As Alef IPO opens, is education going to be next big theme on UAE stock markets?

As Alef IPO opens, is education going to be next big theme on UAE stock markets?

"Announce a school project in the UAe and you will have full advance bookings for admission in a day," says a market analyst. "Investors love that."

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Dubai: Is education set to be the next big theme for UAE investors and its stock markets?

As the UAE’s third IPO of the year – that of Alef Education – opens for subscription, the sentiment is that businesses in the educational space are already getting a lot of the spotlight. Consider this:

The Taaleem stock on DFM has been on a tear, gaining as much as 45 per cent in the last 12 months. The company has a growing base of schools that it owns or operates in the UAE, and has plans to enter some of the other Gulf markets.

The Al Mal Capital REIT (real estate investment trust) recently completed a well-received rights issue, raking in Dh180 million, as it plans to build up its assets in the education space.



And there is appetite building up for more such education focused offerings. Because the impression remains that investors in the UAE – and the Gulf – would not mind seeing more options available in two vital sectors, education services and healthcare.