Indian family builds Dubai’s most expensive school

Dubai-based GEMS Education, one of the world's largest private school groups, is set to open the GEMS School of Research and Innovation in Dubai Sports City, marking it as the Gulf's most expensive school. The school, costing $100 million to build, will feature state-of-the-art facilities and charge some of the highest fees globally.

Born to Mariama and KS Varkey, teachers from Kerala, India, Sunny inherited their educational legacy. The couple started Our Own English High School in Dubai in 1968. When regulations demanded purpose-built facilities, Sunny Varkey took over and expanded the school.

Recognizing the demand for premium education in the UAE, Sunny introduced schools tailored for various nationalities, including Indians, Pakistanis, and British expats. In 2000, he founded Global Education Management Systems (GEMS) to extend his educational vision globally. Under his leadership, GEMS has established schools across England, India, Africa, Southeast Asia, and the US.

Today, his elder son, Dino Varkey, serves as the CEO of GEMS Education, while his younger son, Jay Varkey, is an executive director and board member.

The new GEMS campus will offer ultra-modern facilities, including:

A 600-seat auditorium, An Olympic-sized swimming pool, An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad, Robotics and science laboratories, Learning centers equipped with augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies, Tuition Fees at GEMS School

The annual fees at the GEMS School of Research and Innovation will start at AED 116,000 (approximately Rs 27,27,533) for early years, rising to AED 206,000 (approximately Rs 48,43,723) for senior students. These fees make it one of the costliest schools in the Gulf.

Global Comparisons Of Elite School Fees

While GEMS ranks high in the Gulf, several elite schools worldwide charge even higher fees:

Institut auf dem Rosenberg, St. Gallen, Switzerland: Rs 1,52,05,748 ($176,000) annually.

Woodside Priory School, Portola Valley, California: Rs 77,75,667 ($90,000) per year

Eton College, UK: Rs 22,24,634 ( 21,099) annually.

The GEMS School of Research and Innovation aims to set new standards for educational excellence, blending luxury with cutting-edge learning tools to prepare students for the future.