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 and 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 and 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 and 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
Opinion Tech The digital world increasingly feeds into the real world Gaming and digital innovations are feeding into the real world with the rise of trends from virtual status symbols to mentor and mentee connections November 14, 2022
Dubai school operator Taaleem sets IPO price range Dubai schools operator Taaleem Holdings has announced a price range of between AED2.95 and AED3 ($0.80- 0.82) per share for its upcoming initial public offering. The company plans to list up to 25.32 percent of its share capital with the set price range implying a market capitalisation of between AED2.96 billion and AED3 billion at […] November 10, 2022
Analysis Construction Private sector urged to step up to build homes, schools and clinics The GCC’s private sector should carve itself a bigger role in infrastructure delivery, according to Cyril Lincoln, executive vice president and global head of real estate, finance and advisory at Dubai-based Mashreq Bank. There is plenty of work to go around: the region has more than $121 billion of so-called social infrastructure projects planned or […] November 7, 2022
UAE’s Taaleem to raise $204m from IPO on Dubai bourse Taaleem Holdings, the UAE-based K-12 premium education provider with 26 schools, will launch an initial public offering on the Dubai Financial Market to raise AED 750 million ($204.19 million) to expand its network. The company will offer 10 percent of its shares to retail investors starting November 10 and 88 percent to professional investors on […] October 31, 2022
EXCLUSIVE English language skills top of learning list for UAE workers An online course in English for career development from the University of Pennsylvania has emerged as the most popular course in the Mena region and among the top five courses in Gulf countries. In addition, a course in how to write professional emails in English from the Georgia Institute of Technology ranked among the five […] October 30, 2022
Exclusive Interviews ‘The metaverse can change the way we school our children’ Some schools still rely on more traditional teaching methods but an Emirati entrepreneur believes the metaverse has the potential to extend the physical classroom experience. Using blended learning options such as augmented and virtual reality technologies, Amin Al Zarouni, CEO of UAE-based Web3 company Bedu, is aiming to give the Gulf’s education system an overhaul. […] October 23, 2022
Dubai’s GEMS Education owners mull $6bn stake sale UAE-based private school operator GEMS Education is planning to sell a controlling stake in the business or a market listing in a potential exit route, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter. Private equity firm CVC Capital Partners and GEMS founder Sunny Varkey may sell their stakes, which could be valued at as much […] September 27, 2022
Analysis Class act: UAE is a magnet for private school investment The post-pandemic rise in migration to the UAE is fuelling demand for private schools, making the Emirates a “magnet” for investors and school operators, industry experts have said. The UAE’s population grew by one percent in 2021, according to the World Bank. The country’s population currently stands at 9.89 million people and is projected to […] September 2, 2022
