Latest news with #emirate
Arabian Business
6 days ago
- General
- Arabian Business
Massive improvements at Sharjah schools with 5 rated ‘Very Good'
Private schools in Sharjah have seen significant improvements as more are handed a 'Very Good' or 'Good' rating. The Sharjah Private Education Authority has announced the results of the third cycle of the Itqan programme for the 2024–2025 academic year, aimed at evaluating the performance quality of private schools in the emirate. Field visits were conducted across 86 schools offering 10 curricula, including classroom observations, document reviews, activity participation, and stakeholder meetings. Private schools in Sharjah Surveys gathered input from 40,838 parents, 44,810 students and 5,698 teachers. The Itqan programme assesses adherence to quality standards under the UAE's national school evaluation framework while improving schools' educational and administrative practices. This cycle targeted 43 schools rated 'Good' in 2022–2023, 37 schools rated 'Acceptable' in 2023–2024, and six new schools. The evaluation took place in two phases: the first from 4th to 28th November 2024, covering 33 schools, and the second from 20th January to 20th February 2025, covering 53 schools. The results showed that: Five schools were rated Very Good 53 schools were rated Good 28 schools were rated Acceptable, No schools were rated as either Weak or Very Weak. These outcomes highlight a marked improvement since 2018, when only seven schools achieved a 'Good' rating and one was classified as 'Very Good.' By contrast, 2025 saw 79 schools rated 'Good' and 14 rated 'Very Good,' while the number of 'Acceptable' schools dropped from 68 to 28. Ali Al Hosani, Director-General of the Sharjah Private Education Authority, described Itqan as a key initiative in advancing private education in the emirate. He said it not only monitors performance but also provides a structured roadmap for continuous improvement. The latest results, he added, confirm the sector's commitment to quality and its role in fostering academic excellence and a healthy learning environment. Al Hosani also stressed the importance of engaging parents, students and staff through surveys, which offer valuable insight into the quality of education and help identify areas for improvement in line with international best practices. Itqan is part of a broader effort to assess the effectiveness of schools in meeting quality standards and delivering educational outcomes that support student development across academic, personal and social dimensions. The programme includes several complementary initiatives, such as a school leadership programme designed to enhance management skills among school leaders. In total, 25 training sessions were held, offering 50 hours of training and benefiting 1,080 teachers, leaders and specialists in Sharjah. In parallel, the authority's professional development programme has significantly grown in recent years. In 2022, a professional development week included 40 sessions over 63 hours, reaching 1,600 teachers. In 2023, 41 sessions and 126 hours benefited 2,044 teachers. In 2024, the focus shifted to content quality and diversity, with 16 sessions totalling 1,145 training hours and reaching 1,145 teachers. A self-assessment initiative also supports schools in periodically reviewing their performance to identify strengths and areas for growth. Through Itqan, the Sharjah Private Education Authority reaffirms its commitment to advancing private education in the emirate and fostering a culture of excellence in both academic and administrative performance.
Bloomberg
21-05-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Dubai Ruler's Firm Gets $15 Billion in Orders for REIT Listing
Dubai Holding attracted $15 billion in orders for the $584 million initial public offering of its residential real estate investment trust, the latest sign of investor interest in the city's booming property market. The investment firm owned by the emirate's ruler boosted the size of the offer earlier this week and had demand for all shares within minutes of opening books on the deal. Dubai Residential REIT's listing will be the city's first IPO of the year.
The National
19-05-2025
- Business
- The National
Number of university students in Dubai surges by 20%
Student enrolment in Dubai's universities has grown by a record level for the 2024/2025 academic year, authorities confirmed. There are currently more than 42,000 students enrolled at 41 higher education institutions in the emirate, according to the Dubai Government Media Office. Of those, there are 37 international campuses while the number of international students who have come to Dubai specifically to study has increased by 29 per cent compared to the previous year. The number of Emirati students in Dubai universities has increased by 22 per cent, which reflects "the growing appeal of Dubai's private higher education sector and its diverse programme offerings for UAE nationals", the media office reported. 'The continued growth of Dubai's private higher education sector reflects the trust that students and their families place in the quality, relevance and diversity of learning opportunities available in our cities," said Aisha Miran, director general of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) in Dubai. "Our universities are equipping students with the skills and mindset needed for emerging industries and the jobs of tomorrow, ensuring that graduates are not only employable, but future ready. 'These achievements support the ambitious goals of Dubai Plan 33 and its social and economic agendas, and the E33 strategy, to build a world-class education ecosystem that attracts global talent, nurtures local potential and powers the knowledge economy. Through our education system, we are shaping a future where Dubai leads in learning, innovation and impact.' Four new international universities opened in Dubai in the current academic year, from China, India, Russia and Italy, the report added. The National reported earlier this year how the UAE had climbed to sixth place in an international league table of most improved countries for quality of university subjects offered. The QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025 released in March found almost half (49 per cent) of the UAE's 60 ranked entries had improved, with only 14 per cent scoring lower than last year. The UAE was the sixth most-improved country when ranked by subject. Coming in at the most-improved table was Hong Kong, followed by mainland China, Singapore, South Korea and Oman. Kuwait was seventh. The number of pupils enrolled in Dubai's private schools rose by 6 per cent this year, according to data from the KHDA, reported The National in January. There are 387,441 pupils enrolled at 227 private schools in the emirate in the current academic year. Official statistics showed more than 365,000 were enrolled in Dubai's classrooms in 2023, up from 326,000 in November 2022. Ten schools opened in the emirate for the current academic year.
The National
13-05-2025
- Automotive
- The National
Dubai's Salik reports 9% more vehicles on the roads as profits soar
Dubai's roads are getting busier, with the emirate's toll operator on Tuesday reporting more vehicles on its system, increased journeys and surging profits. Salik said the number of registered active vehicles, including motorcycles, increased 9.3 per cent year-on-year to 4.47 million. There was a 7.3 per cent increase in registered drivers for the same period. In its report for the first three months of 2025, the toll operator said it recorded 210.8 million trips, up 35.1 per cent year-on-year. Total revenue was up 33.7 per cent to Dh751.6 million, while net profit increased 33.7 per cent year-on-year to Dh370.6 million. Toll usage fees represented 88.6 per cent of revenue. Salik said new toll prices that came into force in January, the addition of two toll gates last November, and the continued tourism boom in Dubai all contributed. According to the Ministry of Interior, 383,086 new driving licences were issued in 2024 and Dubai's Statistics Centre population clock showed 3.93 million on Tuesday – up from 3.73 million on the same day last year. Road safety experts said the figures were a testimony to the emirate's increasing popularity but it was important to consider how to reduce the number of vehicles on the roads. 'More people means more vehicles which means more traffic which means more congestion,' said Thomas Edelmann, founder and managing director of RoadSafetyUAE. 'Now if even the toll roads are getting more frequency … it is just another testimony to the ever-increasing popularity of the UAE.' Mr Edelmann said solutions could include more working from home, staggering the hours of offices and schools, carpooling and an incentive system for pupils to use buses. Urban planning could also have a role to play. He pointed to Dubai's Jumeirah Lakes Towers as an example of a place where people do not have to drive from office to apartment. He also said the plan to develop car-free parts of Dubai was important. 'The UAE is just popular,' he said. Dr Aseel Takshe, acting dean of the school of environment and health sciences at Canadian University Dubai, said other solutions could include building more park-and-ride facilities near public transport stations, adopting variable speed limits to smooth out traffic flow, and using smartphone apps to inform commuters of delays and alternative routes. 'By combining these strategies – investing in public transport, leveraging technology and encouraging behavioural shifts – cities can effectively tackle rising traffic congestion and improve urban mobility,' said Dr Takshe. The new Salik toll gates were installed at the Business Bay Crossing on Al Khail Road and in Al Safa South, on Sheikh Zayed Road, between Al Meydan Street and Umm Al Sheif Street. They increased the number of Salik toll gates in the emirate to 10. At the end of January, the cost for drivers to pass through the gates rose from Dh4 to Dh6 during peak hours. Salik has also teamed up with Emaar and Parkonic on parking at sites such as Dubai Mall. The toll operator said total revenue from this reached Dh2.8 million. Mattar Al Tayer, chairman of Salik's board of directors, said the 'exceptional' performance reflected a continued focus on 'delivering long-term value to shareholders and our ambition to become a global leader in providing smart and sustainable mobility solutions'. 'Dubai's robust economic growth – driven by the visionary leadership of the emirate, has played a key role in fuelling our positive momentum and creating a strong foundation for long-term sustainable growth,' he said. Ibrahim Al Haddad, chief executive of Salik, said the core tolling business was 'bolstered by the opening of two new toll gates in late 2024'. 'We have also maintained progress in our ancillary revenue streams, with both the Dubai Mall and Parkonic parking partnerships seeing good traction with users in the first quarter,' he said. Salik also announced it is in the process of launching an additional revenue stream, the Customized Tags initiative, allowing corporate customers to personalise their Salik tags with designs and messages.
Reuters
13-05-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Dubai Holding seeks to raise up to $487 million in residential REIT IPO
DUBAI, May 13 (Reuters) - Dubai Holding is seeking to raise up to 1.79 billion dirhams ($487 million) from an initial public offering of its residential real estate investment trust, the investment conglomerate owned by the emirate's ruler said on Tuesday. ($1=3.6724 UAE dirham)
