Dubai: The American School of Dubai, which was established in the 1960s to cater to the children of American employees working at Dubai Petroleum, is in the process of moving to a new campus to cater to its growing community.
The school now has almost 1,000 students of 30 nationalities. It also makes sure to serve its growing American community, which is estimated to be around 30,000 in the UAE, including around 15,000-16,000 in Dubai, said Paul Sutphin, US Consul General in Dubai and a member in the school board.
According to its website, the school is owned by the Cultural Foundation, which was established by Decree of the Ruler of Dubai. The board is self-appointed and perpetual under the rules of the Cultural Foundation.
The school is currently located in Jumeirah but will eventually move in 2010 to its new campus in Al Barsha area, occupying four times the area of the present school, said David Stockwell, chairman of the board and a consul general of Dubai in the 1980s.
Long-time resident
Stockwell has been a resident in the UAE for more than 27 years and is currently a managing partner at Bracewell and Giuliant. His wife has been a dedicated teacher at the school for more than 18 years, as they both have the passion to take part in the mission of education in Dubai. The new campus, with a total cost of more than Dh400 million, is set to accommodate 1,600 pupils from kindergarten till Grade 12.
The exponential demand for new schools is the driving force behind shifting to a new larger campus. It is a common phenomenon that many if not all schools in Dubai face long waiting lists.
"It will be one of the finest American schools in the Middle East," said Stockwell.
According to Sutphin, there is a growing demand in the country for American education as it is a flexible system covering all areas of education and learning.