Varkey Group Acquires Stake in AHC GCC Investment LLC to Enter the Higher Education Segment in UAE

Online, June 5, 2014 (Newswire.com) - Varkey Group, the holding company of GEMS Education, the world's leading K-12 Education provider, today announced the acquisition of a significant holding in AHC GCC Investment LLC (AHC) to enter the fast growing higher education segment in Dubai and the UAE.

Mr. Sunny Varkey, Chairman, Varkey Group said, "Bringing world class education, with an emphasis on access, quality and technology, to the UAE has been a priority for the Varkey Group. Our foray into higher education is a natural extension of our current strength in K-12 education through GEMS schools in the region."He added that "developing a skilled, talented and career ready workforce is an essential requirement to realize UAE's vision of becoming a knowledge society. The Varkey Group is delighted to contribute to this endeavor, through our new foray into higher education. "Mr.Varkey stated that he drew inspiration for this project from the visionary approach of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

"Our interest in the education sectors and making it a top priority, stems from our belief that the progress and welfare of any nation starts with the development of its educational systems," Sheikh Mohammed said earlier this year.

AHC GCC Investment LLC is the holding company of International Horizons College, which was launched in 2013 as a college offering pathways to top ranked universities in the US and regionally. IHC has a specific focus on the elite University of California system (UC Berkeley, UCLA and six other top ranked universities as ranked in the US News and World Report). Additionally, IHC has direct articulation agreements with Rutgers University and the University of Vermont. After IHC students complete their general education course requirements in Dubai during the first two college years, they have the opportunity to pursue the final two years of the bachelor's degree in the US.Through IHC, students can pursue a wide range of courses and careers from business and engineering to liberal arts and the social sciences, and this provides an ideal platform to bring some of the leading brands in global higher education to the UAE.

Mr. Varkey commented, "Our goal is to expand the AHC platform to establish similar pathways to reputed universities in the world's most desirable destinations for higher education, namely, US, Canada, UK, Australia and India, ultimately with the objective of having their respective campuses in Dubai."

Mr. Mohammed Abdul Ghaffar Hussain (Greencoast Enterprises), Chairman of AHC remarked, "We are delighted to have Varkey Group invest in our College. Their involvement will bring additional management experience enhanced student access and broader opportunities for world class and global university partnerships that will help International Horizons College enhance its existing academic offering and expand into other complementary pathways programs."

Varkey Group is the holding company of GEMS Educationwhich is a pioneering education company. Through its schools in 14 countries, with over 142,000 students, a consulting practice and its charitable arm Varkey GEMS Foundation, GEMS is advancing education for all and preparing students for lifelong success. The company works with governments, donor agencies and private clients to improve education systems, and provides vital training for young people in an increasingly competitive world.

AHC GCC Investment LLC is the investment holding company for International Horizons College (www.IHC-Dubai.com). AHC was founded by UAE based educational leaders including Mazrui Holdings, HE Helal Al Marri, RHT Partners andother prominent investorscommitted to bringing world-class education to the UAE.In its first academic year, IHC has successfully recruited students from across the broad MENASA region, highlighting the potential for the UAE to be a major hub for high quality tertiary education in the region.

(AHC corporate communications)

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