Nakheel and Dubai Properties set aside AED 100 million annually for Dubai Education Council

Their goal is to promote and upgrade the education sector to meet international standards, and instigate improved quality and higher efficiency in UAE's education system.

This joint initiative - the first of its kind in the region - exemplifies the two corporations' commitment to bettering the education sector as it is one of the most prominent strategic priorities for the coming years. Such an eminent cooperation between corporations of both the public and private sectors adds further value to the variety of initiatives that have been launched in the UAE.

The two companies, known over the past years for their leading roles in real estate development in Dubai, will provide firm support and funding for Dubai Education Council. DEC aims to realize programs and initiatives that would raise the standards and efficiency of education to international standards, in coordination with the Ministry of Education and other parties concerned with the development of this sector. One of their goals is also to spread awareness of the importance of constantly improving education system.

Nakheel's Executive Chairman, Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, stated that, "We are glad to be a part of this exclusive initiation that aims to promote the performance of one of the most vital sectors, as education is the foundation to ensuring further development and prosperity in the UAE's future. Dubai Education Council's launch last month proved to be a critical step in the road to realizing HH Dubai Crown Prince's vision of instigating a distinguishing development in the sector so as to parallel the educational systems that exist in most of the world's developed countries."

Bin Sulayem added, "The huge projects that the real estate development companies implemented played an important role as a catalyst for the country's economic growth, and they helped reinforce UAE's status as a global business, investment and tourism hub. It is expected that the more recently announced projects will promote the continuing development in the coming years. The two real estate development companies' initiative to provide DEC with annual funding is an indication of their commitment to UAE's growth and prosperity."

Dubai Properties CEO Hashim Al Dabal said, "A strong leader's vision and an alliance between the public and private sectors have created a foundation on which the United Arab Emirates' success was built; this has taken on a new dimension over the past few years, as the launch of huge initiatives strengthened the public and private sectors' coalition raising it higher levels previously unrealized. The joint initiative taken by the real estate development corporations to support Dubai Education Council is the result of this determined approach which would further promote development and prosperity."

He added that, "Dubai Holding is proud to be a part of this initiative which is in line with the strategic vision of His Highness Dubai Crown Prince concerning the importance of expanding the process of development to include all the various sectors. Improving the education system is an essential step towards accomplishing the set targets that not only underline UAE's achievements on an international level, but also ensure continued development."

DEC was launched in July 2005 under the directives of Dubai Crown Prince to enhance and develop the education sector as it is one of the vital keys to further success and prosperity in UAE's future.

DEC will be working on promoting the education sector on all levels in the Emirate of Dubai to world-class standards yet while preserving the local traditions, principles and cultural identity of the UAE. They will also be reinforcing the important role of institutions and schools in building the society and the economy on a strong foundation of knowledge. Alongside this DEC will launch new initiatives to upgrade the quality of education to international standards and to spread awareness of the importance of constantly improving education, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and other parties concerned with the development of this sector.

Dubai Education Council's strategies revolve around instigating an education renaissance in both governmental and private fields as well as in higher education. Also, the strategies aim to generate more capable graduating candidates that would meet the requirements of today's work environment.

DEC executes all its initiatives in coordination with all the parties concerned with the education process in the UAE. At DEC, education standards are set on all levels and improvement methods and processes are suggested for implementing in Dubai's education system, and are then raised to the executive office and followed through till they are applied.