The acquisition represents GSM’s initial entry into the UAE education sector and aligns with the company’s broader expansion strategy in the Gulf Cooperation Council region.
The acquisition represents GSM’s initial entry into the UAE education sector and aligns with the company’s broader expansion strategy in the Gulf Cooperation Council region.
Global Schools Management (GSM), a company that owns more than 165 schools with 45,000 students across the US, Middle East, UK, and Africa, has revealed its acquisition of a majority stake in Crown Private School in Ajman.
The acquisition represents GSM’s initial entry into the UAE education sector, aligning with the company’s broader expansion strategy in the Gulf Cooperation Council region.
Vinod Sharma, founder of Crown Private School, along with his team, will continue to lead and manage the school’s operations. The advisory role for Avalon Global Education in this transaction was handled by Ideal Capital, a prominent advisory firm based in Dubai.
“I am delighted to announce that we have acquired a majority stake in Crown Private School in Ajman. The high-quality offering of the school has allowed it to grow substantially both during and shortly after the pandemic,” said GSM Founder Ron Packard.
“I’m delighted to welcome GSM on board as our partner. Crown Private School is Ajman’s most cherished school, loved by both Emiratis and expatriates. And I say this with all my gratitude to the Royal Family of Ajman for their invaluable support,” Sharma added.
The acquisition aligns with the economic growth of Ajman, which saw a 5.7 percent increase in 2022, according to the annual report from the Ajman Statistics Centre. The positive trend continued into the first quarter of 2023, with the Department of Economic Development in Ajman reporting a 13 percent growth in new licenses.
The economic growth in Ajman, coupled with the expansion of Crown Private School, reflects the broader trend of international investment diversifying beyond traditional hotspots in the region.
Safanad and GSM revealed a $200 million initial investment in the education sector in the region during the Future Investment Initiative (FII) 6 in October 2022. This announcement closely followed their acquisition of BBD Education, a leading provider of professional education services and management for the expanding schools’ market in the GCC.
Additional investments in the MENA region will establish GSM as a significant international operator, and the acquisition of Crown Private School aligns with this strategic investment vision.
Crown Private School, established by Avalon Global Education, is a distinguished educational institution in Ajman, serving more than 1,000 students aged 3 to 18. It follows the National Curriculum for England and emphasizes innovation, featuring facilities like a robotics and innovation laboratory.
According to a recent report from Research and Markets, the global market for education buildings is projected to grow by 3.9 percent from 2022 to 2023, reaching $613.88 billion.
The think tank also forecasts it to reach $679.80 billion in 2027, with a Compound Annual Growth Rate of 2.6 percent.
