Read also: A guide to Dubai’s new private schools and their fees
One of Dubai's newest schools launched on Tuesday with a promise to provide a progressive education in an eco-friendly environment.
The Royal Grammar School Guildford Dubai is on course to be the first near-energy-neutral school in the Middle East thanks to solar panels in the car park and on the roof, and special pillow-shaped pockets in the plastic ceiling, which allow light into the building, but absorb heat.
RGS Guildford is known for developing the character of its pupils, and teaching them the values of respect, integrity and collaboration
Craig Lamshed,
RGS Guildford Dubai
Each storey expands outwards, creating a shaded area underneath to keep classrooms cool, and living walls and palm trees grow in the central atrium to encourage air circulation.
The building won Energy Project of the Year award at the latest Big Project Middle East Awards for its energy efficient design, and is the first school to be assessed by BREEAM – an international scheme that provides independent certification of sustainability performance.
The campus, an outpost of the academically high-achieving British school of the same name, opened its doors to 250 pupils on Sunday, but has the capacity to host 2,100 children under one roof.
The founding principal, Craig Lamshed, from Australia, said they were in no hurry to expand.
"It's about maintaining the teaching quality, and slowly growing the school year on year," he said.
"There was a change in the Covid-19 protocols which meant we could expand our class size, but we are in no rush to do that."
The school offers the British curriculum, and has a 500-plus seat auditorium, a double-storey library, a full-size football pitch and a 25-metre swimming pool – but the quality of those facilities is reflected in its fees.
Even with a 20 per cent founders' discount, the school costs Dh60,000 per year in FS1, rising to Dh77,600 in Year 6 – the oldest age group currently available, although children up to 18 will one day be taught at the school.
The school has also offered to provide free uniform for the first year, and two extracurricular activities, which would normally cost extra.
Mr Lamshed said RGS Guildford Dubai represents value for money.
"Quality education comes at a cost. If you look at the teachers we've attracted, if you look at the curriculum, the true partnership with RGS in Guilford and the amazing facilities – if you put all that together it does come at a cost," he said.
"RGS Guildford is one of the top academic schools in the UK with over 300 children having attended Oxford and Cambridge in the last 10 years. But more importantly, it's known for developing the character of its pupils, and teaching them the values of respect, integrity and collaboration."
The school already has two international branches, in China and Qatar, and the teachers are keen to emphasise its 500-year history of teaching experience, and the brand's focus on character development as well as academia.
The head of the junior school, Clare Turnbull, who worked on the original UK campus for 16 years, said they are not taking a franchise, cookie-cutter approach to education.
"Everything that we hold dear is what we're bringing here. I am here in Dubai because of RGS, and three of my colleagues have come out with me. We will stay true to the values and the ethos of the original school."
Sophie Robson, a mother of two, said she chose to send her 10-year old daughter to RGS Guildford Dubai because she was impressed by the teachers, like Mrs Turnbull, from the British branch of the school.
"They focus on each child as an individual and look for their passion by exposing them to lots of different extra-curricular subjects," she said.
"My daughter is learning Mandarin this year instead of French, and the children are encouraged to develop a sense of responsibility not only for themselves, but also for those around them.
"Plus the eco-friendly building is a nice environment for the kids to learn in."
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Asia Cup Qualifier
Venue: Kuala Lumpur
Result: Winners play at Asia Cup in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in September
Fixtures:
Wed Aug 29: Malaysia v Hong Kong, Nepal v Oman, UAE v Singapore
Thu Aug 30: UAE v Nepal, Hong Kong v Singapore, Malaysia v Oman
Sat Sep 1: UAE v Hong Kong, Oman v Singapore, Malaysia v Nepal
Sun Sep 2: Hong Kong v Oman, Malaysia v UAE, Nepal v Singapore
Tue Sep 4: Malaysia v Singapore, UAE v Oman, Nepal v Hong Kong
Thu Sep 6: Final
Asia Cup
Venue: Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Schedule: Sep 15-28
Teams: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, plus the winner of the Qualifier
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
HIJRA
Starring: Lamar Faden, Khairiah Nathmy, Nawaf Al-Dhufairy
Director: Shahad Ameen
Rating: 3/5
Company%20profile
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Citizenship-by-investment programmes
United Kingdom
The UK offers three programmes for residency. The UK Overseas Business Representative Visa lets you open an overseas branch office of your existing company in the country at no extra investment. For the UK Tier 1 Innovator Visa, you are required to invest £50,000 (Dh238,000) into a business. You can also get a UK Tier 1 Investor Visa if you invest £2 million, £5m or £10m (the higher the investment, the sooner you obtain your permanent residency).
All UK residency visas get approved in 90 to 120 days and are valid for 3 years. After 3 years, the applicant can apply for extension of another 2 years. Once they have lived in the UK for a minimum of 6 months every year, they are eligible to apply for permanent residency (called Indefinite Leave to Remain). After one year of ILR, the applicant can apply for UK passport.
The Caribbean
Depending on the country, the investment amount starts from $100,000 (Dh367,250) and can go up to $400,000 in real estate. From the date of purchase, it will take between four to five months to receive a passport.
Portugal
The investment amount ranges from €350,000 to €500,000 (Dh1.5m to Dh2.16m) in real estate. From the date of purchase, it will take a maximum of six months to receive a Golden Visa. Applicants can apply for permanent residency after five years and Portuguese citizenship after six years.
“Among European countries with residency programmes, Portugal has been the most popular because it offers the most cost-effective programme to eventually acquire citizenship of the European Union without ever residing in Portugal,” states Veronica Cotdemiey of Citizenship Invest.
Greece
The real estate investment threshold to acquire residency for Greece is €250,000, making it the cheapest real estate residency visa scheme in Europe. You can apply for residency in four months and citizenship after seven years.
Spain
The real estate investment threshold to acquire residency for Spain is €500,000. You can apply for permanent residency after five years and citizenship after 10 years. It is not necessary to live in Spain to retain and renew the residency visa permit.
Cyprus
Cyprus offers the quickest route to citizenship of a European country in only six months. An investment of €2m in real estate is required, making it the highest priced programme in Europe.
Malta
The Malta citizenship by investment programme is lengthy and investors are required to contribute sums as donations to the Maltese government. The applicant must either contribute at least €650,000 to the National Development & Social Fund. Spouses and children are required to contribute €25,000; unmarried children between 18 and 25 and dependent parents must contribute €50,000 each.
The second step is to make an investment in property of at least €350,000 or enter a property rental contract for at least €16,000 per annum for five years. The third step is to invest at least €150,000 in bonds or shares approved by the Maltese government to be kept for at least five years.
Candidates must commit to a minimum physical presence in Malta before citizenship is granted. While you get residency in two months, you can apply for citizenship after a year.
Egypt
A one-year residency permit can be bought if you purchase property in Egypt worth $100,000. A three-year residency is available for those who invest $200,000 in property, and five years for those who purchase property worth $400,000.
Source: Citizenship Invest and Aqua Properties
