Al Najah Education LLC, the private equity platform of Al Masah Capital Limited (AMCL) for the education sector, has brought up its total investments in the MENA and SEA regions to almost AED300 million as it struck a new deal with Dubai-based Sabari Indian School (SIS). Al Najah acquired a majority equity stake in SIS as part of the firm's strategy to acquire and build educational assets across the entire education spectrum spanning the Middle East and North Africa as well as South East Asia.
With a total capacity of 900 students (KG 1 to Grade 12), SIS is the third school in Al Najah's portfolio, and the first school in Al Najah's portfolio offering the Indian curriculum. Al Najah currently owns Horizon English School and Horizon International School in Dubai and nurseries, drama school and training center located in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Muscat and Singapore, and the development allows Al Najah to provide the complete education services to over 6,000 children in the MENASEA region. Shailesh Dash, Chairman of Al Najah and CEO of Al Masah Capital, said "acquisition of Sabari Indian School in Dubai is in line with our strategy to build up one of the largest and most diversified education companies in the MENASEA region, with a focus to provide quality education to children and contribute towards the social development of the regions in which we invest in."
Nrupaditya Singhdeo, Partner, AMCL and board member of Al Najah, said "we are happy to have acquired Sabari Indian School, Dubai. We will be working closely with the existing leadership team at the school to ensure that education of the highest quality continues to be provided to all the children and parents who has supported Sabari Indian School since its founding in 2013."
Education continues to be one of the most promising and popular investment themes available in the MENASEA region today. Growing local and expatriate population, rising disposable income levels, higher propensity to spend and preference for high quality education are driving the ever increasing demand in this sector. AMCL believes that the fragmented nature of the sector has opened doors of opportunities for private education providers to invest and make a difference in this important sector.
© The Saudi Gazette 2015
