Design and technology have transformed society, impacting how we access information, communicate, and solve problems. The MYP Design challenges students to apply creative and practical-thinking skills to solve design problems. It also encourages exploration of design's historical and modern context.

The MYP Individuals and Societies subject group covers humanities and social sciences, fostering respect and understanding of the world. It equips students with skills to explore historical, geographical, political, social, economic, and cultural factors that impact individuals, societies, and environments.

The ability to communicate in multiple languages is key to international education and promotes intercultural understanding, central to the IB’s mission. In the MYP, language study helps students explore language features, processes, culture, and the diverse ways of living, behaving, and viewing the world.

MYP language and literature courses equip students with linguistic, analytical and communicative skills that help to develop interdisciplinary understanding. Students develop skills in six domains—listening, speaking, reading, writing, viewing and presenting—both independently and with others.

The study of mathematics is essential in a balanced education, fostering a universal language, analytical reasoning, and problem-solving skills. MYP mathematics and extended mathematics courses encourage both inquiry and application, helping students develop problem-solving techniques valuable beyond the classroom.

With inquiry at its core, the MYP sciences framework encourages students to independently and collaboratively investigate issues through research, observation, and experimentation. The curriculum connects science to everyday life, exploring its relationships with morality, ethics, culture, economics, politics, and the environment.

MYP physical and health education empowers students to value physical activity and make healthy life choices. It focuses on learning about and through physical activity, helping students develop ATL skills. This subject contributes to the IB learner profile, promoting individual and community health.

In MYP arts, students act as both artists and learners. By cultivating curiosity about themselves, others, and the world, they become effective inquirers and creative problem-solvers. Students create, perform, and present art to express feelings, ideas, and experiences, building on existing skills.

Students learn best when their learning experiences have context and are connected to their lives and the world that they have experienced. Using global contexts, MYP students explore human identity, global challenges and what it means to be internationally minded.

Concepts are big ideas that have relevance within specific disciplines and across subject areas. MYP students use concepts as a vehicle to inquire into issues and ideas of personal, local and global significance and examine knowledge holistically.

Action and service are core values in the IB community. Students apply classroom learning to real-world contexts, demonstrating a commitment to service by positively impacting others and the environment. Service as action is integral to the programme, particularly in the MYP community project.

Each student develops an independent Personal Project, creating a unique and creative piece of work that reflects their knowledge, skills, and responsible action, centred around a passion of their choice. GEMS World Academy – Dubai students begin the project in Grade 9 and complete it in Grade 10.