Taaleem Education
Dubai-listed K-12 education group operating premium schools, government-partnered schools and, through Kids First Group, nurseries in the UAE and Qatar. It reported AED 1.31 billion of operating revenue for the year to August 2026.
Industry: K-12 education | Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates | Founded: 2003
About Taaleem Education
Taaleem Holdings PJSC, known as Taaleem, is a K-12 education provider based in Dubai and listed on the Dubai Financial Market under the symbol TAALEEM. For the year ended 31 August 2026 it reported 37 schools with 42,069 students, organised into premium schools, government partnerships and an early-years business, Kids First Group. Its investor site says it operates in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, with a footprint that also includes Sharjah and Qatar, and offers British, IB, American and French curricula.
Taaleem's investor site says it was founded in 2003, and its board page lists several directors as founding members from 2004. Khalid Al Tayer chairs the board and Adel Zarouni is vice chair. Alan Williamson is chief executive, Arnaud Prudhomme chief financial officer and Samuel Truman chief operating officer.
The premium schools numbered 14 at the end of the year, with 18,572 students and 23,848 seats. Government partnerships covered 23 schools and 23,497 students under Dubai Schools, Abu Dhabi Charter Schools and the Ajyal programme. Harrow International School Dubai opened on 31 August 2026 with about 400 students as Taaleem's first super-premium school. It plans Harrow Abu Dhabi for 2027/28 and Dubai British School Ghaf Woods for 2028/29.
Taaleem's investor site says it acquired Kids First Group in June 2025, entering the nursery segment. Kids First operates 36 nurseries in the UAE and Qatar, and Taaleem reports its share of the nursery group's result under equity accounting.
Taaleem listed in November 2022 after a primary offering of AED 750 million at AED 3.00 a share, equal to 25 percent of its capital. Demand exceeded AED 13.7 billion. EFG Hermes UAE and Emirates NBD Capital were joint lead managers.
On 8 October 2026 Taaleem reported operating revenue of AED 1,312.9 million for the year to 31 August 2026, up 15.6 percent, and EBITDA of AED 334.3 million. Net profit after tax was AED 127.2 million, down 22 percent, which the company attributed mainly to higher finance costs and depreciation from its expansion.
Leadership
- Adel Zarouni, Vice Chair of the Board and Chair of the Executive Committee
- Ahmad Al Khayyat, Board Member
- Ziad Azzam, Board Member; former Chief Executive Officer
- Alan Williamson, Chief Executive Officer
- Arnaud Prudhomme, Chief Financial Officer
- Samuel Truman, Chief Operating Officer
- Rebecca Gray, Chief Education Officer