Education provider Taaleem is planning to invest AED 750 mn to build four schools in Abu Dhabi and Dubai over the next three years, CEO Alan Williamson told Asharq Business (watch, runtime: 8:47). Each school will cost between AED 200-300 mn to build, Williamson said, noting that the process of building out new schools takes 2-3 years due to regulatory procedures and building code requirements.
M&A + GCC expansion are also on the radar: Taaleem is also assessing its current M&A options, with expectations of completing one or two “significant” transactions in the UAE, Williamson said, without providing further details. The company is also actively exploring potential expansions in other GCC countries, with a particular focus on Saudi Arabia, where Taaleem is also looking at three or four potential M&A transactions, according to the CEO.
More investments are needed in the education sector, according to Williamson, as approximately 65k kids will need education in the UAE over the next five years.