Qetaifan Projects Announces School Operator For the First Time in Qatar
Qetaifan Projects, the real estate developer for Qetaifan Island North and a subsidiary of Katara Hospitality, has announced the name of the school operator. The announcement was made during a press conference held on the second day of the Cityscape 2024 exhibition at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center. The press conference was attended by Mr. Hesham Sharaf, Chief Operations Officer, Sheikh Nasser bin Abdulaziz Al Thani, Head of Business Development; Professor Ralph Tabberer, the former Director-General of the UK education sector and Vice Chairman of GSM Middle East and Mr. Samer Malaeb, COO of the British company Aplomado Investments Ltd, alongside a large presence of local and international media.
The school is located within the service areas in the center of Qetaifan Island North, next to the medical center and the mosque. It will be managed by Global School Management (GSM), currently managing approximately 165 schools worldwide with a total capacity of 45,000 students. The school on Qetaifan Island North will offer education from kindergarten to pre-university, following both the British curriculum and the International Baccalaureate (IB) system, with a capacity of 1,600 students. The campus will also include a car racing academy at all levels, in partnership with a leading British team renowned for its global achievements in this field.
The school will span an area of 30,245 square meters, with a total built-up area of approximately 17,000 square meters. The project will include classrooms, a main school hall, a library, a science and technology building, a gymnasium, and a cafeteria/restaurant.
The announcement of the school operator is part of a partnership with the British companies Aplomado Investments and Fenton Whelan, with a foreign investment of up to £150 million, backed by UK based investors and banks, to develop and operate the school and the medical centre.
Mr. Hesham Sharaf, Chief Operating Officer, added: "This step comes as part of completing the vision of creating a fully integrated island, which includes various aspects of life, such as education and healthcare. We hope its benefits will extend to the residents of the island and those around it." He also expressed his appreciation for the trust placed in Qetaifan Projects by Aplomado and Fenton Whelan, with support from British banks, for investing in Qetaifan Island North to host such a significant educational institution that covers all stages from kindergarten to high school. He considered this partnership a continuation of Qetaifan Projects’ success in the field of development.
Sheikh Nasser bin Abdulaziz Al Thani, Head of Business Development of Qetaifan Projects, stated: "Creating constructive and purposeful partnerships is a strategic choice for us at Qetaifan Projects. Today, we are proud to announce the name of the school operator, a new global name joining Qetaifan Island North. Our goal is to establish a significant educational institution that enriches the educational landscape in our country. We expect the school to attract investors to the island, as it will offer all educational services at a high and competitive global standard. We also anticipate that the school's reach will extend beyond the island’s residents and open its doors to neighbouring areas."
On this occasion, Mr. Samer Malaeb, COO of Aplomado Investments ltd, said: "We see that Qatar has much more to offer, in addition to the attractive investment environment it provides to investors. The best time to invest is during times of challenge, as this presents opportunities. Qatar, being a promising investment market, makes us proud of our partnership with Qetaifan Projects, and we look forward to more opportunities and investments."
Commenting on GSM’s expansion into Qatar, particularly on Qetaifan Island North, Professor Ralph Tabberer, the former Director-General of the UK education sector and now Vice Chairman of GSM Middle East, added: "We are pleased to announce the opening of a leading British school on Qetaifan Island North. With our global track record of academic achievements and our expertise in education, we believe this school will make a significant impact, aligning with the high standards of education in Qatar."
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