GEMS to enter Oman as part of rapid global growth

GEMS School Management (GSM) has announced plans to develop a school in Oman as part of its ongoing global push into new markets.

The school is set to open in September 2027 and will cater for early years foundation stage through to Year 13 so that by 2035-36 it will have 1,600 pupils, the group said.

It will offer international curricula, although it did not specify which one it will be yet.

It will be located in Hai Al Naseem, in Barka, South Al Batinah, and is being developed in partnership with real estate firm Adrak Developers LLC as part of a wider residential development in the area.

Rapid growth for GEMS

GSM has signed similar deals in Georgia and Zanzibar, and its CEO Rob Tarn told Tes earlier this year that there were many more deals likely in the coming months as part of this rapid growth.

“Within our first 10 months of operation, we’re likely to be contracted for 10 GEMS-branded schools in nine different countries,” he said at the time.

The move comes amid rapid growth in the international school space by large groups, with Dukes Education announcing its first school acquisition in Germany, which followed on from its entry into North America with a Canadian school buy - a nation Inspired Education also moved into last November.

Meanwhile, private schools such as Epsom College are also expanding internationally, after it announced two schools in the United Arab Emirates.