HE Ali Salem Obaid Al Kaabi announces launch of GEMS American Academy, Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi, April 25, 2007 - GEMS, in collaboration with His Excellency Ali Salem Obaid Al Kaabi, Director of the Office of the Minister of Presidential Affairs, has announced the launch of a new world class American curriculum school, GEMS American Academy, Abu Dhabi.

The new school will open in September 2007 and will feature facilities and infrastructure finished to the very highest standards.  The facilities will include a fully automated library, interactive promethean white boards in all classrooms, music, IT and Art labs, a purpose built gymnasium and provision of on campus food services.

The GEMS American Academy, Abu Dhabi will be modelled after the highly successful and sought after GEMS Dubai American Academy, an internationally recognised and accredited premium school with over 1700 students  from 75 countries enrolled and an active waitlist. The new school will initially offer places for students from Kindergarten to Grade 5 and eventually up to Grade 12 as the school develops.

Jason McBride, a member of the senior leadership team at Dubai American Academy has already been named as the new School's principal and will be supported by Dubai American Academy's current Superintendent, Dan Young, who will provide guidance during the initial development phase of the school.

A number of highly qualified international teachers, including American certified teachers have already been identified to lead the first phase of the school's development. Teachers appointed for the GEMS American Academy, Abu Dhabi will participate in ongoing professional development programmes with teachers from DAA as part of the overarching school twinning programme.

Under the programme, students from the Abu Dhabi Academy will participate in events with students from the Dubai American Academy in addition to numerous other opportunities for the school community to share activities and experience. 

The school will offer an enriched American curriculum with a rich and varied extra-curricular programme eventually leading to an American High School diploma and the IB Diploma [subject to approval by the IBO]. GEMS American Academy, Abu Dhabi also plans to obtain accreditation from NEASC, New England Association of Schools and Colleges, and CIS, the Council of International Schools, accreditations which are recognised internationally as benchmarks of quality.   

The new GEMS school will be centrally located in the heart of Abu Dhabi off Baniyas Street.

"We are committed to extending the provision of international, world-class education in the capital. We are confident that the new GEMS American Academy, Abu Dhabi will further enhance the quality education options available," HE Ali Salem Obaid Al Kaabi stated.

"We are honoured to have the opportunity to establish the premier GEMS American Academy, Abu Dhabi and to draw upon our successful heritage, to serve the community of Abu Dhabi," added Dan Young, Superintendent of GEMS Dubai American Academy.

-Ends-

Notes to editor:
GEMS manages a growing network of 65 high quality international schools around the world. GEMS network of schools provide a unique brand of holistic education to 65,000 students from 124 countries, employing over 5,200 education professionals, specialists and staff from over 50 nationalities. Supported by a network of eminent, international advisors in the field of education, GEMS global network of multi-skilled specialists and in-house experts provide invaluable support and guidance in all areas related to schools, delivering world class standards of education. 'GEMS Education' offers total school management solutions. From project inception and planning to ongoing operations of schools, GEMS offers a total solutions approach to the management of new school projects and existing schools. Information on the company and its portfolio can be found at www.gemseducation.com.

For more information, please contact:
Lina Anani / Faisal Shamsudheen
ASDA'A Public Relations
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P O Box 28063
Dubai, UAE
Tel : (971 4) 3344550
Fax : (971 4) 3344556
L.anani@asdaa.com
F.shamsudheen@asdaa.com
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© Press Release 2007