Gems plans AED 2 bn expansion in Dubai, Abu Dhabi

Dubai-based school operator Gems Education plans to invest AED 2 bn over the next three years to add 20k new student seats across Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Group CEO Dino Varkey told Dubai Media Office (watch, runtime: 4:36). That’s double what the company said it planned to invest last year — AED 1.1 bn — and Varkey says the bulk of the investment — 75% — will focus on the affordable segment.

The school operator recently invested USD 100 mn in building Dubai’s most expensive school, Gems School of Research and Innovation, which opened its doors this school year.

Varkey sends an optimistic message on demand: “We continue to see growing demand from families across the world,” he said, mentioning that this year has been one of continued momentum for the firm. Those statements follow reports of residents leaving the UAE earlier in the conflict, although many seem to have returned since then.