Mark Atkins, head of academics and education at Evolvence Knowledge Investments, the company's education division.
Mark Atkins, head of academics and education at Evolvence Knowledge Investments, the company's education division.

Test of demand for top-end learning in the UAE



DUBAI // A private operator plans to offer 6,000 premium school spaces in the next three years, but experts have questioned whether high-end education can address demand.

Evolvence Capital said last week it would begin expanding its network by opening early-childhood education centres and setting up branch campuses of UK independent schools in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, starting this September.

“As a company we have recognised the primary market as the next big area for expansion,” said Mark Atkins, head of academics and education at Evolvence Knowledge Investments, the company’s education division.

“If you look at the statistics on population, it is very heavy at the younger ages.”

Evolvence set up its first school, the Dubai campus of the 456-year-old UK Repton boarding school, in 2007.

The group will open Formarke School, a UK preparatory school, in Dubai and Repton-Abu Dhabi in September.

Two new nurseries are scheduled to open this year and next, in Safa Park and Al Wasl.

“We are looking to bring premium brands to the country because of what is happening with the population at the moment,” said Mr Atkins.

“Two thirds of the population is in the 20 to 30-year-old bracket. They are staying longer and that means there is always a capacity for good schools to come in.”

A recent report by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), Dubai’s private schools regulator, confirmed an impending shortage of spaces in primary schools.

The authority expects the school-going population to reach 450,200 children by 2023. The highest rate of growth seen this year occurred in the kindergarten phase, with an increase of 14.7 per cent.

According to Dubai Statistics, about 26 per cent of the population will be under the age of 14 by 2020.

“It is expected that this high growth will lead to continued growth of student enrolments,” said Dr Abdulla Al Karam, director general of the KHDA.

Mr Atkins said the company  was looking to provide 6,000 schools spaces in the next three years, of which 25 per cent will be for pupils aged five and under.

But will parents be able to afford the cost of those seats?

A survey of 1,016 parents in the Middle East conducted by the consultancy Booz and Co in 2011 found Emirati parents were ready to pay up to Dh16,252 a year for private education, while expatriates were willing to extend about Dh11,500.

Repton Dubai charges between Dh46,325 and Dh92,650 a year, with an option for boarding taking the cost up to Dh152,650.

Brighton College in Abu Dhabi, another UK brand school, charges between Dh47,530 and Dh72,680 a year for classes up to Year 11.

Leila Hoteit, a principal researcher at Booz, said the demand for schools at these prices was among parents looking for social prestige.

“The clientele typically comes from a combination of families well established in business and civil service,” Ms Hoteit said.

In the UAE, that includes demand from expatriate professionals.

“There is also a latent demand for boarding options from high-net-worth families in some of the countries in the region where a comparable quality of education is not available in a safe environment,” Ms Hoteit said.

Mr Atkins said he understood parents’ concerns about high fees, but the cost of running the school justified it.

“The money is going straight back into education, getting the best resources and teachers in,” he said.

"This is very expensive to get into, especially if you are doing it really well."

aahmed@thenational.ae

The Sand Castle

Director: Matty Brown

Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea

Rating: 2.5/5

German intelligence warnings
  • 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
  • 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
  • 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250 

Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution

Types of fraud

Phishing: Fraudsters send an unsolicited email that appears to be from a financial institution or online retailer. The hoax email requests that you provide sensitive information, often by clicking on to a link leading to a fake website.

Smishing: The SMS equivalent of phishing. Fraudsters falsify the telephone number through “text spoofing,” so that it appears to be a genuine text from the bank.

Vishing: The telephone equivalent of phishing and smishing. Fraudsters may pose as bank staff, police or government officials. They may persuade the consumer to transfer money or divulge personal information.

SIM swap: Fraudsters duplicate the SIM of your mobile number without your knowledge or authorisation, allowing them to conduct financial transactions with your bank.

Identity theft: Someone illegally obtains your confidential information, through various ways, such as theft of your wallet, bank and utility bill statements, computer intrusion and social networks.

Prize scams: Fraudsters claiming to be authorised representatives from well-known organisations (such as Etisalat, du, Dubai Shopping Festival, Expo2020, Lulu Hypermarket etc) contact victims to tell them they have won a cash prize and request them to share confidential banking details to transfer the prize money.

* Nada El Sawy

Other workplace saving schemes
  • The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
  • Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
  • National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
  • In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
  • Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
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Manchester City 3

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Arsenal ​​​​​1

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Name: Back to Games and Boardgame Space

Started: Back to Games (2015); Boardgame Space (Mark Azzam became co-founder in 2017)

Founder: Back to Games (Mr Azzam); Boardgame Space (Mr Azzam and Feras Al Bastaki)

Based: Dubai and Abu Dhabi 

Industry: Back to Games (retail); Boardgame Space (wholesale and distribution) 

Funding: Back to Games: self-funded by Mr Azzam with Dh1.3 million; Mr Azzam invested Dh250,000 in Boardgame Space  

Growth: Back to Games: from 300 products in 2015 to 7,000 in 2019; Boardgame Space: from 34 games in 2017 to 3,500 in 2019

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Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
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  2. Ovarian tissue surgically removed
  3. Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
  4. Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
  5. Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
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Willian (13'), Ross Barkley (64')

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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
 
Started: 2020
 
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
 
Based: Dubai, UAE
 
Sector: Entertainment 
 
Number of staff: 210 
 
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
UAE v IRELAND

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