Al Futtaim Education Foundation

The Al Futtaim Education Foundation is a nonprofit established by the Al Futtaim family to contribute to the transformation of the education landscape in the UAE. Through a variety of programmes and scholarships, as well as through the two schools set up by the foundation in the UAE, the organisation aims to support students in their journey from school to career by equipping them with the required tools, skills and opportunities.

Related sustainable development goals

  • Quality Education
  • Reduced Inequalities
  • Partnerships for the Goals

Impact

3415+ students enrolled

4000+ alumni

$5 million in scholarships awarded

Focus areas

Focus sectors

  • Education
    • Early childhood education
    • Elementary and secondary education

Focus populations

  • Adolescents
  • Children
  • Preteens

Focus geographies

  • Middle East
    • United Arab Emirates

Partners

  • American University of Sharjah
  • EAHM
  • Rochester Institute of Technology
  • St. George's University
  • University of Birmingham Dubai

Programmes

  • Al-Futtaim School Management Company

    Al-Futtaim School Management Company collaborates with the schools of the Al-Futtaim Education Foundation - Deira International School and the Universal American School, supporting and assisting them in implementing appropriate solutions and improvements for students, staff, and the wider community.

  • Centre for Education Action Research

    Through cooperation and engagement with educational institutions, governments, and corporate entities, the Center aims to advance best practices in education in order to improve the educational experience.

  • Centre for Excellence in Arabic

    The Centre for Excellence in Arabic aims to ensure that students have a solid knowledge of the Arabic language and can use it as a language for daily use. The Centre also works with publishers to improve reading materials in schools and offers professional development programs for the Arabic teaching community in UAE.

  • Experiential Learning

    Students at the foundation's Universal American School and Deira International School are offered experiential learning programmes to help them enhance their employability and validate their higher education choices.

  • Jusoor

    The foundation supports bilingualism in Arabic and Engilsh by providing an immersive bilingual educational for students at the Universal American School and Deira International School. 

  • Momentum Magazine

    The Momentum Magazine is a communication platform aimed at informing, inspiring, and connecting the foundation's community.

  • Project AGHSAN

    Project AGHSAN is a graded Arabic reading programme that aims to publish 3,000 fiction and non-fiction titles aimed at children aged 3-11+ by 2025. 

  • School of Humanity

    School of Humanity provides high-quality alternative educational programmes to hundreds of youth.

  • Train to Hire

    The programme enables Emiratis to pursue a Post-Graduate Certificate in Education – International at the University of Birmingham Dubai, train at Deira International School and Universal American School, and earn an income as they study and train.

Financials

Funding model

  • Grants to Individuals

Primary funders

  • Al Futtaim family

Funding source

  • Family

Operations

Key staff

  • Simon O'Connor, Chief education officer

Board members

  • Chandy Jacob
  • Dr. Farah Sarraj
  • Edward Quinlan
  • Fadi Hammadeh
  • Mira Al Futtaim
  • Omar A. Al Futtaim, Chairman

Contact details