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Saadiyat Island to be home to UK’s Dulwich College |
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Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC), a master developer of major cultural, residential and tourism destinations in Abu Dhabi, has announced its partnership with Dulwich College, a leading UK independent school, which plans to open a campus on Saadiyat Island by 2012. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in London by TDIC’s CEO Lee Tabler and Dulwich College’s CEO, Christian Guertler, and in the presence of HE Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Chairman of TDIC, HE Mohammed Al Bowardi, Secretary General of the Executive Council of Abu Dhabi, and HE Dr. Mugheer Al Khaili, Director General of Abu Dhabi Education Council. As per the MoU, the college will open the first school on Saadiyat Island. This marks another important milestone in Saadiyat’s development to become a premier residential destination and demonstrates TDIC’s commitment to develop education in Abu Dhabi. Sheikh Sultan commented on the new initiative and its significant contribution to advancing Abu Dhabi’s educational sector. "This is another remarkable demonstration of how TDIC is partnering with the best in every sector. Abu Dhabi is investing heavily to boost the local educational sector. ’’Our agreement with Dulwich College aims to provide a first-class curriculum, not only for the residents of Saadiyat Island, but for the wider Abu Dhabi community" said HE Sheikh Sultan. Founded in 1619, Dulwich College is renowned for its exceptionally high academic standards, which means that graduates are generally in the top 15-20 per cent of the UK’s national academic range and that one in six students gain entry into Oxford, Cambridge or an Ivy League university. The College, which welcomes students from as early as three months to the age of 18, has a proven track record of opening academies internationally. Its Shanghai School in China ranks among the top five schools in the world. Dr Mugheer Al Khaili, Director General of Abu Dhabi Education Council, who was also present at the signing ceremony, said: "By attracting leading education institutions such as Dulwich College, we are supporting Abu Dhabi’s long-term educational vision. ’’We are helping to equip people with the knowledge, skills and understanding needed to contribute to a progressive global society and economy by providing quality educational facilities," Dr Mugheer explained. Mr Guertler, CEO of DCMI stated, "Since the year we were founded, Dulwich College Management International has encouraged leadership and innovation and our move to Abu Dhabi is very much part of our strategic development plan. Saadiyat Island is the perfect platform to support our vision to become the worldwide leading International British Independent School group." Saadiyat Island is at the forefront of Abu Dhabi’s vision to become a distinctive destination that brings together premium brands in hospitality, education and leisure, including New York University and the world’s largest concentration of cultural institutions, such as the Louvre Abu Dhabi and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Museum
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