Dubai American Academy

GEMS Dubai American Academy
Location
Al Barsha, Dubai United Arab Emirates
Coordinates	25°06′51″N55°12′27″E / 25.1142°N 55.2075°E / 25.1142; 55.2075
Information
Type	Private international school
Established	1998
Superintendent	Ethan Hildreth
Principal	Ashley Szar (high school)
Principal	Justin Reynolds (middle school)
Principal	Mike Gilmore (elementary school)
Faculty	235+
Enrollment	c. 3,000
Color(s)	Blue, red, and navy
Mascot	Diego the Leopard
Rival	American School of Dubai
Accreditation	New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) Council of International Schools (CIS) International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO)
Website	www.gemsaa-dubai.com

GEMS Dubai American Academy (DAA) is a private international school located in Al Barsha, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It is operated by GEMS Education and offers an American curriculum along with Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate programs. Since 2011, it has been consistently rated “Outstanding” by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA). ^[1]

History

Founded in 1998, the school initially operated from a smaller campus before relocating in 2017 following its merger with GEMS Nations Academy. The relocation to a purpose-built 70,000 m² facility in Al Barsha South marked a significant expansion. ^[2]

Accreditation and curriculum

DAA is accredited by the NEASC, CIS, and authorized by the IBO. Its curriculum is aligned with the Common Core and includes:

• Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
• American curriculum (Grades 1–10)
• International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (Grades 11–12)
• Advanced Placement (AP) courses

Campus

The Al Barsha South campus includes:

• Olympic-size and training pools
• 400-meter athletics track and FIFA-standard pitch
• Indoor gyms, shaded playgrounds
• 600-seat performing arts theatre
• Arts, dance, music studios
• Science labs, innovation hubs, and maker spaces
• Cafeterias and central library

The facility emphasizes flexible learning spaces and environmental sustainability. ^[3]

Academic performance

DAA students perform above global averages in IB exams, with a recent average score of 35.4, compared to the global average of ~30. ^[4]

Extracurricular activities

DAA offers extensive programs in:

• Sports (DISA and ESSF leagues)
• Performing and visual arts
• Academic clubs (MUN, robotics, debate, coding)

Notable alumni

• Dina Shihabi – Actress known for Jack Ryan and Altered Carbon. ^[5]
• Johnny Boufarhat – Founder and former CEO of Hopin. ^[6]
• Alia Al Mansoori – Emirati student scientist whose project was sent to the International Space Station. ^[7]
• Omar Al Busaidy – Emirati entrepreneur and author. ^[8]
• Keyaan Nanjwani – Canadian entrepreneur and visionary. ^[9]

Awards and recognition

• Rated “Outstanding” by KHDA (multiple years) ^[10]
• Recognized as an Apple Distinguished School for technology integration ^[11]

See also

• United Arab Emirates portal
• United States portal
• Schools portal

• GEMS Education
• American School of Dubai
• International Baccalaureate

References

1. "GEMS Dubai American Academy". KHDA. Retrieved 2024-05-04.
2. "Dubai American Academy students to have new campus by September". Gulf News. 2017-04-11. Retrieved 2024-05-04.
3. "GEMS Education unveils school of the future". Construction Week. 2017-08-27. Retrieved 2024-05-04.
4. "Best IB Schools in Dubai". TutorChase. Retrieved 2024-05-04.
5. "Rom-com on U.S. veteran, Iraqi refugee love set for silver screen". Al Arabiya. 2015-01-06.
6. "Johnny Boufarhat". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-05-04.
7. "Emirati schoolgirl reaches for the stars". The National. 2017-08-14.
8. "Emirati author inspires youth to dream big". Gulf News. 2018-06-20.
9. "From challenges to breakthroughs: How 16-year-old Keyaan Nanjwani revolutionized marketing and healthcare". Khaleej Times. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
10. "KHDA Reports - GEMS Dubai American Academy" . Retrieved 2024-05-04.
11. "Apple Distinguished Schools" . Retrieved 2024-05-04.