The Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) is seeking investors to build private schools to address a shortage of supply in the emirate. ADEC said interested companies can submit proposals to lease and develop vacant plots in Khalifa City and Al-Falah to build and operate private schools.

Two plots are available for schools in Khalifa City A, one for teaching an American curriculum and the other for teaching a British curriculum. The plot in Al-Falah is intended for a school teaching the Education Ministry’s curriculum.  

According to the request for proposals (RFP), interested firms must be licensed and registered in the UAE’s Chamber of Commerce, and must have a record of excellence in managing and operating schools. Companies interested in participating in the RFP must obtain copies of the RFP documents from ADEC’s procurement and contracts division by 12 September.

Proposals must be submitted by 20 October.

ADEC said recently that demand for private school places in Abu Dhabi currently outstrips supply by about 25,000. It estimates that by the 2015/16 academic year demand will have risen by a further 25,000.

ADEC said there is no more land available on Abu Dhabi Island to build more schools, so it is focusing on outlying areas popular with families. It hopes new schools on vacant land will create 11,000 places by the 2015/16 academic year.

Governments across the region are spending more on education as they look to cater to the needs of their growing populations and the desire to boost their economies.