• Zayed City Schools comprises three campuses, offering capacity for 5,360 students from kindergarten to Grade 12, which are now ready for the 2024-2025 academic year
  • Zayed City Schools were delivered under Abu Dhabi’s first public-private partnership (PPP) project for school infrastructure
  • The project was completed and delivered on schedule, reflecting the success of ADIO’s PPP programme in developing world-class infrastructure for Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi, UAE: The Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) and a multinational consortium led by Plenary Group and BESIX Group, today inaugurated three state-of-the-art schools in Abu Dhabi’s Zayed City. The newly inaugurated educational facilities represent the first time that school infrastructure has been developed in the UAE under a public-private partnership (PPP) model.

Completed on schedule and within budget, the project has significantly enhanced Abu Dhabi's educational landscape by ensuring additional capacity for 5,360 students, from kindergarten to Grade 12, for the 2024-2025 academic year and beyond. Instrumental to the project’s successful realisation, ADEK played a pivotal role in ensuring that the project met the highest standards of design, and material and equipment selection. Through the active coordination of various entities, the project was delivered successfully, in line with operational expectations. 

Officials gathered at one of the Zayed City School campuses today to celebrate the opening in the presence of His Excellency Mubarak Hamad Al Mheiri, Undersecretary at ADEK, His Excellency Badr Al-Olama, Director General at ADIO, , Dr. Tareq Al Ameri, Assets and Facilities Office Director at ADEK, and senior officials from the BESIX-Plenary consortium, including Mr. Peter Lembrechts, General Manager BESIX Middle East, Elias Sfeir, Head of Concessions and Assets BESIX Middle East,  Benoit Vadani, Director of Development BESIX Middle East,  Paul Crowe, CIO Plenary Group, Moustafa Fahour, COO Plenary Middle East, Oliver Barbagello, Executive Director –Origination Plenary Middle East, and Sergio Calcarao, Managing Director – Origination Plenary Group.

As the first educational facilities delivered through ADIO's PPP procurement framework, the Zayed City Schools project aims to elevate the standard of educational facilities in the Emirate and serve as a model for increased private sector participation in the delivery and financing of public infrastructure across Abu Dhabi.

Yaser Al Nuaimi, Acting Head – Infrastructure Partnerships at ADIO, said: “The Zayed City Schools project exemplifies the transformative power of public-private partnerships in realising Abu Dhabi's future-focused infrastructure development. By leveraging private sector expertise in design, construction, and financing, we've created world-class educational facilities equipped to empower students with the learning spaces they need to reach their highest potential. This success paves the way for further collaboration, offering our private sector partners unprecedented opportunities to contribute to Abu Dhabi's sustainable growth while capitalising on long-term investment returns.”

The three new schools, located within Abu Dhabi’s Zayed City, span a combined area of 81,000 square meters. Designed to meet rigorous Estidama sustainability standards, the campuses feature state-of-the-art technologies alongside learning spaces engineered to inspire creativity, marking a new benchmark for educational facilities in the region.

Dr. Tareq Al Ameri, Assets and Facilities Office Director at ADEK, said: “The inauguration of Zayed City Schools marks a significant milestone in our mission to provide world-class education in Abu Dhabi. This project not only empowers more students to access quality education, but also highlights the importance of public-private partnerships in realising Abu Dhabi's ambitious educational goals. We remain committed to this journey, ensuring that every student in the Emirate has the opportunity to learn and succeed in an environment that fosters innovation and excellence.”

Mohamed Badr El Din, General Manager at BESIX Plenary Education Properties Development L.L.C. (BESIX Plenary Consortium), said: “As a key partner in the Zayed City Schools project consortium, BESIX/Plenary is proud to contribute to a project that embodies a visionary approach to infrastructure development. This strategic collaboration leverages the strengths of all partners to set new benchmarks, highlighting the transformative impact of uniting powerful government and private entities to drive innovation and development. The Zayed City Schools PPP project stands as a testament to the true spirit and success of public-private partnerships. This achievement, delivered on time and within budget, marks the beginning of a long-term relationship that will extend throughout the operation phase. It showcases the power of strong collaboration between the public and private sectors in shaping a brighter future. By merging public interests with private sector innovation, we are creating sustainable solutions that meet the needs of future generations and inspire new hope.”

The successful completion of the Zayed City Schools underscores ADIO's commitment to expanding its PPP programme and serves as a testament to Abu Dhabi's innovative approach to infrastructure development. This initiative aims to increase private sector participation and foreign direct investment, enhance accountability and efficiency in public asset management, develop long-term collaborations between government and private entities, and provide investors with access to lucrative concessions.

BESIX and Plenary are the key private sector partners in the Zayed City Schools PPP Project Consortium. Plenary is an independent long-term investor, developer, and manager of public infrastructure, with over USD56 billion in assets across North America, Australia, the Middle East, and the UK. They specialise in public-private partnerships, local development, and asset management, delivering world-class infrastructure on time and within budget.

BESIX, a leading Belgian group operating in the Middle East since 1966, has a strong presence across the GCC region. With expertise in construction, real estate development, and concessions, BESIX designs and builds complex projects globally. The company also acts as an industrial equity provider and leader in public-private partnerships, managing the operation and maintenance of diverse projects, including social infrastructure and environmental initiatives.

Building on this success, ADIO is advancing other significant PPP opportunities, including the development of world-class student accommodation facilities in partnership with the globally top-ranked Khalifa University of Science and Technology.

Zayed City School pictures are available here.

 About Abu Dhabi Investment Office

The Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) enables local, regional, and international investors to thrive and grow in the UAE capital through its close collaboration with government partners, sovereign investors, and national champions. ADIO is Abu Dhabi's premier platform that empowers the private sector to grow, partner and compete globally by providing access to growth opportunities, strategic partnerships and new markets across key sectors that range from real estate and infrastructure to industries and agribusiness, enhancing the nation’s investment in talent, innovation and sustainability.

With a growing network of global offices, investors can contact ADIO by visiting its head office in Abu Dhabi or international offices located in Beijing, Frankfurt, London, New York, Paris, San Francisco, Seoul, and Tel Aviv.

Visit https://www.investinabudhabi.gov.ae/ for more information.

For more information, please contact:
Raneem Khatib
Edelman
ADIO@edelman.com
+971 50 204 9791

About Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge

The Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) is the Education Sector regulator across the Emirate. It oversees and provides services throughout a learner’s journey from early education to university and beyond. It also champions inclusivity for People of Determination in the mainstream schooling system and by providing specialized schools.

Across Early Childhood and K-12, ADEK licenses and regulates nurseries and private schools in Abu Dhabi while also legislating, mandating, and managing its own Charter Schools and 2 schools for People of Determination.

ADEK also annually provides distinguished Abu Dhabi students with full scholarships and support to study at the best universities around the world. In addition, the Department audits and enhances the delivery of Higher Education in Abu Dhabi, attracting Higher Education Institutions to open the required programs or schools that serve Abu Dhabi’s needs while championing a student and faculty-friendly ecosystem in the Emirate.

With a vision to Empower Education. Empower Minds. Empower the Future, ADEK recognizes that every learner is different, and a diversity of teaching methods are essential for students to succeed. To that effect, ADEK partners with stakeholders to enable a great education system to flourish in Abu Dhabi and nurture future-ready graduates who have the 21st century skills required to sustain and carry forward Abu Dhabi’s vision.