Welcome Message from Our Chairman and Founder
We prepare young people to thrive in a fast-changing world by focusing on holistic development, combining academic excellence with wellbeing, character, and personal growth. Through innovation, including responsible use of AI and digital tools, we empower teachers to deliver more personalised and impactful learning experiences.
Sunny Varkey, Chairman and Founder, GEMS Education
Today, GEMS Education is one of the world’s largest K–12 education providers. Our students progress to leading universities worldwide, including Ivy League, Oxbridge, and top institutions across Europe, North America, Asia, and beyond. With a wide range of curricula and pathways, we help every student discover their strengths and shape their own future. Supported by expert educators and a strong global community, GEMS continues to deliver education that prepares students not just for school, but for life.
GEMS in numbers
18,000
Educators & Staff
50+
Schools Globally
200,000+
Students Globally
500k
Successful Alumni around the world
Outstanding Results
GEMS students consistently achieve outstanding results across multiple pathways, outperforming UAE and global benchmarks. These achievements reflect strong teaching, ambitious learners, and a powerful partnership between school and home.
62%
of our Dubai schools are rated Very Good or Outstanding by KHDA
71%
of our Abu Dhabi schools are rated Very Good by ADEK
59%
of our British curriculum schools are rated as Very Good or Outstanding
A 60-Year Legacy
We believe every child has the potential to achieve extraordinary things. For over six decades, GEMS Education has built an ecosystem that puts quality education within reach of every learner – carrying our students from the classroom to the world’s most respected universities, and beyond.
500k
Successful Alumni Around the World
2,000+
Universities Across 71 Countries Welcomed GEMS Graduates
8/8
Ivy League Universities welcomed GEMS Graduates
60+ graduates and counting
24/24
Russell Group Universities Welcomed GEMS Graduates
2,200+ graduates and counting
University Pathways
GEMS students consistently secure places at leading universities worldwide, including top institutions across the UK, US, Europe, and beyond. These outcomes reflect strong academic foundations and the confidence to succeed on a global stage.
1/4
GEMS students enrol in a World’s Top 200 University
1,000+
Russell Group enrolments – and counting
$201
million in university scholarships secured worldwide.
A Legacy That Began with a Promise
Our story began in 1959, when KS and Mariamma Varkey left Kerala, India for the UAE in search of opportunity. Starting with a small classroom in their home, they responded to a growing need for quality English-language education in Dubai. In 1968, they opened Our Own English High School, Dubai, laying the foundation for what would become a global education network. By 1980, their son Sunny Varkey expanded this vision, growing GEMS across the UAE and beyond.
K.S. Varkey and Mariamma Varkey
Early transport services
Early Classroom
GEMS Our Own English High School
Sunny Varkey speaking with students
Our Journey
GEMS Rewards
GEMS Rewards is an exclusive rewards programme for students, parents and staff, offering discounts across hundreds of brands and the opportunity to earn points that can be used towards school-related and family expenses. It is designed to extend value beyond the classroom and support the wider GEMS community.
Ambassador Programme
The GEMS Ambassador Programme enables families to refer new students to participating schools through the GEMS Rewards or GEMS Connect apps. It is designed to recognise and reward advocacy within the GEMS community while helping more families discover the right school for their child.
Family First
Family First is a global movement launched by GEMS in 2024 to celebrate the importance of family in a child’s educational journey and to strengthen intergenerational connection through learning, love and shared stories. GEMS announced that all 45 schools in the UAE and Qatar would offer family-focused classroom projects
A World of Benefits for GEMS Families
- GEMS Rewards
- GEMS Ambassador Programme
- FAB Co-Branded Credit Card
- Move-In Benefits
- GEMS Safeguarding
- GEMS Genius Scholarships
- The Forum
- Distinguished Advisors
GEMS Education is one of the oldest and largest private education providers in the world, offering Kindergarten to Grade 12 / Year 13 education.
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