The school, which is being developed in partnership with East African real estate group Infinity Developments, is scheduled to open in 2028 and will eventually serve up to 1,100 students, making it one of the largest international schools in the region.
Construction is expected to begin shortly following the signing of a pre-operational agreement earlier this year.
The project forms part of a wider ambition by GEMS and Infinity Developments to strengthen access to international education across East Africa, where they are also exploring opportunities in Rwanda, Malawi and mainland Tanzania.
Located close to to Zanzibar’s UNESCO-listed Stone Town, the school will feature science and ICT laboratories and focus on academic achievement, creativity and character development.
The partners say the initiative aligns with Zanzibar’s educational priorities, including STEM education, digital learning and teacher development.
“Our ambition is to establish Zanzibar as a hub of educational excellence for the Indian Ocean region,” said Robert Tarn, CEO of GEMS School Management – GEMS Education’s operation arm.
“This collaboration allows us to bring world-class education to young people, while building local capacity and creating a model we can responsibly scale across the region.”
This collaboration allows us to bring world-class education to young people, while building local capacity and creating a model we can responsibly scale across the region
Robin Tarn, GEMS School Management
Samuel Saba, founder and chairman of Infinity Developments, said the integration of education into residential developments was central to the company’s long-term vision.
“Education is the heartbeat of thriving communities,” he said.
“Through our partnership with GSM, we’re embedding world-class schooling into the fabric of our developments – starting in Zanzibar and, we hope, extending across the Indian Ocean.”
The Zanzibar project comes as international school operators increasingly look to East Africa as a growth market, driven by expanding middle-class populations, economic development and demand for internationally recognised curricula.
GEMS Education currently educates more than 200,000 students across its global network of owned and managed schools and has been expanding its school management and advisory services beyond its traditional markets in the Gulf.
