From left: Dr Khalifa bin Nasser Al Khalifa, Dr Ibrahim Al Nuaimi, Dr Yusuf Ahmed Al Naama, and Ali Hamad Saleh during the general assembly meeting at Qatar International Islamic Bank on Thursday. (shaival dalal)

doha • A group of top Qatari educationists and entrepreneurs have come together to set up a new private shareholding company aiming at establishing a number of high quality schools in the country.

Launch of the new firm, the Aloula Group for Education was officially announced at its first general assembly meeting held at the Qatar International Islamic Bank (QIIB) premises on Grand Hamad street on Thursday.

The meeting also elected the first director board of the company with Dr Yusuf Al Naama from the Tadawul Group as chairman and prominent Qatari educationist Dr Ibrahim Al Nuaimi as vice chairman. Other members of the board are Dr Khalifa bin Nasser Al Khalifa, Ali Al Hashemi, who represents QIIB and Ali Al Zimat, representing the Al Khaleej Holding. The new firm has been established with a paid up capital of QR100m.

Talking to the Peninsula on the sidelines of the meeting, Al Nuaimi said the new venture has been inspired by the high demand for more schools in Qatar meeting international standards. The Group plans to establish a number of private schools across the country from Kindergarten to higher secondary levels.

"With the economic boom and a rapid growth in population, Qatar is in need of more schools of international standards. Besides the high demand from nationals, an increase in the flow of highly qualified professionals to the country have made the establishment of new schools an urgent need. We are trying to fill this gap," said Al Nuaimi.

" We hope to open the first school by September next year," he added. These schools will cater to students from all nationalities, with a special emphasis on the culture and religious traditions of the country, he added. Besides establishing schools, the company will involve in other activities related with the educational sector. “We have just started working and it would take some time to chart out the details," said Al Nuaimi. A task force will be formed to study how to use the best available techniques and methods in the proposed schools and recruit highly qualified teachers. At a later stage, the company would explore the possibility of expanding its activities in other parts of the region.