UAE GCSE results 2026: Top achievers reveal how they handled exam disruption
Students across the UAE are celebrating impressive GCSE and International GCSE results after an extraordinary academic year marked by regional conflict and major changes to the examination process.
Pupils at schools in Dubai and Abu Dhabi achieved strong results, with many securing a high proportion of the top grades despite the disruption that affected the final months of the academic year.
UAE GCSE Exams Cancelled Amid Regional Tensions
Major UK examination boards, including Cambridge, Pearson Edexcel and OxfordAQA, cancelled formal International GCSE and A-level examinations in the UAE for the May/June 2026 series because of regional tensions.
Instead, students were assessed through alternative arrangements. These included portfolios of evidence based on school assessments, coursework and other evidence demonstrating students' academic attainment.
The results released this week indicate that students across British curriculum schools continued to perform strongly despite the unprecedented circumstances.
GEMS Schools Record Thousands of Top Grades
Across 23 GEMS schools, more than 4,250 students received results covering approximately 30,000 entries.
Around 30 per cent of grades were awarded at 9-8/A*, while 48 per cent were at 9-7/A-A*. The group also recorded an exceptional 4,177 Grade 9s.
For students, however, the results represented more than academic success. They marked the culmination of months of preparation during a period when schools moved between in-person and online learning and examination arrangements were unexpectedly changed.
Student Achieves Grade 9 in All 11 Subjects
Melissa Tia Fernandes of GEMS Wellington International School achieved Grade 9 in all 11 of her subjects.
The high-achieving student now hopes to pursue medicine and is considering leading UK universities, including Oxford.
She plans to study Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Biology as she works towards her goal of becoming a doctor.
Fernandes admitted that she was initially disappointed when the formal examinations were cancelled because she had hoped to experience sitting the exams in person and receive her actual percentages and scores.
Her final grades were instead determined through a portfolio-of-evidence process that included final school assessments and previous evidence of academic performance.
She praised her teachers and school for supporting students throughout the disruption, particularly when learning shifted online during the regional conflict.
Balancing Studies and Extracurricular Activities
Fernandes said her preparation involved maintaining a demanding study routine while also taking part in extracurricular activities.
She continued her activities until Term 2 before focusing more heavily on her studies in Term 3. On school days, she studied for around four hours, with longer study sessions at weekends.
The 16-year-old has attended GEMS Wellington International School for four years after previously studying at Dubai International Academy Al Barsha.
She said she valued the supportive and competitive environment offered by the British curriculum school.
Brighton College Dubai Student Earns Six Grade 9s
Malaika Hasan Chaudhary of Brighton College Dubai also achieved excellent results, securing six Grade 9s and three Grade 8s across her nine subjects.
Having attended the school since Year 4, when it opened in 2018, Chaudhary described receiving her results alongside her parents, friends and teachers as a proud moment.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the examinations, she remained focused on her studies and said she trusted the UAE's education and government systems.
From GCSE Success to Future Careers
Chaudhary is now preparing to study Politics, History, Spanish and Economics at A-level, with ambitions to pursue a career in law.
Her involvement in debating and student leadership has also contributed to her future plans. She has taken part in House debating and served on the student council, experiences that helped strengthen her confidence and public-speaking abilities.
She said completing homework consistently and treating every school assessment seriously helped her stay prepared throughout the year.
Students Show Resilience Despite Unprecedented Disruption
The strong GCSE and International GCSE results highlight the resilience of UAE students, teachers and schools during an exceptionally challenging academic year.
Despite cancelled examinations, periods of online learning and uncertainty over assessment arrangements, students across Dubai and Abu Dhabi continued to demonstrate strong academic performance.
For many graduates, the results now mark the beginning of the next stage of their education, with students moving towards A-levels, university applications and ambitious career goals.
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