Foreign schools and universities are pouring into the GCC as the region invests to fill a gap in its education sector. New York University launched its first classes in Abu Dhabi this summer, and Paris-Sorbonne University entered the capital four years ago. Now Brighton College, a private British school, is recruiting for its first international branch, which is to open next September in Bloom Gardens in Abu Dhabi.
The local campus will be the first of a series of schools to be developed around the world under the Brighton College brand as part of a partnership with Bloom Properties, a developer based in the capital. "Our market research indicates that there is an incredibly big demand for quality education here," said Brendan Law, who was recently appointed as the founding headmaster of the school in the capital.The school is expected to have a capacity of 1,200 pupils.
Sanjay Vig, the managing director at Alpen Capital, sees a big market opportunity for such ventures. "The education industry is poised for unparalleled and consistent growth propelled by increased private-sector participation, rising education needs in the region as well as government initiatives to improve the education system," he said. Mubadala Development, a strategic investment company owned by the Abu Dhabi Government, is building the main campus of New York University Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat Island. It is expected to be completed in 2014 and accommodate 2,500 students. The NYU campus will sit alongside the Abu Dhabi branches of the Guggenheim and Louvre museums, which are also planned for the island. The Dh1.6 billion (US$436 million) Paris-Sorbonne Abu Dhabi campus, the first phase of which has been completed, is on neighbouring Al Reem island.
"The GCC countries' increasing collaboration with foreign universities and institutes to open branches in the GCC region has significantly impacted efforts to improve higher education," analysts at Alpen Capital wrote in a recent report. "The growing need for quality education and commitment by the governments throws up a number of investment opportunities within this sector. A rising population, coupled with a growing number of expatriates, is expected to drive education demand in the GCC region."
Brighton College, a charitable organisation and not-for-profit school, charges fees of between £18,000 (Dh105,545) and £20,000 a year, but the fees are likely to be significantly lower at its Abu Dhabi branch, at about £9,000 a year, the school says. "Brighton College has had an ambition to take the quality of the school beyond the boundaries of Brighton College in the UK," Mr Law said. "This is about developing into the broader international community."
Abu Dhabi's Tourism Development and Investment Company last year announced a partnership with Dulwich College, an independent school in the UK, to open a campus on Saadiyat Island by 2012. This need for education also goes right up to the executive level. Insead, the European business school, has begun operating from Abu Dhabi with several dedicated academic staff and MBA students rotating through its campus on Muroor Road. Cass Business School, a unit of City University London, offers executive MBAs through its branch in the Dubai International Financial Centre. Now HEC Paris, a European business school, has signed an agreement with Qatar Foundation to set up a base in Doha.
"Our vision is that where economies are growing quickly, where there is long-term potential for economic growth and where economies play a major role in the world economy, those are places where typically there is most need for executive development and executive training," said Joshua Kobb, the director of international development and strategic partnerships at HEC Paris. "We see the GCC as a place we need to be. We accompany businesses in their growth and we help them face some of the challenges they would naturally face in a high-growth market. Qatar Foundation is supporting this initiative as part of their move to develop the knowledge economy, so they're investing very heavily in projects like this."
Mr Kobb said the initiative had also received financial support from the French company Total, explaining that the oil-and-gas corporation recognised the importance of such education for the industries in the region. HEC Paris's executive MBA programme in Doha would cost about $74,000 for about a year and a half, part-time, Mr Kobb said. "The objective of Qatar Foundation is to build what is commonly called the knowledge economy - they say that their economy needs to diversify," Mr Kobb said. "They need to diversify away from gas sources, and they say for that to happen they need to change the knowledge structure within Qatar. They need to encourage certain behaviour, they need to build up certain management skills, they need to encourage innovation, entrepreneurship, risk-taking. So they see education as playing a role in this economic diversification and the long-term economic success of Qatar."
Still, Alpen Capital highlights the challenges facing the sector in the region. "Currently, the private-sector participation is low in the education sector. The quality of education still lags behind developed economies, resulting in many students opting to go overseas for higher education. Also, the education sector is one of the capital-intensive industries with high turnaround time, which acts as a barrier for many investors looking for a quick turnaround."
rbundhun@thenational.ae
Tips to avoid getting scammed
1) Beware of cheques presented late on Thursday
2) Visit an RTA centre to change registration only after receiving payment
3) Be aware of people asking to test drive the car alone
4) Try not to close the sale at night
5) Don't be rushed into a sale
6) Call 901 if you see any suspicious behaviour
Miss Granny
Director: Joyce Bernal
Starring: Sarah Geronimo, James Reid, Xian Lim, Nova Villa
3/5
(Tagalog with Eng/Ar subtitles)
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FINAL RECKONING
Director: Christopher McQuarrie
Starring: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg
Rating: 4/5
Federer's 19 grand slam titles
Australian Open (5 titles) - 2004 bt Marat Safin; 2006 bt Marcos Baghdatis; 2007 bt Fernando Gonzalez; 2010 bt Andy Murray; 2017 bt Rafael Nadal
French Open (1 title) - 2009 bt Robin Soderling
Wimbledon (8 titles) - 2003 bt Mark Philippoussis; 2004 bt Andy Roddick; 2005 bt Andy Roddick; 2006 bt Rafael Nadal; 2007 bt Rafael Nadal; 2009 bt Andy Roddick; 2012 bt Andy Murray; 2017 bt Marin Cilic
US Open (5 titles) - 2004 bt Lleyton Hewitt; 2005 bt Andre Agassi; 2006 bt Andy Roddick; 2007 bt Novak Djokovic; 2008 bt Andy Murray
PROFILE
Name: Enhance Fitness
Year started: 2018
Based: UAE
Employees: 200
Amount raised: $3m
Investors: Global Ventures and angel investors
PAKISTAN SQUAD
Abid Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Shan Masood, Azhar Ali (test captain), Babar Azam (T20 captain), Asad Shafiq, Fawad Alam, Haider Ali, Iftikhar Ahmad, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicketkeeper), Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Imran Khan, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Sohail Khan, Usman Shinwari, Wahab Riaz, Imad Wasim, Kashif Bhatti, Shadab Khan and Yasir Shah.
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Anxiety and work stress major factors
Anxiety, work stress and social isolation are all factors in the recogised rise in mental health problems.
A study UAE Ministry of Health researchers published in the summer also cited struggles with weight and illnesses as major contributors.
Its authors analysed a dozen separate UAE studies between 2007 and 2017. Prevalence was often higher in university students, women and in people on low incomes.
One showed 28 per cent of female students at a Dubai university reported symptoms linked to depression. Another in Al Ain found 22.2 per cent of students had depressive symptoms - five times the global average.
It said the country has made strides to address mental health problems but said: “Our review highlights the overall prevalence of depressive symptoms and depression, which may long have been overlooked."
Prof Samir Al Adawi, of the department of behavioural medicine at Sultan Qaboos University in Oman, who was not involved in the study but is a recognised expert in the Gulf, said how mental health is discussed varies significantly between cultures and nationalities.
“The problem we have in the Gulf is the cross-cultural differences and how people articulate emotional distress," said Prof Al Adawi.
“Someone will say that I have physical complaints rather than emotional complaints. This is the major problem with any discussion around depression."
Daniel Bardsley
Brief scoreline:
Toss: South Africa, elected to bowl first
England (311-8): Stokes 89, Morgan 57, Roy 54, Root 51; Ngidi 3-66
South Africa (207): De Kock 68, Van der Dussen 50; Archer 3-27, Stokes 2-12
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Swiss fly direct from the UAE to Zurich from Dh2,855 return, including taxes.
The chalet
Chalet N is currently open in winter only, between now and April 21. During the ski season, starting on December 11, a week’s rental costs from €210,000 (Dh898,431) per week for the whole property, which has 22 beds in total, across six suites, three double rooms and a children’s suite. The price includes all scheduled meals, a week’s ski pass, Wi-Fi, parking, transfers between Munich, Innsbruck or Zurich airports and one 50-minute massage per person. Private ski lessons cost from €360 (Dh1,541) per day. Halal food is available on request.
More from Armen Sarkissian
Petrarch: Everywhere a Wanderer
Christopher Celenza,
Reaktion Books
ENGLAND SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Jack Butland, Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope
Defenders: John Stones, Harry Maguire, Phil Jones, Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier, Gary Cahill, Ashley Young, Danny Rose, Trent Alexander-Arnold
Midfielders: Eric Dier, Jordan Henderson, Dele Alli, Jesse Lingard, Raheem Sterling, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Fabian Delph
Forwards: Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy, Marcus Rashford, Danny Welbeck
The Settlers
Director: Louis Theroux
Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
Rating: 5/5
5 of the most-popular Airbnb locations in Dubai
Bobby Grudziecki, chief operating officer of Frank Porter, identifies the five most popular areas in Dubai for those looking to make the most out of their properties and the rates owners can secure:
• Dubai Marina
The Marina and Jumeirah Beach Residence are popular locations, says Mr Grudziecki, due to their closeness to the beach, restaurants and hotels.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh482 to Dh739
Two bedroom: Dh627 to Dh960
Three bedroom: Dh721 to Dh1,104
• Downtown
Within walking distance of the Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa and the famous fountains, this location combines business and leisure. “Sure it’s for tourists,” says Mr Grudziecki. “Though Downtown [still caters to business people] because it’s close to Dubai International Financial Centre."
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh497 to Dh772
Two bedroom: Dh646 to Dh1,003
Three bedroom: Dh743 to Dh1,154
• City Walk
The rising star of the Dubai property market, this area is lined with pristine sidewalks, boutiques and cafes and close to the new entertainment venue Coca Cola Arena. “Downtown and Marina are pretty much the same prices,” Mr Grudziecki says, “but City Walk is higher.”
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh524 to Dh809
Two bedroom: Dh682 to Dh1,052
Three bedroom: Dh784 to Dh1,210
• Jumeirah Lake Towers
Dubai Marina’s little brother JLT resides on the other side of Sheikh Zayed road but is still close enough to beachside outlets and attractions. The big selling point for Airbnb renters, however, is that “it’s cheaper than Dubai Marina”, Mr Grudziecki says.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh422 to Dh629
Two bedroom: Dh549 to Dh818
Three bedroom: Dh631 to Dh941
• Palm Jumeirah
Palm Jumeirah's proximity to luxury resorts is attractive, especially for big families, says Mr Grudziecki, as Airbnb renters can secure competitive rates on one of the world’s most famous tourist destinations.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh503 to Dh770
Two bedroom: Dh654 to Dh1,002
Three bedroom: Dh752 to Dh1,152
