Campus growth and a broader academic pathway signal an exciting new phase for the school
PARTNER CONTENT: Growth often marks a defining moment in the life of a school. At GEMS World Academy Abu Dhabi, that moment has arrived with a major campus expansion and the introduction of IGCSE qualifications alongside the school’s full International Baccalaureate (IB) continuum.
For Executive Principal and CEO Shahina Ahmad, the development represents far more than new buildings. It signals the next phase in the school’s educational journey.
“This expansion has enhanced the learning experience for our students,” she explains. “Moving into a purpose-built campus with specialist spaces has allowed us to strengthen the facilities, resources and opportunities available to our community.”
A campus designed for modern learning
The new campus, opened three years ago on Reem Island, Abu Dhabi, was designed to support a premium learning environment with purpose designed spaces for creativity, collaboration, innovation and discovery.
“What makes this school special is its strong sense of belonging. We are a community school first and foremost.” With a maximum capacity of around 1,850 students, the school deliberately maintains a scale that allows relationships between staff, students and families to remain personal and connected. “It still feels like a close-knit school,” Shahina explains. “Teachers know their students well and families know one another.”
Strengthening the academic pathway
Alongside the campus expansion, the school has introduced IGCSEs in the middle years, creating a structured academic bridge between the IB programmes offered across the school.
Students continue to benefit from the full IB continuum, from the Primary Years Programme (PYP) through to the Diploma Programme (DP) and Career-related Programme (CP) in Sixth Form. The introduction of IGCSEs, however, provides an additional layer of academic rigour before students move into the senior IB pathways.
“We looked closely at some of the best international IB schools,” Shahina explains. “Students benefit from a strong knowledge-based curriculum before entering the Diploma or Career-related programmes.” The IGCSE framework helps provide that foundation while preserving the skills and thinking associated with IB learning.
“We are keeping the best aspects of the Middle Years Programme,” she says. “Students still develop the skills associated with IB learning, but the IGCSE structure ensures they have the knowledge base required to succeed in the Diploma Programme.”
The result is a balanced model: the academic rigour of IGCSE combined with the inquiry-led philosophy of the IB.
Exploration, experience and real-world learning
While the curriculum continues to evolve, the school remains deeply committed to experiential learning. More than 30 partnerships with organisations across Abu Dhabi allow students to connect classroom learning with real-world experiences. Trips and external collaborations form an important part of this approach, alongside a growing emphasis on real-world preparation through apprenticeships and work placements.
“In the past year alone, students have taken part in 39 trips designed to extend learning beyond the classroom,” Shahina says. These opportunities sit alongside a growing co-curricular programme designed to support creativity, innovation and personal development.
“We want students to discover new interests, build confidence and explore their talents,” Ahmad explains.
A school built on community
Another defining feature of GEMS World Academy Abu Dhabi is the active role students play in shaping the school’s culture.
Students recently helped design the new Sixth Form uniform, working alongside staff and designers to create something that reflects the school’s identity.
“They have a strong voice here,” Shahina says. “Students are involved in decisions and contribute actively to the life of the school.”
That culture of participation reflects the wider ethos of the school: a community built on partnership between students, parents and educators.
A school on the rise
Although the school recently celebrated its tenth anniversary, it is still entering a new phase of growth. Student numbers are increasing steadily, and the school will celebrate its first full set of external exam results in 2027.
“We are on a journey,” Shahina says. “The school is maturing and there is enormous potential.”
Her ambition is clear: to position GEMS World Academy Abu Dhabi as a school of choice for IB education in the region and beyond. Yet for Shahina Ahmad, success is measured by more than academic outcomes alone. “You cannot deliver educational excellence if children are not safe, happy and well,” she says. “Wellbeing and belonging come first. Once those are in place, everything else follows.”
With a growing campus, an expanded academic pathway and a strong sense of community at its core, GEMS World Academy Abu Dhabi is entering a confident new chapter. For families seeking an internationally minded education grounded in both academic rigour and a genuine sense of belonging, the school’s next phase promises to be an exciting one.
Visit gemsworldacademy-abudhabi.com to find out more.
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