People & Lifestyle Climate anxiety rises among Mena youth More than two-thirds of 18-to-24-year-olds in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) say they are “very concerned” about the potential impacts of climate change. More than half are ready to boycott brands that damage the environment, a survey shows. Previously unreleased findings from the 15th annual Asda’a BCW Arab Youth Survey, published earlier this […] September 28, 2023
Tourism $1bn tourism school to open in Saudi’s Qiddiya Saudi Arabia plans to build a $1 billion tourism school in the Qiddiya sports, culture and entertainment city giga-project. The Riyadh School for Tourism and Hospitality will train workers from around the world, not only Saudi Arabia, tourism minister Ahmed Al-Khateeb told a UN World Tourism Organization gathering in the capital. The training headquarters at […] September 27, 2023
People & Lifestyle Georgetown launch a sign of growing US presence in Dubai Georgetown University has launched its business programme in Dubai as more US companies set up shop in the UAE. The Washington DC-based university’s McDonagh School of Business this week welcomed its first cohort of 53 students to its new Executive MBA. Located in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Academy, the 19-month programme covers business […] September 15, 2023
UAE refocuses education to be fit for modern demands The UAE is expanding its school curriculum beyond academic subjects and setting up vocational colleges to match the education demands of the modern labour market. In one sign of its willingness to reform entrenched practices to boost outcomes, the Emirates has made its “Salama” Arabic language, Islamic studies and ethics curriculum for fourth-graders optional. For […] September 6, 2023
Analysis Inside Saudi Arabia’s plans to raise the bar on education Saudi Arabia has launched a series of initiatives to address deep-seated issues in the quality of its education. Last month the giga-project Neom unveiled plans to roll out a “comprehensive” early-childhood-to age-18 education programme. The scheme includes a career-oriented talent academy, an education, research and innovation foundation and the Neom U university. Elsewhere, the kingdom’s […] September 6, 2023
Opinion People & Lifestyle Mixed emotions as ‘back to school’ fever sets in For the expat community in the UAE the education system is a business – and business is good September 1, 2023
Cop28 Cop28 and Coursera launch UAE climate literacy drive UAE education providers will offer online courses on climate change mitigation, adaptation, finance and other topics through a partnership between e-learning provider Coursera and Cop28‘s organising body. A curated programme of more than 100 courses in climate literacy will be offered in the run-up to and beyond the United Nations conference in Dubai later this […] August 11, 2023
Infrastructure GCC needs 1,127 new schools by 2027 as enrolment rises The Gulf will need over a thousand new schools by 2027, according to a new report published on Wednesday. The prediction is based on the total number of students in the GCC growing by 1.6 percent annually to reach 14.2 million by 2027. Growth in student enrolment numbers at K-12 (kindergarten to 12th grade, or […] August 2, 2023
Construction Aldar Education expands into Bahrain and Dubai Aldar Properties has increased investment in its education business, with over AED350 million ($95 million) added to the initial AED1 billion commitment announced last year, it said on Monday. A filing to the Abu Dhabi Stock Exchange notes that the company is expanding into Dubai and Bahrain, as well as adding a new acquisition in […] July 31, 2023
Banking & Finance Schools operator Taaleem enjoys profit rise of 35% Taaleem, the Dubai-listed schools operator, posted a surge in net profit for the nine months up to 31 May, driven by a strong increase in student enrolment. The company also benefitted from unrealised gains from its initial public offering (IPO) last November. Net profit rose 35 percent year on year to AED199.8 million ($54 million) […] July 11, 2023
Oman unveils $5.2bn startup fund and plans for new city Oman is planning to set up an investment fund with a capital of OMR2 billion ($5.2 billion) to support economic diversification. The news was first reported by state-owned Oman News Agency, citing a decree by Sultan Haitham Bin Tariq Al Said. The Oman Future Fund will allocate a percentage of its capital to stimulate the […] June 1, 2023
Construction Construction titan to cement its place in the GCC Construction company Besix Group has revealed plans to further expand across the GCC as the region embraces public-private partnerships for key projects. The Belgian-French group, which is based in Brussels, is one of the world’s leading international contractors and announced on Wednesday a 20-year high in turnover of over $3.7 billion in 2022. Bexis said […] April 27, 2023
Food & Drink Abu Dhabi sets up $100m fund to elevate restaurant scene Abu Dhabi has set up a $100 million investment fund to help attract more global restaurant brands to the city. The Abu Dhabi Culinary Investment Fund, announced by the Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT) Abu Dhabi, will also support building and establishing a culinary school. The school will offer an established core curriculum and […] April 19, 2023
Economy Dubai’s ‘continuous growth’ lifts education market Dubai’s primary and secondary education sector is thriving, according to an industry expert, providing opportunities for landlords, operators and international investors. At the start of this academic year the number of students from kindergarten to twelfth grade, known as K-12, enrolled in the emirate’s 216 private schools stood at 326,000 – a 4.5 percent increase […] April 12, 2023
Real Estate Bloom CEO plans to double number of its UAE homes The CEO of Bloom Holding expects Abu Dhabi’s property market to continue to grow this year as the company progresses plans to double the number of homes it builds in the UAE. Although in the shadow of the double-digit growth of its neighbour Dubai, average prices in the UAE capital rose by up to 3 […] March 1, 2023
Banking & Finance UAE is in ‘first division’ of financial literacy The UAE is in the ‘first division’ when it comes to financial literacy, according to Alex Fraser, CEO of the London Institute Banking and Finance (LIBF). With just one third of adults worldwide being financially literate, according to Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services Global Financial Literacy Survey, the LIBF is involved in the global challenge […] January 22, 2023
Sustainability Emirati student offers solution to combat global warming An Emirati student is blazing a trail for female participation in science with her pioneering research that aims to offer a cost-effective way to help combat global warming. Ayesha Abdulla Alkhoori, a PhD student of materials science and engineering at Khalifa University, was one of five women from across the GCC to be recognised by […] January 11, 2023
Construction Top UAE university launches tender to house students Companies have been invited to bid for a new public private partnership tender to deliver the accommodation and associated facilities for 3,250 students in Abu Dhabi. The Abu Dhabi Investment Office (Adio), in collaboration with Khalifa University, launched the tender as part of a framework for expanding the role of the private sector in delivering […] January 11, 2023
Taaleem CEO plans UAE schools expansion after $204m IPO Taaleem, the first education company to be listed on the Dubai Financial Market (DFM), is planning to launch new premium school projects in the UAE “in the near future” following its successful initial public offering (IPO). The company is also on a global search for the world’s best teachers as it announced net profit increased […] January 10, 2023
Saudi courts world’s universities to meet rising demand Rapid population growth, changing workforce needs and a preference for citizens to study in their own country is fuelling demand for higher education places in Saudi Arabia. A total of 2.8 million seats are needed by 2030, according to research by consultancy Colliers. The figure represents a 42 percent increase, or 900,000 additional places over […] December 30, 2022
Opinion How technology can power lifelong learning The analogue approach can no longer keep pace with student or employer demands. Data management is the answer to enable real-time and lifelong learning November 18, 2022
Banking & Finance School operator Taaleem up next in string of Dubai IPOs UAE schools operator Taaleem Holdings is the latest in Dubai’s string of initial public offerings (IPOs) as the emirate continues to open up key state-owned assets for investment. Dubai’s privatisation drive this year to raise revenue and boost investor interest includes the listing of 18 percent of utility company Dewa on the Dubai Financial Market. It […] November 18, 2022
