Dubai Properties has tied up with the schools operator Gems Education for the development of a new British curriculum school in Dubai’s Mudon Community.
The new Gems school, which is scheduled to open its doors in September 2016, will cater to children from kindergarten to Grade 12. The school will be located on a plot of about 419,000 square metres, and will be spread over three storeys.
The financial details of the agreement, announced today, were not disclosed. The companies did not comment on how many students the new school would accept.
“Dubai Properties signed this strategic agreement with Gems Education in order to provide residents within the community with schooling options for their children,” said Mohammed Al Habbai, the chief officer for urban planning and infrastructure at Dubai Properties Group.
“We will continue to invest in schools, medical services and sports amenities along with other essential leisure and community facilities to enhance family life in Mudon.
“There is growing demand for high-quality international education as more and more people choose the UAE as the destination to start a family and raise their children,” said Dino Varkey, the group executive director at Gems Education.
“We look forward to welcoming the first pupils to our new Gems British curriculum school in Mudon in September 2016.”
Dubai Properties began offering town houses and villas in its Mudon community – located 15 minutes from the centre of Dubai – last year. The developer announced the release of a further 120 town houses in the community last month, starting at Dh2.5 million.
Gems currently operates more than 42 schools across the UAE, with more than 140,000 pupils from 173 nationalities and 13,000 education staff from 115 countries.
The company is this month opening two schools in Dubai, Gems FirstPoint School, located in The Villa development, and Gems Metropole School, in Motor City.
“Our relationship with Gems stems back to 2012 when our holding company, Dubai Properties Group, made an agreement to open the Gems First Point school at The Villa community,” added Mr Al Habbai.
“As the group’s new dedicated development company, we will continue to invest in our communities to provide residents with the necessary services and amenities.”
Reports last month said that Blackstone Group and Fajr Capital were close to acquiring a 20 per cent stake in the schools operator, in a deal said to be worth about US$350 million.
jeverington@thenational.ae
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