Silicon Valley-based Safari Kid Nursery Debuts in the UAE

Safari Kid – the international chain of preschools & kindergartens founded in the Silicon Valley – has ventured into United Arab Emirates with the inauguration of its flagship nursery for the Middle East and Africa region, in Dubai. Located on Sheikh Zayed Road, behind Four Points Sheraton hotel this is Safari Kids’ maiden entry into the Middle East market. The nursery was inaugurated by Hannan Al Sayegh, Senior Inspector from the Ministry of Social Affairs.

The flagship centre spans over 15,000 sq. ft. and is designed to foster an engaging and learning environment. The nursery is expected to bring its unique curriculum tailored for individual development goals rather than a specific age – a program perfected over 10 years of success with more than 10,000 students.

Commenting on the launch, Ms. Shy Mudakavi – Founder & CEO of Safari Kid said, “It’s the right time for Safari Kid to enter UAE and meet the growing demand for early learning institutions. Education ideally starts from a very young age and, in the UAE, many children make their first foray into it by attending a nursery. The huge demand for these institutions has led to a tremendous increase in their number, however there is always room for quality institutions.  UAE's rise as a commercial hub attracts families across countries and cultures, and one of the key areas of planning is quality education for their kids before enrolling in school. We aim to replicate the global success of Safari Kid by helping children explore the jungle of knowledge with creativity, collaborative learning and the effective use of technology.”

Since its inception in 2005, Safari Kid launched centres in Canada, Hong Kong, Malaysia and India with its research driven learning programs catering to children between the ages of 4 months and 4 years.

Mr. Umair Tariq, Managing Director for Safari Kid in the MENA region, outlined the vision for UAE – “Safari Kid's curriculum and accelerated cognitive & skill improvement program is geared towards a child's overall development. Safari Kid Children are always a few step ahead of their peers in all our centres and we hope to develop in the children here, the unique talents and skill sets that the UAE or a global citizen may warrant. The central location of our flagship centre is planned to give easy

access to families, especially those living in Downtown Dubai, Business Bay, DIFC, Jumeirah and City Walk. Our future expansion plans for UAE include opening 5 more centres by 2017, and it acting as a hub for our growth in both the Middle East and Africa.

Safari Kid’s endeavor to enhance experiences and facilitate seamless communication between parents and teachers is strongly supported by the use of technology. Through the Safari Kid Parents App, parents are kept abreast on crucial aspects of their ward, including monitoring their progress, school calendar, etc. The curriculum places a strong emphasis on languages learnt in a child’s formative years, with a strong teaching programme in Arabic and Mandarin to begin with along with English.

With a resolve to shape young minds and provide a memorable journey in early education, Safari Kid aims to deliver and sustain a quality experience that nurtures an attitude of everlasting learning and exploration – both for the child and parent alike.