Arada partners with Bright Capital Investment to bring the UK’s 350-year-old Reigate Grammar School to Sharjah megaproject Masaar
News: 27 June 2024
- Ranked in top 20 private schools in UK in 2023, Reigate Grammar School Masaar will be first branch campus of a British school in Sharjah
- Set for completion in 2027, with capacity for 2,700 students
- Premium campus to include performing arts centre, library, multi-purpose halls, STEM Centre, sports facilities and swimming pools
Arada has announced a partnership with Bright Capital Investment to bring one of the UK’s best-performing independent schools to the Masaar megaproject in Sharjah. With planned capacity for 2,700 students, Reigate Grammar School Masaar will be the first branch campus of a British school in Sharjah, offering a full K-12 programme and complementing the existing rich variety of high-quality academic institutions in the Emirate.
Scheduled to welcome its first pupils in September 2027, Reigate Grammar School Masaar marks the expansion of the Reigate Grammar School brand into the UAE, after opening seven other schools in the UK, Saudi Arabia, China and Vietnam.
Founded in 1675 near London, Reigate Grammar School was ranked as one the UK’s top 20 private schools by A-Level results in 2023 and has frequently been named ‘School of the Year’ by a range of British industry and education bodies. In particular, the school is famous for its educational approach, dubbed ‘The Reigate Way’, which emphasises visionary leadership, innovative teaching methods and exemplary pastoral care, focusing on student wellbeing.
Reigate Grammar School Masaar will be operated by Bright Capital Investment, a fast-growing UAE-based education provider that currently has investments in four schools in Dubai. Established in 2010, Bright Capital Investment aims to cover the complete education spectrum from pre-primary to secondary and is also planning to expand across the Middle East and Africa. JSquare Capital, led by Managing Director Jimmy John, served as the Transaction Advisor to Bright Capital for the transaction.
Ahmed Alkhoshaibi, Group CEO of Arada, said: “Reigate Grammar School is one of the most established and respected educational institutions in the UK, with an exceptional record of academic excellence and achievement. This is another example of a partnership that elevates the quality of life and wellbeing of residents in our communities, and we look forward to working with Bright Capital Investment to bring this world-class facility to Masaar.”
Esref Temel, Managing Director at Bright Capital Investment, said: “We are delighted to partner with Arada, to bring the first ever UK branch School to Sharjah. With its 350-year rich history and consistent ranking among the top 20 British schools, Reigate Grammar School represents educational excellence. Our collaboration aims to offer unparalleled academic opportunities to students in the UAE, ensuring they receive a world class education that prepares them for global success. This initiative highlights our commitment to investing in transformative projects that enrich the community and shape the future. Establishing Reigate Grammar School emphasises our dedication to enhancing the educational landscape in Sharjah and the UAE.”
Sean Davey, Global Business Director for Reigate Grammar School International, said, “We are delighted to be working in close partnership with Arada and our friends at Bright Capital to establish the first UK branch school in Sharjah, located within the highly impressive and premium Masaar development. We are fortunate to have the opportunity to establish a premium world-class school as part of our global village philosophy, where we will ensure that all of our children fulfil their potential and become global citizens with noble purpose. We look forward to working with the brilliant team at Arada to create an outstanding campus, and also with Bright Capital, to ensure that the educational provision at Reigate Grammar School Sharjah is both inspiring and exceptional. All students will benefit from being part of our international Reigatian community which provides rich educational, learning and cultural links with exchange opportunities.”
Based in the fast-growing forested Masaar master community in the Suyoh district, Reigate Grammar School Masaar will be built on a 450,000 square foot plot in the northern corner of the project, which contains 3,000 villas and townhouses linked by a ‘green spine’ of 70,000 trees. The school’s state-of-the-art campus will incorporate a range of world-class facilities including a performing arts centre, a library, a STEM Centre, multi-purpose halls, sports facilities and swimming pools.
Demand for premium private schools in Sharjah is driven by growing income levels, a large expatriate population, and increased uptake in demand from the Emirati population. Research recently undertaken at the Masaar community revealed a strong preference among residents for a premium, K-12 school with a British curriculum, incorporating exceptional facilities.
Masaar is ideally located in the up-and-coming Suyoh district, close to Tilal City, the Sharjah Mosque and Arada’s first project, Nasma Residences. The community has easy access to Emirates Road and Mleiha Road, and is a 15-minute drive from Sharjah International Airport, and a 20-minute drive from Dubai International Airport.
