Shari’ah-compliant firm GII finalises investment in GEMS education

Gulf Islamic Investments (GII), the Shari’ah-compliant global alternative investment group based in the UAE, has concluded its funding arrangements as part of a consortium led by Brookfield Asset Management.

The consortium, which includes GII, will support GEMS Education in maintaining and expanding its leadership position as the largest private K-12 education provider in the Middle East.

GII, with over $4.5bn in assets under management, marks this investment as the second collaboration with Brookfield this year.

In April, GII sold its majority shareholding in a UAE logistics business to Brookfield for an undisclosed amount.

GEMS Education, headquartered in Dubai, has provided educational services for over six decades and is the largest private schools’ operator in the Middle East.

GEMS Education to welcome growing cohort of students in upcoming term

By September, GEMS expects to welcome more than 140,000 students across its 46 schools in the UAE and Qatar, including two new schools opening in Dubai and Abu Dhabi this August.

Pankaj Gupta, GII’s co-founder and co-CEO, stated, “The UAE’s spectacular economic growth is founded on a strong educational base, empowered by the leadership’s support and attitude that ‘nothing is impossible’. Our investment in GEMS will allow the company to supercharge the next phase of its growth plans.”

Mohammed Alhassan, GII’s co-founder and co-CEO, added, “As established investors, GII has a track record of investments across the GCC in several verticals, including education, healthcare, logistics, food, and real estate. We are very excited to develop our relationship with GEMS Education, the Gulf’s largest provider of private schooling.”

Sunny Varkey, GEMS’ founder, commented, “GEMS has experienced significant growth over its recent history, becoming one of the world’s most respected education companies. These investments demonstrate the breadth of the business, the educational quality, and the critical infrastructure that we deliver collectively for the UAE.”