About Our School

GEMS American Academy (GAA) is one of Abu Dhabi's leading American curriculum schools, located in Khalifa City and part of the globally respected GEMS Education network. Founded in 2011, GAA is home to around 1800 students from more than 80 nationalities who are encouraged to reflect the values of equality, independence, accountability, individuality, exploration, respect and appreciation in their lives.

We offer a full American curriculum from KG through Grade 12, with Advanced Placement (AP) courses and the IB Diploma Programme for our senior students. Accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS) and NEASC, GAA consistently delivers strong academic outcomes alongside a rich, well-rounded school experience.

Inter-cultural Competency at GAA

GAA’s top priority across the school is to promote and foster a culture of kindness, ensure child protection safeguards, instill an ethos of achievement, uphold our Guiding Statements, foster a strong sense of inter-cultural awareness amongst faculty & staff and teach a deep understanding of international mindedness and global citizenship to all our students, weaving essential understandings into lessons K-12.

From the day new faculty and staff arrive at GAA, we guide and assist new community members to understand the critical inter-cultural competencies, perspectives and sensitivities important for our school’s unique context and required for interactions and communications with students and parents. Such elements also require consideration in designing and planning lessons and learning activities.

Our educators draw upon the IB Learner Profile Traits concepts of international mindedness and global citizenship embedded in the Diploma Programme (DP). Additionally, daily Advisory program lessons cater to the needs of middle school students’ social, emotional and personal needs, developing intercultural tolerance and appreciation.

Our parents are encouraged to learn, participate and partner with us, and are invited to attend mother tongue language sessions, informational sessions and workshops on interesting academic and parenting topics throughout the year, particularly during Parent Engagement Week. Annually, parents are invited to Islamic studies exhibitions to experience intercultural learning and values from the region and participate in community events such as the International Food Festival.