Abu Dhabi-based real estate developer, Aldar Properties has revealed its plans to invest $272 million into Aldar Education, its wholly-owned subsidiary, and the largest premium school operator in the emirate.
With 80 percent of the investment already committed and planned for deployment over the next three years, Aldar aims to diversify its education portfolio and widen its offering to expand the choice of quality education for students in Abu Dhabi. Aldar Education currently owns 9 schools under Aldar Academies and Cranleigh Abu Dhabi and manages a further 11 schools.
Through this investment, Aldar looks to boost the existing student capacity in Aldar Education’s owned and managed schools to more than 40,000 seats by the academic year 2024-2025. Aldar Education is looking to achieve this through a mix of greenfield and school acquisition opportunities in the premium and mid-market segments.
Talal Al Dhiyebi Group CEO Aldar Properties
“Through the breadth and depth of our business, Aldar touches multiple aspects of life in Abu Dhabi, and it is our responsibility to ensure that we are making a positive impact on all communities in which we operate. In this regard, Aldar Education is one of our most critical touchpoints with the community and we want to ensure that more families can benefit from the quality, innovative education we offer in our schools. This latest investment will help us make notable progress in this direction and it also makes financial sense for a business that is of huge strategic importance to the Group.”
“We are excited about the prospect of this growth plan and the opportunities it will bring to Aldar Education. The education sector is going through constant change and development, and we are keen to remain at the forefront of those developments to provide our students with the best tools available to help them unlock their full potential. This includes the digital transformation of our schools, further investment in EdTech, and the provision of more flexible and diverse education models that appeal to a wider range of families in Abu Dhabi,” Ms. Sahar Cooper, Chief Executive Officer at Aldar Education, stated.
Aldar’s growth plan is focused on enhancing Aldar Education’s offering in three main locations in Abu Dhabi, including Khalifa City, Saadiyat Island and Yas Island. Aldar Education is the leading operator and provider of private education in Abu Dhabi with the largest network of schools, delivering the English, International Baccalaureate and American curriculums adapted for the UAE.
