Aldar sponsors scores of UAE students for study in the UK

Under the agreement signed on 30 June, Aldar will sponsor ten UAE students for study of real estate-related disciplines in the UK during 2009. Three students are already pursuing their studies at Reading and seven more are expected to join the Aldar sponsored programme during the remaining part of 2008.

Professor Gordon Marshall, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Reading and Ron Barrott, Chief Executive of Aldar, were among the guests attending the official signing at the University on 30 June.

"We are very excited to be associated with one of the UK's leading Business Schools. This social investment by Aldar will create for students a competitive expertise and value added insight into the real estate development and property industries. Industries will benefit from this social investment once these students bring their knowledge to the market upon graduation,"

commented Ronald Stephen Barrott, CEO, Aldar Properties.

Aiming to secure the appointment by the end of 2008, Reading and Aldar will contribute to research, full time degrees, executive education and all aspects of development related issues. The Chair will utilise this research to develop new programs in the property and development field and expand the portfolio of courses offered. Additionally, from a key research prospective, Reading and Aldar will develop strategies to develop key projects in finance, partnerships and skills and professional recruitment.

Professor Gordon Marshall, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Reading, said:

"We are extremely grateful for Aldar's generosity which has paved the way for this new Chair in Development. This is an exciting time for the University's Business School, with our merger with Henley Management College in August and the opening of our new £30m Business School building in 2009. We are delighted to have formed an alliance with such a respected company as Aldar and have no doubt both parties will benefit hugely over the coming years."

Abdalla Zamzam, Chief Economic and Administration Officer, Aldar Properties, commented: "This agreement will enable Aldar to play a key role in creating educational programs that will detail real estate and development related issues for the students of the business school's real estate development and planning department. The academic knowledge of the University of Reading and the real estate development expertise of Aldar will create academic courses that will give its students a competitive edge in the real estate development industries across the world."

In addition to working with colleagues within the University of Reading, the chair will develop key external relations with Aldar, Universities in Asia, Continental Europe, the U.S., and the broader property development community. The chair will have a global reach and with Aldar as sponsor will play a key role in developing relationships with education based organizations in Abu Dhabi, the UAE, and wider Middle Eastern region.

"Sustainability is a necessity in our field and it is a responsibility that ranks high on Aldar's priorities. By combining expertise with the University of Reading, we can develop programs that will educate younger generations to this effect continually improving this knowledge base as research provides increasing insights," concluded Ronald Stephen Barrott, CEO, Aldar Properties.