Lycée Français Jean Mermoz and ABFA Investments Ltd Announce a Joint Venture for the Development of Phase II of Lycée Français Jean Mermoz K-12 School Campus in Dubai, UAE
Dubai, UAE – Lycée Français Jean Mermoz (“LFJM”), a leading K-12 school operator in the UAE, and ABFA Investments Ltd (“ABFA”), a Dubai-headquartered private investment company, are pleased to announce the formation of a joint venture for the development of Phase II of an existing K-12 school campus in Al Barsha, Dubai.
The project represents a strategic expansion of LFJM’s established educational ecosystem, which already includes a successfully operating school campus in Al Quoz, Dubai. The new phase will further strengthen LFJM’s long-term presence in Dubai and support the growing demand for high-quality international education in the emirate.
This partnership marks an important milestone in LFJM’s continued growth in Dubai and represents ABFA’s first investment in the regional education sector. Under the joint venture, ABFA participates as an investor, deploying equity capital to fund the development of purpose-built educational infrastructure aligned with the operational requirements of LFJM in Dubai.
The partners acknowledge that this project would not have been possible without the continued support and guidance of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (“KHDA”) and the Knowledge Fund Establishment (“KFE”), whose role is instrumental in enabling the sustainable growth of Dubai’s education sector. The development aligns with KHDA’s long-term strategy, including the objective of creating capacity for up to 150,000 additional student seats by 2033.
Both LFJM and ABFA view this project as the foundation for a broader, long-term collaboration. With a strong pipeline of opportunities under discussion, the partners anticipate further education-focused investment announcements in 2026.
Leadership Commentary
Captain Sultan Bin Obaid, Founder of LFJM stated:
“From the outset, our ambition has been to build a sustainable educational ecosystem in Dubai that meets the highest international standards. This partnership reflects a shared long-term vision and reinforces our confidence in continuing to invest in high-quality facilities for our students, families, and faculty.”
Thomas Dentinger, CEO of LFJM added:
“The joint venture with ABFA enables us to accelerate the next phase of our campus development in Dubai while remaining fully focused on academic excellence and operational quality. Having a long-term financing partner that understands both the local context and the specific needs of education infrastructure is a key enabler for our continued growth.”
Nick Hutt, CEO of ABFA commented:
“This partnership with LFJM represents an important milestone for ABFA and our first investment in the education sector in the region. We are pleased to support a highly reputable operator through a long-term equity partnership that combines institutional capital with a clear educational mission, fully aligned with Dubai’s strategic vision for the sector.”