Aldar boosts investment in education portfolio to $368m

UAE’s Aldar Properties will invest over $95.3m (Dhs350m) in its education portfolio, in addition to the initial Dhs1bn commitment that was announced in 2022, as the property firm expands its reach into Dubai and Bahrain.

The developer said the expansion plan includes the establishment of Cranleigh Bahrain by Aldar Education, its education business. Cranleigh Bahrain will be the first branded premium school in the country that offers British International Curriculum when it opens in 2024.

“This represents a significant milestone for Aldar Education as it expands its reach beyond the UAE and brings its renowned high-quality education standards to Bahrain,” the company said in a bourse filing.

The increased investment also includes the acquisition of Kent College Dubai and Virginia International Private School in Abu Dhabi – two well-established education institutions in the UAE.

The acquisition of Kent College Dubai, which is subject to regulatory approvals, represents Aldar Education’s first entry into the emirate’s education sector while Virginia International Private School will grow the company’s presence, reach, and offering in Abu Dhabi.

Aldar expands its education portfolio with a massive AED 350 million investment in Aldar Education, to acquire Kent College Dubai and Virginia International Private School Abu Dhabi. pic.twitter.com/mHRSR9H7pP

— ALDAR (@AldarTweets) July 31, 2023

Aldar Education plans to further enhance the quality of education in the two aforementioned schools by improving the facilities and infrastructure, as well as providing comprehensive professional development opportunities for educators and staff.

Overall, Cranleigh Bahrain, Kent College Dubai, and Virginia International Private School are expected to benefit from the group’s proven track record in achieving academic excellence, its in-depth sector knowledge, and access to a wide network of schools.

The education provider houses Aldar’s entire educational portfolio, with almost 35,000 students across 28 operated and managed schools, and a growing network of 4,600 educators from over 100 nationalities.

Aldar Education’s fresh identity

Meanwhile, the firm unveiled a new brand identity for Aldar Academies in June, signifying the group’s progress over the past 15 years and its commitment to innovation.

The refreshed brand identity captures the growth and evolution of the group’s educational offerings while highlighting the individuality of each academy. Under the new brand strategy, each academy now carries the name of the curriculum it offers, including American, British, and International Baccalaureate.

Since establishing its first school, Pearl British Academy formerly the Pearl Academy, Aldar Academies has rapidly evolved into a leading provider of private education across a network of seven academies.

Recently, the developer unveiled a $136m investment plan to redevelop the Al Jimi Mall in Al Ain and Al Hamra Mall in Ras Al Khaimah – two of the property firm’s key retail portfolio assets in the country. The investment takes Aldar’s committed spend on redeveloping key retail assets to Dhs1bn.

The investment announcement follows the completion of Yas Mall’s Dhs500m redevelopment plan unveiled in 2021, which resulted in the transformation of the mall from a client journey, operating, and financial performance perspective.

Read: Aldar increases investment in retail portfolio to $272m