Home GCC UAE Mariamma Varkey, mother of GEMS Education chairman, passes away She was 89 years of age by Gulf Business April 1, 2021 Mariamma Varkey, education pioneer and the founder of the first GEMS school, has passed away. She was 89. She was the mother of GEMS group founder and chairman, Sunny Varkey, and the grandmother of the incumbent chief executive officer, Dino Varkey. Mariamma and her husband K.S. Varkey, moved from the Indian state of Kerala to Dubai in 1959 and set up a coaching centre in the Bur Dubai area. We are sad to announce the passing of Madam Mariamma (Amina) Varkey, beloved mother of our Founder and Chairman Mr. Sunny Varkey. Madam Varkey is warmly remembered as a beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. A pioneer in education whose impact transcends generations. pic.twitter.com/xpDvzyOypy — GEMS Education (@GEMS_ME) March 31, 2021 GEMS has also institutionalized the annual Mariamma Varkey Award for Inspirational and Outstanding Teaching, in an attempt to raise the status of the teaching profession and reward the best teachers working in GEMS schools. Funeral rites of the late Mariamma Varkey will be held at Jebel Ali Marthoma church, local media has reported. Tags Award GEMS Education Mariamma Varkey Pioneer UAE 0 Comments You might also like Aldar Properties acquires UK developer London Square for Dhs1.07bn IN FULL: Sir Tim Clark’s speech at Gulf Business Awards 2023 Daily Insider: UAE’s new $30bn climate fund a good start MoHRE: Midsize firms told to hire Emiratis or face Dhs96,000 penalty