(L-R): H.E. the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC (Retired), H.E Abdulrahman Mohamed Nasir Alowais, Minister of Health, Mr. Othman Mohamed Sharif Abdulla Zaman.

H.E. the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove broke the site during the Ground-Breaking Ceremony

DUBAI, UAE, October 10, 2017 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Dubai, UAE– 10th October 2017: H.E. the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC (Retired) Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, broke the ground for The Australian International School’s (AIS) new Dubai campus last Tuesday 3rd of October 2017 after the first one launched in Sharjah in 2005 through a partnership between the Al Sharif Investment Trading Group and the Government of Queensland, Australia. The new state-of-the-art campus, which will be constructed at a cost of over AED150 million, is set to open its doors in August 2019 for the Academic year 2019-2020 further cementing UAE’s position as having the highest number of international schools in the world.

H.E. celebrated the Ground-Breaking Ceremony with the entourage of H.E. Lady Cosgrove, H.E Abdulrahman Mohamed Nasir Alowais, Minister of Health, H.E. Arthur Spyrou, Australian Ambassador to the UAE, H.E. Dr. Abdulla Al Karam, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director General of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority, Mr. Othman Mohamed Sharif Abdulla Zaman, Mr. Abdullah Mohamed Sharif Abdulla Zaman and Mr. Jamal Abdel Hamid.

Speaking during the project’s ground-breaking ceremony, His Excellency Sir Peter Cosgrove, lauded the institution’s continued exemplary performance over the years. He urged AIS to continue offering a safe, supportive, and disciplined school environment and nurturing positive relationships between all stakeholders.
He also commended the AIS management, teaching fraternity and students for upholding the highest standards and for showing unparalleled leadership in the region’s academic sector. He also reaffirmed his commitment to strengthen the bond between the two nations.
“This is yet another link between the nation of Australia and the UAE; yet another expression of the wonderful developing benign and very productive relationship between these two nations.” said Sir Peter Cosgrove.

On his part, the AIS Board Representative, Dr. Omar Jaffar said, “We are extremely proud of this milestone. The upcoming Dubai campus is a true testament that we are now expanding future schooling for future students through innovative curriculum based on the future needs of students. We shall continue providing our students with the necessary skills and knowledge to overcome modern day challenges as well as continue to provide quality education that respects the culture, faith and language of the people of the UAE.”
AIS is the only learning institution in the Middle East region that is recognized as an Australian school outside Australia.

The AIS Dubai campus, which will be built on a 350,000-sq.ft piece of land, will consist of 85 spacious classrooms, a 600-seater auditorium, a multi-purpose hall, MUGA court, and a football pitch.
Other facilities will also include a fully equipped library, modern art and music rooms, science and ICT labs, and learning centers.

The AIS expansion project comes against a backdrop of rising student enrollments in UAE schools and universities. According to a report published by Alpen Capital, student numbers are set to rise by about four percent annually until 2020.

AIS, a world-class educational facility that provides an innovative curriculum offering both the International Baccalaureate and the Queensland Certificate of education, is expected to enroll over 2,000 students in its Dubai campus upon completion in August 2019.

AIS Dubai also expects a strong demand within the first three years after launch mainly driven by its unique and highly systematic methodology in delivering successful education and social skills as well as recommendations from existing parents.

Melwyn Abraham
Matrix PR
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