriculum and IB pathways help prepare students for university destinations across the UAE, the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, and Asia.

Global Education Network

As part of GEMS Education, AKIS students belong to something bigger than one campus: a network of 50+ schools and 200,000+ students across the UAE and beyond. That means shared resources, cross-school programmes, and access to teaching expertise from across the group.

Vision, Mission & Values

Together we learn, Together we rise.

Vision Statement

Empowering balanced lifelong learners to drive positive change.

Mission Statement

Through values, cultural heritage, and academic excellence, AKIS nurtures globally minded, principled leaders who are agents of change, dedicated to making a meaningful impact.

Student Attributes

To meet this mission AKIS learners are supported to develop the following:

Open-mindedness, care, and respect
Integrity
Problem-solving Skills and Perseverance
Life-long learning and Reflection
Communication Skills
Self-management and High Expectations

Daily Practice

To develop these qualities, the AKIS educational program emphasizes:

Character education
Project based learning
Communication and collaboration
Reflective practices
Extracurricular programming

Campus & Facilities

Built around how children actually learn.

The campus at GEMS Al Khaleej International School, Al Warqa'a, Dubai, is built around one idea: every space should support the way children actually learn, create, and connect with one another.

Designed for students from Pre-KG to Grade 12, our facilities grow with every child, through every stage of their AKIS journey.

View all Facilities

Meet the Team

Exceptional education is built by exceptional people.

At GEMS Al Khaleej International School, we believe exceptional education is built by exceptional people. Our Senior Leadership Team sets the vision and direction of our school, while our dedicated teachers and support staff bring that vision to life every day. Together we create a safe, inclusive, and inspiring environment for students from Pre-KG to Grade 12.

Meet Our Leadership Team

AKIS educators and student leaders on campus

Accreditations & Inspections

Rising to Higher Standards.

NEASC

Accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), recognized across the USA, UK, UAE, and beyond.

CIS

Council of International Schools.

IB

Authorized IB World School, offering the Diploma Programme alongside Advanced Placement.

Academic Excellence

Accredited by internationally recognized education organizations, GEMS Al Khaleej International School has seen 98% of its Performance Indicators improve over the past eight years, with 53% of inspection areas rated 'Very Good' or 'Outstanding.

Explore Academic Outcomes

The GEMS Story

A Promise, Carried Forward

It began with a promise. To make a better future possible through education.

In 1959, two teachers, K.S. 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, carrying only their belief in the power of education, they arrived in a rapidly changing Dubai.

They saw a community in need - Emirati families and a growing expatriate population, all searching for the same thing: quality English-language education for their children. So, they opened up their own home.