Khushi Group invests Dh235m in UAE projects

Dubai - The company is also investing Dh130 million in two schools in Sharjah.

Khushi Group, a diversified conglomerate, has announced an investment of Dh235 million in a number of projects in the UAE, which include transport, education and sporting infrastructure.
These include an integrated vehicle testing, driving school and auto repair facility to be built in Sharjah with an investment outlay of Dh90 million. The facility, currently in an advanced stage of development, is expected to become operational by the first quarter of 2016.
"This is the first privately-held vehicle testing facility in Sharjah, being built with the permission of the Sharjah Transport Authority and marks the first public-private partnership in this sector in the emirate," Shaikh Mohammed Sharif, chairman of Khushi Group, said. "Once commissioned, this will change the way vehicle testing, repair and road permit renewal is done in Sharjah. It will reduce pressure and long queues in the existing vehicle testing facilities."
The company is also investing Dh130 million in two schools in Sharjah. Of these, the school at Al Moilah area of Sharjah is being built at a cost of Dh82 million. It will be spread across 300,000 square feet and host an ICC standard cricket academy and pitch, a football club, other facilities and a 1,500-capacity multiplex auditorium. It will be a British curriculum school with 1,800 students.
The second school, with an Indian curriculum, is being built for Dh48 million, and will have a capacity of 2,100 students.
The company, with an annual turnover to the tune of Dh1.5 billion, has recently tied up with Ajit Tendulkar and the Ajman Cricket Council to develop a cricket academy which will cost Dh15 million to build. "We expect to commission it by the first half of next year," Sharif said.
"As the UAE shifts towards a new phase of development, we feel the private sector has a responsibility to share the development activities with the government. Our new investment falls in line with the economic vision of Sharjah and the greater economic objectives of the UAE in offering better services to UAE consumers," the chairman told Khaleej Times.
He added that the UAE economy is growing at a good pace. "Despite the current slowdown in economic growth due to lower oil prices, the UAE's macro-economic fundamentals remain strong. A three to five per cent growth helps consumers as inflationary pressures remain manageable."
- rohma@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai
• Sharjah