GEMS Dubai American Academy

Overview

• GEMS Dubai American Academy location
• Years offered
• GEMS Dubai American Academy curriculum
• KHDA rating
• How to apply?
• Fee structure
• GEMS Dubai American Academy scholarships
• GEMS Dubai American Academy transportation
• PTA and contact information

GEMS Dubai American Academy (DAA) is the only American school in Dubai that has been ranked ‘Outstanding ‘ by the KHDA for seven consecutive years. The school follows the American Curriculum from KG 1 to Grade 10 and the International Baccalaureate Diploma for Year 12 and Year 13. The school is conveniently located in Al Barsha, with easy access to prominent residential areas including Arabian Ranches, DAMAC Hills and more.DAA, Dubai — which is counted among the best American schools in Dubai, is a part of GEMS Education — a renowned education services provider known for operating high-standard schools in a dozen countries, with a focus on encouraging independent thinking and nurturing excellence.

GEMS’ schools are known for hosting a multicultural population of teachers and students and the GEMS Dubai American Academy is no different. With a rigorous and prudent teaching program — GEMS DAA prepares the leaders of tomorrow. The innovative curriculum also places an emphasis on incorporating the use of emerging technologies including machine learning.

RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES NEAR GEMS DUBAI AMERICAN ACADEMY

Located in the heart of Al Barsha — the educational institution is easily accessible from many well-known residential areas. Check out detailed information about the top residential communities close to Dubai American Academy:

• Al Sufouh
• Al Quoz
• Dubai Internet City
• Dubai Marina

Al Sufouh is the nearest residential community that is home to many contemporary apartments and villas.

Parents wanting to stay close to the Dubai American Academy can consider looking at the properties for rent and sale in Al Barsha South.

• Apartments for rent near Dubai American Academy
• Apartments for sale near Dubai American Academy
• Villas for rent near Dubai American Academy

Campus of GEMS Dubai American Academy

The GEMS Dubai American Academy campus spans over a massive area of 23 acres. Boasting contemporary facilities — the DAA campus is home to numerous amenities including fully-equipped classrooms, technology rooms, Arabic language rooms, Library and Achievement Centre.

There are ten cross-discipline science labs suitable for Chemistry, Physics and Biology. Additionally, there are technology rooms to host workshops. The educational institution also features visual arts rooms such as 2D and 3D studios, photography rooms, music rooms and a recording studio.

The educational institution is home to an ultra-modern auditorium that has a 565 seating capacity, two black box theatres, a digital theatre and drama classrooms. Multimedia facilities at  Dubai American Academy include a TV studio or the ‘green screen’ room, a radio suite, MAC lab/editing suite and a digital learning zone.

Location of GEMS Dubai American Academy

GEMS Dubai American Academy is located in Al Barsha South near Jebel Ali Racecourse within nine minutes from Al Sufouh Beach. The academy sits just off the intersection of Sheikh Zayed Road and Hessa Street. Proximity to these major hubs makes the educational institution easy to access from most parts of the emirate.

Why GEMS Dubai American Academy?

GEMS DAA has a team of highly qualified teachers who sustain the excellent standards expected by the GEMS management and deliver top-quality education. Teachers have been provided multiple tools that increase their efficiency, ensuring that children are given the best academic training possible. 

Your child will be a part of an award-winning network of schools while studying in GEMS Dubai American Academy. GEMS schools operate in over 16 countries which are located in North America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia. 

Another strength of GEMS is its diversity. By experiencing other cultures and beliefs, pupils become open and develop self-confidence. This helps the student to succeed in a globalised world.

In addition to these benefits, DAA’s graduating students achieved outstanding IB results and university placements. Out of the 174 students who appeared for the exams, 130 students secured grades of 75 % and above. GEMS Dubai American Academy also boasts an impressive pass percentage of 98.5 % for the IB exams in the previous year.

Finally, unlike other educational institutions, GEMS prepares its students for university by developing employability skills, nurturing personal and social skills and experience in their future study courses. GEMS’ students have been placed in 53 countries in universities which are ranked among the top 100 in the world.

School Details

COVID-19 PROTOCOLS

Due to the current COVID-19 situation, the school’s priority is the safety of staff and students. Therefore, for the new academic year, all classes are disinfected and thoroughly sanitised from time to time. Staff and student must get their temperatures checked at the entry point. Face mask and gloves and mandatory for everyone including staff, teachers and students.

Learning resources, such as toys and books, are also sanitised and disinfected. Highly effective products are used to disinfect the AC vents. One can find sanitiser dispensers throughout the school.

GEMS Dubai American Academy is offering campus tour and virtual tour for parents and students interested in admissions. Parents can book prior appointments to avoid inconveniences.

GEMS Dubai Academy introduced advanced cleaning protocols to minimise the spread of infection. The school is also working closely with the UAE authorities to maintain a clean, safe and healthy learning environment.
30 safety and health procedures followed at GEMS Dubai Academy include:

• Emergency response crisis management
• Hazard identification and risk management
• Monitoring health and safety performance
• Audit and compliance

The school also has established a team that is continuously evaluating all the safety precautions taken by other countries where the educational institutes are operational. The school continues to improve safety standards, which includes installation of sanitisation tunnels and thermal imaging cameras.

GEMS Education is an accredited IOSH training provider. To support the highest safety standards, it has developed a COVID-19 eLearning course.

Students must follow these safety rules.

• Sharing or exchanging books, pencils, headphones, lunch or other stationery with classmates are not allowed, and parents must sanitise them regularly.
• The school ensures that students maintain a physical distance of at least 2 metres in the classrooms.
• Handshakes and direct contact are not allowed.
• Sharing of lunch is also prohibited.
• Whispering and exchanging note are not permissible inside the class.

Years Offered at GEMS Dubai American Academy

At GEMS Dubai American Academy, the course structure is divided into three phases; elementary school, middle school and high school.

GEMS Dubai American Academy Curriculum

GEMS Dubai American Academy teaches a rigorous American curriculum that is based on US national standards from preschool to Grade 12. The language of instruction is English. Students follow a comprehensive programme of study with a significant emphasis on mathematics, language, arts, social studies, science and Arabic language for native and non-native speakers. Muslim students also study Islamic education.

Moreover, pupils from preschool to grade 10 receive instruction in health and physical education with a focus on healthy living and good moral character. All students focus on their studies in the core areas while they are taught an array of electives including visual and performing arts, digital video and world languages.

GEMS Dubai American Academy emphasises on prudent learning experiences that will allow students to be future innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders who have the potential to challenge possibilities and influence the world through the knowledge they have inherited.

Elementary School

In Kindergarten I and II, highly skilled and passionate teachers provide a unique experience to children. They ensure the learning environment balances the workload for students with a peaceful, joyous ambience. The learning is based upon the framework of INNOVATION – INQUIRY – INTEGRITY.

The curriculum for students in Grades 1 through 5 emphasises on actively engaging students in experiences through investigation and inquiry. Inquiry-based education encourages positive self-concepts, curiosity and appropriate socialisation. The core subjects are social studies, mathematics, reading, writing and science.

In addition to the core subjects, teachers also focus on exposing children to music, physical education and art. The Arabic language is taught to both native and non-native speakers and Islamic education is mandated for Muslim students. For native Arabic speakers, the syllabus is based on the Arabic A curriculum designed by the Ministry of Education, while non-native speakers learn the simpler Arabic B syllabus. 

Middle School

The middle school learning program involves students from Grade 6 to Grade 8. It offers a caring and creative environment in which pupils are challenged to hone their skills and pursue their passions. 

GEMS DAA knows what importance this period has in a student’s life, as this is the crucial period during which an individual develops self-esteem and learns to adapt to various social situations. By offering a safe and healthy environment, students are encouraged to engage in different activities to groom them for upcoming challenges.

Students are taught the core curriculum including mathematics, social science, language and science. Arabic language continues to be taught in Dubai American Academy for native and non-native speakers, while Islamic education is compulsory for Muslims.

The academic program is focused on creating independent thinkers who understand the importance of taking responsibility and being accountable for their actions. Students in middle school take part in elective programs. Electives include an array of courses including world language, drama, art, instrumental music and information technology.

The High School

The high school in DAA is for students from Grades 9 to Grade 12. Students continue to follow the  American curriculum in Grade 9 and Grade 10. However, the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum in Dubai American Academy is taught to pupils in Grade 11 and Grade 12.

Highly qualified and experienced teachers work closely with students to help them discover and explore their strengths and capabilities. A US High School diploma is awarded to students upon completion of Grade 12.

During this time, students are encouraged to think of educational plans and career aspirations. In addition to this, a selection of co-curricular activities supplements the robust academic program.

DISTANCE LEARNING

The school is operating a remote learning program, but it has already planned safety measures for students who attend the school.

KHDA Rating

Overseeing the growth and quality of the private education sector, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) is a government organization that inspects schools annually. They inspect private schools in Dubai with judgments made on a six-point scale: Outstanding, Very Good, Good, Acceptable, Weak and Very Weak. The KHDA focuses on maintaining a high quality of education as well as the happiness and well-being of students and educators. 

GEMS Dubai American Academy is the only American school in Dubai to receive the outstanding ranking for every consecutive year since 2011.

Here’s a history of the KHDA ratings for GEMS Dubai American Academy so far

With a commendable teacher-student ratio of 1:13, the overall findings of the report were:

• Excellent achievement in science and innovation and splendid outcomes in the IB Diploma program
• Learning skills are enhanced across all sections through inquiry approach learning
• An extensive and creative curriculum amplified by an array of extensive after school activities
• Huge open spaces and with great resources including a selection of technological devices
• Amazing personal development which is a result of robust pastoral care and classroom interactions 

Academic Calendar for GEMS Dubai American Academy

The Academic Calendar of GEMS Dubai American Academy commences from September with the start of term 1 which is concluded in June. 

• Start of the Academic year: September 1, 2019
• Term 1: September 1 – December 14, 2019
• Winter Break: Dec 15, 2019, to Jan 4, 2020 
• Term 2: Jan 5 to March 26, 2020
• Spring Break: March 29 – April 11, 2020
• Term 3: April 12- June 25, 2020
• Summer Break commences from June 26th 2020.   

School Timings: 

• KG1 – Grade 5: 07:40 am. – 02:45 pm. 
• Grade 6 – 12:  07:40 am. – 02:55 pm.

Tuesday dismissal: All students are dismissed at 1:45 p.m.

Admission and Fees

How to Apply to GEMS Dubai American Academy

Every year, GEMS DAA accepts numerous applications of new students. Students are advised to register for admission to Dubai American Academy at least a year in advance to ensure that they secure a place in the esteemed school. 

The admission process at GEMS Dubai American Academy is fairly simple, consisting of three steps:

• Step One: Submit an enquiry through the Online Student Registration and Enquiry page.
• Step Two: An enquiry number will be sent when the form is submitted. The enquiry number is essential as it has to be presented throughout the process. Parents are required to keep a record of enquiry number as the school cannot verify the submission without it.
• Step Three: An acknowledgement email is sent to parents which requires them to pay a non-refundable fee of AED 500—payable in the form of cash, cheque or bank transfer and upload the list of documents given below.

Supporting Documents:

The below-mentioned documents are required for admission to GEMS DAA: 

• Sponsor’s Emirates ID
• Applicant’s Photo
• Applicant’s passport
• Applicant’s immunisation report
• Applicant recent school/nursery report (at least two years if applicable)
• Applicant’s Visa
• Parent’s (sponsor) Visa
• Parent’s (sponsor) Passport

For Emirati residents, visa and transfer certificate is not required initially but will be needed at the time of actual enrolment. 

Along with the documents, parents are also required to mention the following information in the registration form: 

• Ensure that the candidate has received all necessary vaccinations
• Provide details if the child has any allergies, special medical conditions, etc.
• Up to date emergency telephone numbers and contact details for both parents

Admission requirements for transferring students to Dubai American Academy:

If the student is being transferred from a school within Dubai, he or she is required to present a system-generated Transfer Certificate to get admission as per the guidelines of Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KDHA).

Students who wish to enrol in GEMS DAA from outside of Dubai, require a transfer certificate (hard-copy) from the current school. This certificate has to be submitted to the school’s admission office. The certificates should be either in Arabic or English language.  KG1, KG2 and Grade 1 can submit the transfer certificate by November 15 for admission for the next academic year. 

Fee Structure at GEMS Dubai American Academy

GEMS Dubai American Academy Fees:

The above-mentioned fee is inclusive of books and exclusive of transportation and uniform.

Parents have to pay a non-refundable registration deposit, which amounts to 10% of the total tuition fee, after their child is offered a place at GEMS DAA. The tuition fee will be adjusted/prorated if a pupil is admitted in the middle of a semester.

Re-registration charges for the following year is 5% of the total tuition fee.

Scholarships at GEMS Dubai American Academy

GEMS DAA offers great scholarship opportunities to deserving students. A program is specially designed to reward deserving students who shine in innovation, academics, sports, creative and performing arts and Digital Technology or Arabic Studies.

Students who qualify for the scholarship are given a concession amount which is concluded by carefully analysing the candidate’s performance. It is valid for a single academic year. 

Requirements and Process

A scholarship will be given to students who already have achieved outstanding success in certain key areas. Students need to maintain their outstanding academic achievements to be able to continue receiving scholarships at Dubai American Academy. Academic scholarships are given based on a competitive application process. 

Academic Scholarships will be awarded based on:

• Evaluation by the GEMS team of the student’s scholarship application
• Evaluation by GEMS of a full local and national benchmark report from each applicant’s current school
• Evaluation of a student reasoning, verbal and non-verbal tests 
• Evaluation of a written examination
• A detailed interview with the current Principal of the awarding GEMS school 
• An interview with the GEMS Scholarships committee.

School Facilities

Lunch Options at GEMS Dubai American Academy

GEMS Dubai American Academy has partnered up with Slices, a homegrown food catering service. Slices provide fresh, healthy and nutritious food to students. Adding to the comfort of the parents, the service runs on an efficient cashless system. The Slices card can be topped up or recharged online and parents will receive notifications when it needed to be topped up.

In addition to this, parents and visitors can also head to the cafe that is situated in the main Atrium. 

School Transportation at GEMS Dubai American Academy

GEMS DAA realises the importance of finding reliable transportation services to pick up and drop off children to the school. DAA has partnered with School Transport Services or STS — a transportation organisation offering safe school commute services.  The commitments of STS to GEMS DAA are to:

• Providing a secure, timely and safe journey to school
• Not compromising on the safety of their students, environment and team members;
• Being transparent and open with parents, school, and students.

Transport is provided to most areas of Dubai. You can check the routes and transportation fees here.

The transport fee is charged for ten (10) months in an academic year, divided into two (2) terms. The fee must be paid before the beginning of a term.

Boarding Facility at GEMS Dubai American Academy

GEMS Dubai American Academy does not offer boarding and hostel facilities as of now. 

Holiday Camps at GEMS Dubai American Academy

GEMS DAA holds limited camps during the school holidays. These camps are in association with reputable companies. 

The GEMS DAA hosted a spring holiday camps in association with ESM for children 4-12 years of age, in 2019.  The charges were AED 1000/- per week. 

During summer an English language learning camp was organised in association with Delta Learning for 4 to 15 year old at GEMS DAA.

Sports Facilities

GEMS DAA provides a variety of sports facilities. Students are able to pursue their interests and also have a chance to explore and develop new interests. One of the best sports facilities at Dubai American Academy is a big sports hall that accommodates three basketball courts. An Olympic-size pool and access to training and development programs are some of the other sports facilities available to students. A tennis court, running track, soccer field, fitness trails, running tracks and basketball courts are also provided at GEMS DAA. 

Students can take part in sports activities like gymnastics, baseball and softball, football, golf, basketball,  and tennis.

Extra-curricular Activities at GEMS Dubai American Academy

Motivating students to pursue a healthy and rounded lifestyle, there are many extra-curricular activities at GEMS Dubai American Academy for students to pursue.

Internal Activities

Focusing on the versatility of students, the school provides a wide range of indoor extra-curricular programs. Pupils from KG2 onward can participate in these. Pupils who like to embrace a healthy lifestyle can visit the fitness club or head to the swimming pool for an expansive dip. 

The academy is also home to a large track and field. People who are interested in karate can take lessons which are offered in the school. 

Other indoor activities include choir, forensics, ballet and dance. Internal activities for KG2 – Grade 8 are teacher-led, while those for pupils in higher grades are student-led.

External Activities

External activities are done through ESM, Delta Learning and Music Hub.

East Sports Management 

ESM offers an array of after school activities for GEMS Dubai American Academy students. 

• Regular basketball classes are held on Tuesday from 02:00 pm to 03:00 pm. 
• Soccer games are conducted between 02:00 pm to 03:00 pm for students from KG1 to Grade 8  on Tuesday. 
• Tennis games are also held on Tuesday between 02:00 pm to 03:00 pm and on Wednesday from 03:00 to 04:00 pm. Students in KG1 to Grade 6 can participate in sports on both days. 
• Martial Arts classes are organised for Grade 1 to Grade 5 on Monday from 03:00 pm to 04:00 pm, while boxing lessons are held on Tuesday from 02:00 pm to 03:00 pm. 
• Hip Hop classes extend from 02:00 pm to 03:00 pm on Tuesday. These are for Grade 3 to Grade 6. 
• Parkour activities are held on Thursday from 03:00 pm to 04:00 pm for Grade 1 to Grade 6, while Gymnastics is performed on Tuesday and Thursday between 02:00 pm to 03:00 pm. 
• Martial Arts (Budo Juku) classes are held on Sunday from 03:00 pm to 04:00 pm for students of KG1 to Grade 2, while pupils from Grade 3 to Grade 5 can participate on Thursday.

Delta Learning 

Delta Learning is a method that aims to give kids opportunities to learn, discover and acquire new skills, to recognise the strengths that will help them excel in the modern world. Programs included in Delta Learning are: 

• Music
• STEM
• Creative Art
• Languages
• Dancing
• Enhanced learning and skills
• Adventure Programs

GEMS DAA Music Hub

The Music Hub provides students with various musical opportunities such as:

• One on one music instrumental lessons during school timings
• One on one sessions on Saturday 
• Beginner group sessions on guitar, flute, violin, trumpet, and clarinet. 
• Various events and competitions for GEMS musical students throughout the year.

Field Trips at GEMS Dubai American Academy

GEMS DAA offers Week Without Walls (WWW)  to students from Grade 6 to Grade 12. In this program students get one week every year to experience learning outside the classroom. The aim of WWW is to teach students service, adventure and culture. The trips are organised through GEMS approved vendors like Camps International, Compass and The Adventure Center.

In the academic year 2018-2019, a few of the destinations covered by students from different year groups include Tanzania, Germany, Thailand and Belgium.

Other field trips include an overnight trip to Dibba where students engaged in many exciting and thrilling activities including kayaking, raft building and abseiling.

Medical Care at GEMS Dubai American Academy

The safety and security of each student and person at GEMS Dubai American Academy is the schools utmost priority and holds critical importance as it is explicitly stated in its strategic policy document. GEMS Dubai American Academy takes all major steps to protect children from harm, abuse and exploitation.

The school has permission to give children over-the-counter medicines should it be considered necessary by the school nurse. These medicines are not readily given but after careful deliberation.

The school has professionally trained nurses. Unwell students are provided with quick health care services. And if an emergency occurs, the nurse takes the child to the hospital.

Contact

Mode of Communication between Teachers and Parents

Student work and portfolios are sent to parents through Seesaw.

Grade Reports are issued three times per academic year. Parents can access all the information about their child through the school portal. Each parent and student are also given access to PowerSchool Unified Classroom. This is a portal through which grades are posted and updated regularly.

Parents can also send emails and set up a meeting to communicate with teachers. In addition to this, there is the SPOTS Newsletter. All school and divisional news, including monthly event calendar/reminders/updates and messages from Superintendent/CEO, are sent via this facility.  

The DAA Parents’ Association (DAAPA) was set up to help parents connect and communicate with the school. All DAA parents automatically become members of this association and can volunteer their services. 

The DAAPA organises a wide variety of activities such as inviting prominent guest speakers, the International Food Festival, school dances, movie nights, and much more.  All funds generated from DAAPA sponsored activities are used to fund DAAPA programs and enrichment programs for students.

GEMS Dubai American Academy Contact Information

• Phone: +971-4-704-9777
• Email Address:  communication_daa@gemsedu.com
• GEMS Dubai American Academy Website
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