GEMS bets on 'capital-light' growth

EXPANSION IN UAE WILL REMAIN PRIMARY FOCUS FOR NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS, SAYS GROUP CEO

- BY DHANUSHA GOKULAN

GEMS Education is pursuing a “capital-light” growth strategy as part of its future expansion, with a focus on its new Global Schools Management (GSM) division. This move, according to Group CEO Dino Varkey, will allow the UAE-based education giant to accelerate its growth into new international markets, including neighbouring GCC countries and beyond.

Speaking to Gulf News at the sidelines of GEMS' annual induction programme for its new recruits — GEMS Awareness Day — Varkey said the GSM model is a key part of the group's strategy to diversify its portfolio without the significant capital investment required for building new schools.

1,700 teachers hired

“It is a part of the growth strategy because, again, the thing about a school management model is it is capital-light, and as a consequence, you can potentially accelerate its growth at a faster pace,” he said.

The school group confirmed it has recruited 1,700 teachers for this academic year.