HE Sheikh Nahyan and HRH Prince Michael of Kent inaugurate GEMS School

The school was launched by His Excellency, Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and its official patron, His Royal Highness, Prince Michael of Kent GCVO. The honored guests were accompanied by, John Hawkins, Her Majesty's Consul General to Dubai, Sunny Varkey, Chairman of GEMS, and other dignitaries at the school campus in the Al Sufouh area.

"Education is an essential foundation for a better life and a successful future and GEMS has proven its commitment to the development of education by offering the finest educational provisions in all its schools and by instilling its core values in its students,"

said HE Sheikh Nahyan.

The Wellington International School teaches the National Curriculum for England to students from Foundation Stage 1 to Year 10. The school area is built on eight acres of land and offers a wide range of facilities and resources that combine a world class education with distinctive, state-of-the-art infrastructure.
"It gives me great pleasure to be here to inaugurate this school today. Wellington International School, the GEMS flagship school, is a reflection of the fast evolving character of Dubai, which exemplifies high standards of international excellence and quality in every way possible by encouraging forward thinking and universal values in the youth of this nation" said HRH Prince Michael of Kent GCVO.

Prince Michael is Her Majesty The Queen's first cousin. His Royal Highness retired from the army with the rank of Major in 1981 and was titled the Honorary Commodore of the Royal Naval Reserve in 1994. He went on to become the Honorary Air Commodore of RAF Benson in 2002 and was recently promoted to Honorary Rear Admiral (Royal Naval Reserve) in UK.

Commenting on the school's inauguration, Sunny Varkey, Chairman, GEMS, said: "We are extremely thankful to HE Sheikh Nahyan and HRH Prince Michael of Kent for honoring us with their presence at this auspicious event. As all GEMS school, Wellington International School will offer a holistic educational environment with exceptional facilities and highly experienced staff that will prepare students to meet the challenges of the future".

For the first time in the UAE, students will benefit from a state-of-the-art observatory with a scientific telescope that will enable them to explore new horizons. Furthermore, the students will have access to an exclusive robotics centre that will allow them to broaden their knowledge base.

Other unique facilities at the school are Knowledge Centre Library, three ICT Laboratories, a performing arts centre that comprises of a dance, drama and art studios, a television studio and radio station.
Additional amenities include an indoor gymnasium, a large multi-purpose sports hall, a 300m athletics track, 3 squash courts, tennis, basketball, netball and volleyball courts, a 25m indoor swimming pool, climbing wall.