Epsom College to open two schools in the UAE

Epsom College has announced it will expand its international school presence into the Middle East, with two schools planned in the United Arab Emirates.

The first to open will be Epsom College Abu Dhabi, set to begin welcoming students from September 2028, followed by Epsom College Dubai, which will open in September 2030.

The two schools will run from early years to sixth form and offer the British curriculum, and each will have places for between 2,000 and 2,500 pupils.

The schools will be developed and operated in partnership with NEMA Education, a group in the UAE that already owns and operates existing educational institutions such as Abu Dhabi University and Liwa University.

UAE is a ‘wonderful opportunity’

Epsom has also revealed it has plans with NEMA to open more schools across the Middle East in the coming years, although it did not specify in which nations.

Commenting on the announcement, Mark Lascelles, head of Epsom College, said opening in the UAE is a “wonderful opportunity and one we are proud to take”.

The plans for two new schools are a clear vote of confidence for the international schools sector in the region, given the huge disruption caused by the war in the Middle East over the past months. The conflict has led some to question whether the huge growth seen in the region can be maintained.

However, these planned openings, alongside comments from the likes of Dukes Education chief Aatif Hassan, who told Tes recently that he was still considering expanding in the region, prove confidence remains high.

Artist’s impression of what Epsom College Abu Dhabi will look like (see also the main picture above)

Meanwhile, leaders have noted that despite some clear impact on retention and recruitment, there is still a strong demand from many to move to the region for work, and that if the ceasefire can hold, that confidence will only get greater.

The new schools also suggest Epsom is keen to grow its international presence significantly.

It currently has only one international school, Epsom College Malaysia, which opened in 2014, but announced last year it would open Epsom College Tokyo in September 2027.

The new announcement means it will have four international schools in operation within the next few years, and potentially even more if the aforementioned intent to open yet more schools in the Middle East comes to pass.