25 plots leased for schools 
in Abu Dhabi

A total of 25 businessmen have invested in lands to build their own schools, and 29 more have bidded for school plots.

The vacant plots are located in Al Falah, Baniyas, Khalifa B and Al Shahama areas, said Tareq Al Ameri, manager of Promotion and Business Development at the Abu Dhabi Education Council (Adec).

The council has made these plots available to private educational institutions and investors at a very low leasing rate in order to benefit students and parents in the low to mid-income group.

The provision of lands was also meant to address the current shortage of seats at private schools, as well as, a long-term plan to stop schools operating from residential premises.

According to the Adec plan, all villa schools will be shut down by the 2013-2014 academic year.

The agenda was to move children to a purpose-built facility that is conducive to learning and has a healthy, secure and risk-free environment.

From 72 in 2009, villa schools have now reduced to 37. Of this, 32 have committed to constructing their own school buildings.

With approximately 185,000 students currently enrolled in private schools and annually increasing, the provision for more schools or seats is imperative.

“Developing education calls for improving the private school sector’s potentials in Abu Dhabi by attracting and supporting investors to build new and quality schools by providing them with the appropriate purpose-built plots or vacant public school buildings,” said Hamad Al Dhaheri, Adec’s executive director of Private Schools and Quality Assurance.

“The lands, which were advertised through the RfP (request for pitching or proposal) process were approximately 16,000 to 27,000m2.

The previous lands that were approved through the land allocation committee have an average of 24,000 m2,” said Al Ameri.

He added that the leasing cost is only 10 fils per sqft for the 30-year duration.

“Availability of land varies as Adec works in collaboration with other government agencies and therefore supply is flexible and will be based on the outcome of the Private Schools Master Plan in which Adec will decide how many lands should be allocated in the future,” Al Ameri told Khaleej Times.

At a workshop for investors hosted by the Abu Dhabi Education Council (Adec) two weeks ago, participants were introduced to the RfP process, document submission procedure and the technical and financial requirements in bidding to lease a land.

At the workshop, “29 interested investors bought the tender,” said Al Ameri.

olivia@khaleejtimes.com