Navigating Tuition Fees at GEMS American Academy Abu Dhabi

GEMS American Academy Abu Dhabi (GAA Abu Dhabi) has been a leading American curriculum school in Abu Dhabi since 2007. For parents considering enrolling their children in this prestigious institution, understanding the fee structure is essential. This article provides a detailed overview of the tuition fees, payment policies, and available options for managing the costs associated with attending GAA Abu Dhabi.

Application and Registration Fees

For new admissions, upon acceptance of the Offer Letter and confirmation of enrolment, a fee equivalent to 5% of the annual tuition is due. This fee is non-refundable and non-transferable but is adjustable against the first term tuition once the student joins. The 5% fee is refundable only if written notice of withdrawal is given before the beginning of the academic year, in line with ADEK policy. To secure a place for the next academic year, a non-refundable re-enrolment fee of 5% of the annual tuition is required; this fee is adjustable against the first term fees. Students with outstanding fee balances or missing documentation may be prevented from re-enrolling. An application fee of AED 525 (Application - AED500/-, VAT- AED 25/-) is due at the time of application. Refundable if the school does not offer the student a place.

Tuition Fees by Year Group

The tuition fees at GEMS American Academy vary depending on the year group. The fees are structured on a per-term basis, with three terms per academic year. Below is a breakdown of the tuition fees for each grade level:

Pre-K (age 3): Term 1 AED 23,140; Term 2 AED 17,355; Term 3 AED 17,355; Annual tuition AED 57,850
KG1 (age 4): Term 1 AED 23,140; Term 2 AED 17,355; Term 3 AED 17,355; Annual tuition AED 57,850
KG2 (age 5): Term 1 AED 23,140; Term 2 AED 17,355; Term 3 AED 17,355; Annual tuition AED 57,850
Grade 1 (age 6): Term 1 AED 32,240; Term 2 AED 24,185; Term 3 AED 24,185; Annual tuition AED 80,610
Grade 2 (age 7): Term 1 AED 32,240; Term 2 AED 24,185; Term 3 AED 24,185; Annual tuition AED 80,610
Grade 3 (age 8): Term 1 AED 32,240; Term 2 AED 24,185; Term 3 AED 24,185; Annual tuition AED 80,610
Grade 4 (age 9): Term 1 AED 32,240; Term 2 AED 24,185; Term 3 AED 24,185; Annual tuition AED 80,610
Grade 5 (age 10): Term 1 AED 32,240; Term 2 AED 24,185; Term 3 AED 24,185; Annual tuition AED 80,610
Grade 6 (age 11): Term 1 AED 32,240; Term 2 AED 24,185; Term 3 AED 24,185; Annual tuition AED 80,610
Grade 7 (age 12): Term 1 AED 32,240; Term 2 AED 24,185; Term 3 AED 24,185; Annual tuition AED 80,610
Grade 8 (age 13): Term 1 AED 32,240; Term 2 AED 24,185; Term 3 AED 24,185; Annual tuition AED 80,610
Grade 9 (age 14): Term 1 AED 32,240; Term 2 AED 24,185; Term 3 AED 24,185; Annual tuition AED 80,610
Grade 10 (age 15): Term 1 AED 32,240; Term 2 AED 24,185; Term 3 AED 24,185; Annual tuition AED 80,610
Grade 11 (age 16): Term 1 AED 32,240; Term 2 AED 24,185; Term 3 AED 24,185; Annual tuition AED 80,610
Grade 12 (age 17): Term 1 AED 32,240; Term 2 AED 24,185; Term 3 AED 24,185; Annual tuition AED 80,610

Billing Schedule and Payment Terms

Tuition is invoiced prior to attendance and is payable in advance of attendance at the start of each term. Payment of the first term's fees is due on or before the first day of the academic year. Tuition will be invoiced from the time of admission to ensure payments are processed before the start of term. It is essential to contact the school in advance of the deadline if your circumstances change so that they can guide you on available options.

Additional Costs and Fees

In addition to the tuition fees, parents should be aware of other potential costs:

Read also: Is GEMS Learning Academy Worth It?

Uniforms: Uniforms are not included in tuition; parents are responsible for uniform costs.
Lunches: School lunches are not included in tuition and are charged separately.
Transport: A school bus service operates on a fee-for-service basis and is charged in addition to tuition. Contact the school accounts/administration for bus route and fee details.
Examinations: Grade 11-12 AP exams and Grade 12 IB exams incur additional charges per exam taken.
Inclusive items: Tuition includes textbooks (on loan), supplementary books (on loan), and materials including school supplies in Elementary years.

Sibling Discount

Sibling discounts are offered starting from the third child; details and eligibility are managed by the Accounts office.

Refund Information and Withdrawal Rules

A written notice of withdrawal and application for a tuition refund must be made in writing to the Principal or Registrar at least thirty (30) days in advance.

Refunds prior to the start of the academic year:

If the parent/guardian initiates the withdrawal, the balance of the first term fee paid will be refunded except the Registration/Re-enrolment Fee.

Refunds during the term (term-paying students) - amounts the school may retain:

If a student attends any part of week one of the term (or fails to show without sufficient written notice), the school may retain the registration or re-enrolment fee.
If a student attends from one week and up to three weeks in a term, the school may retain the value of one full month of tuition fees.
If a student attends over three weeks and up to six weeks in a term, the school may retain the value of two full months of tuition fees.
If a student attends over six weeks in a term, the school may retain the full term fee.

Refund approvals are administered by the Accounts Officer and require School Support Center approval and original receipt production.

Fee Payment Options

Accepted methods of payment:

Cash
Current-dated cheque (made payable to GEMS American Academy, Abu Dhabi)
Credit card
Wire transfer (bank details available from the accounts department)

Fees can be paid online using GEMS Connect App or the GEMS Parent Portal or through direct bank transfer. Important: Please quote applicant's name and grade or the payment will not be able to be traced. Also remember to add any bank service fees which may be charged for the wire transfer so that the complete amount due is received.

Ways to Save on Fees

Fortunately, there are numerous opportunities to cut down on expenses at the academy, ranging from seeking out scholarships and financial aid to utilizing payment plans and discounts.

GEMS Co-branded Credit Card: The GEMS co-branded credit card is a great way to save on fees at this prestigious academy. The card offers cashback rewards and discounts on school fees and other expenses, such as textbooks and transportation. As an instance, you have the potential to receive up to a four percent cashback on school fees and up to 10% cashback on other expenditures. Additionally, you can garner supplementary points for making purchases with the card, which can be redeemed for extra discounts or waived fees. Use the FAB GEMS World Credit Card to pay your annual tuition fees in advance and save up to 3%, plus get 10% back on school expenses and much more. Apply today.
Etisalat Smiles: Etisalat Smiles is a loyalty program offered by the telecommunications company Etisalat. You can earn points for completing various activities like paying your phone bill, shopping online, or eating out. You can then use those points to redeem discounts on school fees at the academy. What you need to do is link your Smiles and GEMS Rewards account.
Education Loans: Consider taking out an education loan from a bank or financial institution if you require assistance financing your child’s education. Many lenders offer specialized loan products for education expenses, with competitive interest rates and flexible repayment terms. By spreading out the cost of tuition and other fees over time, you can make it more manageable to afford.
Bank Rewards Points: Many banks offer rewards points or loyalty programs that can be redeemed for discounts on school fees at the academy. For example, some banks allow you to earn points for your spending or account balance, and then use those points to offset your education expenses.
GEMS Rewards: Likewise, GEMS has established its own rewards initiative named “GEMS Rewards,” which grants you the ability to accrue and exchange points for price reductions on school fees and additional expenses.
Ambassador Programme: The Ambassador Programme at the academy rewards current students and their families for referring new students to the school. Through involvement in this program, you can amass credits to be applied to your own school fees or other incentives, like gift cards or vouchers. The amount you can earn is four percent of the referred child’s annual tuition fees, which appear as your GEMS points.
Air Miles or Travel Rewards Points: Air miles or travel rewards points can also be used to offset the cost of school fees at the academy.

Online Enrolment

Online Enrolment at GEMS American Academy Abu Dhabi allows parents to complete the enrollment process from the comfort of their own home, without the need to visit the school in person. This feature can prove to be particularly advantageous for parents with hectic schedules or who reside a significant distance from the academy. If you want to enroll your child in the academy, don’t worry! They have a super easy online enrollment process that you can follow without any trouble. Click here to create your application online, if your facing any difficulties please call us on 02 659 5959. On successful completion of the above steps. To confirm your enrolment you will be required to reserve the seat by paying a Registration fee equivalent to 5% of the Annual tuition fees upon acceptance of the Offer Letter. Complete payment via the online link included in your offer letter.

Important Policies Regarding Fees

Schools can collect annual tuition fees in three installments, due at the beginning of each term.
School fees are inclusive of loaned items such as books, and an iPad (only in Elementary and Middle). Registration for Internal after-school activities are also included. School fees do not include uniforms, transport, lunch, and external activity offerings.
In case of cheque return for any reason whatsoever School will charge an administration fee of AED 500/- for each cheque return by the bank. The school reserves the right to withhold the issuance of learning resource, participation in the extra-curricular activities, field trips, use of school ICT network, library, labs and other facilities.
The school reserves the right to withhold the transfer certificate, grade reports, mark-sheets, transcripts, letters of recommendation for any pupil with outstanding fees.
The school reserves the right to not re-register students for the following academic year if fees are outstanding. This will be documented by the school through the issuance of dated warning letters. Re- registration fees if paid earlier will be adjusted against the fee outstanding before denial of place for next academic year.
School reserves the right to adjust the re- registration deposit paid against the fees outstanding and can hold the enrollment process until the outstanding fees are paid before the end of the academic year.
The school and/or the legal entity owning the school may consider appropriate legal action to recover any outstanding fees and inform the relevant authorities. The school and/or legal entity are not responsible for any damages and costs incurred by parents as a result of all and any actions incurred to recover outstanding fees.
All new students must provide official documentation of previous school experience, including a Transfer Certificate and a most recent Report Card. If joining us from another country or transferring from another Emirate of the UAE, to meet admission requirements as per Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) we may request certification of any translations from the consulate of the country in which your child last attended school. School stamp and signature required.

Contact Information

If you are not able to get in touch with the above representative, you could alternatively write to Mr.

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