Dubai International Academy launched at Emirates Hills

The school will offer an international education, basing its curriculum (following formal acceptance) on the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), and the Diploma Programme (DP) of the Geneva-based International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO). The school will open to Grade 11 the following year.

Dubai International Academy (DIA) is being established with the aim of offering excellence in education through international programmes of study that will prepare students for leadership roles and help them become lifelong learners for the Global Knowledge Economy.

The premises of Dubai International Academy are being built by Emaar Properties for Innoventure Educational Investments LLC in the lush green settings of Emirates Hills, located close to the heart of one of the fastest growing economic areas in the Middle East, and which set the trend for freehold ownership of property in the region. It is in close proximity to landmark developments like Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City, the Emirates Golf Club and Dubai Marina. As with all Emaar projects, the school conforms to International benchmarks, and has incorporated all aspects of safety, quality, functionality, convenience and hygiene. The construction is on schedule, and Phase 1 will be ready for fit-out in July 2005.

Announcing the establishment of Dubai International Academy, Chairman of the Board, Mr. Abdulla Majed Al Ghurair, who has set up a number of successful businesses over the last 20 years, said: "We are proud to contribute to the development of Dubai and the UAE by establishing a school that will mould our children into responsible citizens empowered with innovative and critical thinking skills and sensitivities vital for success in the 21st century. Dubai International Academy will achieve this by providing quality education aimed at academic excellence and all round development".

Dubai International Academy focuses on pursuing excellence in a balanced academic environment that nurtures intellectual, emotional, physical and social development. Its stimulating curriculum integrates a variety of cross-curricular activities and uses structured inquiry as an ideal approach to learning.

Admissions for Nursery to Grade 9 are now open at the school's dedicated Admissions Office, located at The Lakes Club in the school's neighbourhood.

Mr. Abdulla Majed Al Ghurair and other members of the Board visited the school site to assess the progress of construction. The Board of Directors also includes Dr. Anwar Mohammed Gargash, a UAE national with a rich academic background, who has taught political science for over a decade at UAE University, and currently Executive Director of Gargash Enterprises, Mr. Hamdi Osman, the Regional Vice President of FedEx Middle East, Indian Subcontinent and Africa and Board member of the American School of Dubai, Mr. Toby Hoare, a Governor of the prestigious Harrow School in London, who has spent over 20 years in the international advertising business based in London and presently is Global Client Leader and CEO of the newly formed Team HSBC at WPP, and Mr. Avishesha Bhojani, Managing Director of Dubai International Academy and Group CEO of the Dubai-based Bates PanGulf Group, a leading integrated marketing communications provider in the region.

Commenting on the strategy earmarked for Dubai International Academy, Dr. Gargash, one of the Directors, said: "Research has shown that students are best prepared for innovation when creativity is part of their early schooling. This is also a priority for Dubai International Academy, and will motivate and inspire young minds to aspire to achieve excellence in education with the help of our well-qualified multi-national faculty with international teaching credentials. Our faculty will respond sensitively to the needs of our students by giving them personalized attention, structured learning environments to respect individual differences, and providing a variety of informal learning activities for students".

Mr. Avishesha Bhojani, Managing Director of Dubai International Academy, said: "We want our children to possess the right human qualities. Our policies and programmes are guided by this philosophy built around the core values of Dubai International Academy, which are integrity, social responsibility, achievement orientatation, innovation, collaboration and appreciation of diversity. As we are preparing our children for a complex and changing world, the range of knowledge, skills and experiences we provide must achieve this aim. A key tool that we will use to accelerate the learning process will be Information Technology, especially because technological innovations and the advent of Internet are opening new horizons in education, as in any other walk of life".

A well-appointed campus built on 350,000 sq ft of land will house the primary, junior, middle and high school in self-contained communities of learners in a multicultural environment.

Facilities offered at the school will include:
• Over 60 classrooms
• Fully equipped science labs
• Specialist rooms for music, art, dance, drama and language learning
• Well-equipped computer labs, Multimedia labs and wireless Internet access in every section of the school
• Networked libraries for the high school and junior school
• Climate-controlled multi-purpose halls for a wide range of sports and extra curricular activities
• Separate swimming pools for juniors and seniors
• Fully grassed outdoor playing fields
• Basketball and tennis courts
• Cafeteria

The Admissions Office at The Lakes Club is open from 10am to 12noon and 3pm to 5pm from Saturday to Thursday and 3pm to 6pm on Fridays.