Watch: Inside Dubai’s jaw-dropping $100m GEMS SRI school, dubbed the world’s finest

From the outside, the $100 million, 47,600sqm GEMS School of Research and Innovation (SRI) already grabs headlines as ‘Dubai’s most expensive school.’ A tour of the facility shows why parents say it’s worth every dirham of the fees and why it is hailed as the ‘world’s finest school.’

Gulf News joined a guided tour that began in the Family First Café, where parents gathered for a dance session. Just steps into the corridors, two young students were rushing to their AI labs with autonomous prototype cars in hand.

“So, in the code, we program the camera to recognise things like traffic lights or stop signs. When it detects a stop sign, the car automatically stops. If there’s a pedestrian crossing, it will stop and wait,” they explained. “We’re trying to create a full traffic system – routing the car, automating its movements and using AI tools to make it navigate different pathways, stop and start, follow red lights, and respond to humans,” they said.

Baz Nijjar, Vice President – Education Technology and Digital Innovation at GEMS, summed it up: “This is the mini-Tesla they are creating.”
The school, which follows an enhanced British curriculum, empowers students with diverse skills, preparing them for jobs that don’t exist yet and turning them into future leaders and changemakers.

AI, robotics, innovation labs

Nijjar led us into an AI and innovation lab featuring a 360-degree interactive learning space, 3D printers, XR technologies, VR desktops, NeuroTracker cognitive training system used by elite athletes like Cristiano Ronaldo, Co-pilot PCs, AI avatar tools, and human- and pet-like robots moving around.

What sets GEMS SRI apart is the involvement of experts from industry and academia. Professionals from Boston Dynamics, Kawasaki Robotics, Microsoft, Dubai Future Labs, UBTech, and VR Academy, among others, teach students.

“You will see elements of this in more schools. You will see 3D printers or robotics or AI learning in some capacity. You won’t see all of this in one place and with industry leaders teaching students,” Nijjar pointed out.

Video gaming, E-sports

The tour then moved to a lab with around 24 laptops and desktops, where students were coding and playing video games as a team sport under the guidance of a professional game designer. They learn space sciences and drone technology, with visits from astronauts adding real-world inspiration.

Reimagining learning

“We are challenging the status quo, we are reimagining what education and learning looks like,” Nijjar said. “We ensure that young students access the content they would normally have for university or industry. That’s when they’re curious and inquisitive, and by giving them access, we raise their expectations.”

Nijjar noted that the students could also be leaders in sports or music or arts.
“We will find a genius within every child. Some schools may be an expert in one or two or three areas. This school is about having excellence in every area. And that can only be done with the model we've created here. And it’s continually evolving. We’re always looking at how we can improve.”

The campus even features a helipad, potentially accommodating future air taxi arrivals. Availability of onsite uniforms add convenience, a feature appreciated by parents.

Creative, performing arts

The Trailblazer curriculum allows students to pursue their passions. Facilities include a newsroom-style studio, filming and TV rooms, podcasting sets, soundboards, music, dance and drama practice rooms, a DJ station, LED volume curved wall for screening movies, a Black Box theatre, photography room, and auditorium.

“The idea is to start a podcasting channel, our own SRI news channel and a film academy as well,” said Nick Huntington, Director of Performing and Creative Arts.

“Performing arts are seen as one of the most important things in building creative skills, becoming really expressive and confident young people – the kind who would then become leaders and entrepreneurs.”

Students from Year 1 can work with cameras and build skills from an early age.

What makes it the world’s finest?

“We have handpicked the best teachers from UK private schools and provide state-of-the-art facilities in every area – performing arts, sports, classrooms, design, research and innovation – making sure our students have an advantage when applying to US, UK, and other global universities,” James Monaghan, Founding Principal and CEO, said.

The school also has partnerships with Hamilton Aquatics, Desert Vipers cricket, AIS athletics, and former Olympians coaching swimming and gymnastics.

“We’re making sure that we have the very best people and experts coming in to lead our student programme,” Monaghan underscored.

Admissions, scholarships, facilities

The school seeks families aligned with its vision.
“We want students that are going to contribute to the environment,” Monaghan said. Fees for senior grades are around Dh200,000 annually, though scholarships are available for sports, performing arts, research, innovation, and academic excellence.

Assessment begins with CAT4 Cognitive Abilities Testing from Year 3, and the school provides support for students with special needs, including those on the autism spectrum or with ADHD.

Facilities include a FIFA-standard football pitch, international athletics track, Olympic-size pool, multi-purpose courts, cricket nets, double NBA-standard basketball courts, fencing centre, paddle courts, gyms, and 62 nationalities in a multicultural environment.

Looking ahead, daily life

Future additions include the SRA Motorsports Academy, a Technology Engineering Centre, indoor golf simulator, skiing centre, research gallery, and a podcast channel.

“All of our food is freshly cooked every day for students. We have a head chef, grow our own herbs, and run breakfast and lunch clubs,” Monaghan added.

With innovation, creativity, sports, and performing arts integrated across all ages, GEMS SRI offers a holistic approach that few schools in the world can match.