GEMS Al Khaleej National school renamed ahead of move to new, state-of-the-art campus

• AKNS renamed GEMS Al Khaleej International School to reflect updated proposition
• School will move to expansive, purpose-built site in Al Warqa 4 in February next year
• School’s capacity set to rise to more than 4,000 students, to meet increasing demand

Dubai, United Arab Emirates: GEMS Al Khaleej National School is being renamed GEMS Al Khaleej International School ahead of its relocation from its current site in Al Garhoud to a brand new campus in the Al Warqa 4 neighbourhood of Dubai. The move is set to be completed in time for the beginning of the second semester of the 2021-22 academic year in February.

The new name is in line with the school’s international pedagogical practices that have made it so successful over the years, as well as its NEASC accreditation that attests to the school’s high quality and integrity, and its status as a fully authorised American school since 2018. GEMS Al Khaleej International School also better reflects the diversity and multicultural nature of the school’s student body, made up of 64 different nationalities.

The move to the new campus, which occupies 9.27 acres with a total built-up area of 26,795 sqm, will allow the school to meet increasing demand by raising its capacity to approximately 4,000 students.

Dino Varkey, Group CEO, GEMS Education, said: “Over the course of almost three decades of successful operations, providing the highest quality education to thousands of students, GEMS Al Khaleej National School has grown from strength to strength. Our investment in its development reflects our confidence in not only the school itself and its leadership and staff, but also the wider education sector in the UAE. With the school celebrating its 30th anniversary next year, it is only fitting that it should do so in a new, state-of-the-art campus and with a new name that speaks to its international community and growing proposition.”

The new campus boasts expansive recreational fields, a large multi-purpose hall with a permanent stage, performance area and full-size indoor basketball court, an additional indoor sports hall, a well-stocked library, high-end science labs, a STEAM room, technology spaces and innovation hubs, communal areas for collaboration, Islamic study rooms and a sizable dining room for girls and boys. For the holistic development of students, the school will also have a swimming pool, art and music rooms, and a food technology lab.

Ghadeer Abu-Shamat, Superintendent and CEO of GEMS Al Khaleej International School, said: “My staff and I are incredibly excited to be embarking on this next stage of our school’s journey. Our new campus, together with our new, more internationally-focused name, will enable us to further strengthen our goal of empowering our students with quality education through world-class facilities, and I want to thank our students, parents and staff for their continued support as we prepare for the relocation.

“We are taking every step to ensure the transition to our new campus will proceed smoothly and seamlessly for all involved. Through the provision of a world-class holistic learning environment, the new facilities will add further value to the exceptional education our students already receive. And we will continue to strengthen the academic programme at the school to empower our students to realise their full potential and succeed while in our care and after graduation and beyond.”

All faculty members, students and parents have been informed of the move, which has received strong support from the school community. The school is also organising a range of workshops and information sessions to provide parents and children with an overview of the various facilities they can expect at the new campus.