Aldar to open three schools in Abu Dhabi in the next three years

Aldar Education will open three schools in Abu Dhabi in areas that have recorded population growth over the past few years.

These include Khalifa City, Saadiyat Island and Yas Island.

The education group, owned by Aldar Properties, said it will invest Dh1 billion to diversify its schools' portfolio.

Under the investment plan, thousands of additional seats will be added to schools in Abu Dhabi over the next three years.

Aldar Education is one of our most critical touch points with the community and we want to ensure that more families can benefit from the quality, innovative education we offer in our schools

Talal Al Dhiyebi,
Aldar Properties

Through this investment, Aldar aims to increase the number of pupils in its schools to more than 40,000 by the 2024-2025 academic year.

It 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 chief executive at Aldar Properties, said it was the company's responsibility to ensure it is making a positive impact on all communities in Abu Dhabi.

“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 education we offer in our schools,” he said.

“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.”

Aldar Education owns nine schools under Aldar Academies and Cranleigh Abu Dhabi, and manages a further 11 schools.

To date, 80 per cent of the investment has already been committed to several different projects, including the digital transformation of its schools, further investment in education technology, and the provision of more flexible and diverse education models.

Sahar Cooper, chief executive at Aldar Education, said the education sector is going through constant change and development, and the group is keen to provide pupils with the best tools to help them thrive.

In Khalifa City, Aldar has agreed to its first school acquisition with the purchase of Al Shohub Private School.

On Yas Island, Aldar will open a school within the Noya community, located in Yas North. It will be operated by Aldar Academies.

On Saadiyat Island, the group is expanding Cranleigh Abu Dhabi. Aldar will also develop another school under the Aldar Academies brand on Saadiyat Island that will cater to families in the surrounding communities that seek British curriculum education.

Abu Dhabi pupils return to school - in pictures

Key facilities

Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
Premier League-standard football pitch
400m Olympic running track
NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
600-seat auditorium
Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
Specialist robotics and science laboratories
AR and VR-enabled learning centres
Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

Financial considerations before buying a property

Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.

“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says.

Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.

Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier.

Omar Yabroudi's factfile

Born: October 20, 1989, Sharjah

Education: Bachelor of Science and Football, Liverpool John Moores University

2010: Accrington Stanley FC, internship

2010-2012: Crystal Palace, performance analyst with U-18 academy

2012-2015: Barnet FC, first-team performance analyst/head of recruitment

2015-2017: Nottingham Forest, head of recruitment

2018-present: Crystal Palace, player recruitment manager

THE BIO

Favourite car: Koenigsegg Agera RS or Renault Trezor concept car.

Favourite book: I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes or Red Notice by Bill Browder.

Biggest inspiration: My husband Nik. He really got me through a lot with his positivity.

Favourite holiday destination: Being at home in Australia, as I travel all over the world for work. It’s great to just hang out with my husband and family.