Dubai rent dispute school asks for more time

DUBAI // The owners of a Pakistani school that faces closure over a rent dispute have pleaded with the authorities for more time to move to a new campus.

The Al Farooq Pakistani Islamic School in Dubai has asked the Dubai Knowledge Fund to extend the school's contract for two years. They received an eviction notice in September for the government building they have been occupying since 2009.

Last week, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority, Dubai's private schools regulator, said the school's contract had been cancelled and its licence suspended because it had failed to pay rent for two years, an amount totalling Dh1,400,000.

The school's owners said they had paid and have the records to prove it.

"We request the Knowledge Fund-Government of Dubai to please extend the contract for two more years," they said. "We are unable to transfer our assets and 900 pupils to another building premises because construction work at our new building is in process."

Management said it would take 18 months to complete the new campus in Al Qusais.

Ubaid Ur Rahman Akram, a spokesman for the school, said the decision would affect low and middle-income families. About 90 pupils attend the school at no cost, and it has Dh972,419 in outstanding fees.