Education group clinches prestigious school contract in Qatar
Orbital Education, the Cheadle Hulme-based international schools’ company, has signed a joint venture agreement for the founding and operation of a British-style international school on the prestigious Pearl development, Doha in the State of Qatar.
Orbital is the owner and operator of a growing group of international British schools across four continents with schools in Hungary, Slovenia, Spain, Russia, China and Ecuador.
The school’s name will be United School International and it will become the second major school in the city of Doha to join the Orbital family.
Last September the highly-acclaimed Oryx International School opened in partnership with Qatar Airlines.
The new school’s curriculum, catering for children from three to 18 years, will be based on the English National curriculum.
There will be accommodation for 2,500 students and most of the teaching staff will be recruited from the UK.
The Pearl development is built on land reclaimed from the Persian Gulf. It is an island, but connected to the rest of the city by a four-lane causeway.
Because of its position, its beautiful architecture and facilities, it is the most desirable location for both expatriate and local Qatar families in the city of Doha.
There is a combination of spacious high-rise apartments and luxurious villas currently housing a population of 33,000. When finally completed in two years’ time this will have risen to around 50,000.
Orbital’s will be the first school on the Pearl.
In the presence of His Excellency Mr Ajay Sharma, the British Ambassador to the State of Qatar, the contract was sign by Kevin McNeany, executive chairman of Orbital Education, and by Mr Ibrahim Jassim Al-Othman, UDC president and chief executive.
UDC is a highly-successful Qatari public company and is master developer of the Pearl.
The ambassador said: “I am delighted to congratulate UDC and Orbital Education on this great education collaboration. I am pleased that the British Embassy and the Department of International Trade in Qatar have supported a venture having such an excellent outcome.
“The Pearl needs a quality school and I am pleased that Orbital Education, one of the UK’s leading operators, is now in position will deliver it.”
Kevin McNeany said: “We are proud to partner with UDC in the foundation of this world-class school and to expand our successful presence in the State of Qatar with the addition of this stunning new school to our global portfolio.”
Mr Ibrahim Jassim Al-Othman said: “The designation of Orbital Education as the operator of United School International reflects UDC’s commitment to offering the very best educational services and internationally-recognisd curricula.”
Founded in 2005 and based in Cheadle Hulme, Cheshire, Orbital Education is the recipient of several international awards, including the 2019 Queen’s Award for Enterprise, where the company was chosen to receive the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise in recognition of its excellence and innovation in the international education sector.
