EXCLUSIVE – twofour54 tadreeb acquires SAE Dubai for US $7million

twofour54 tadreeb acquired SAE Dubai for US $7 million from global education services provider Navitas, BroadcastPro Middle East can reveal.

SAE, a wholly owned subsidiary of Navitas, is recognised for delivering HigherEducation and VET programmes across three major fields of study including audio production, film production and interactive media.

A press release from Navitas says it will provide support to the Abu Dhabi Government, via twofour54, to establish new licensed SAE campuses in the United Arab Emirates as branches of SAE Dubai.

“SAE Dubai and the future new campuses will be ideally placed to provide skilled graduates to the regional media hub and will further contribute to the Government’s goal of creating a centre of excellence in content creation across all media platforms, said Navitas CEO Rod Jones,” the statement said.

 The deal also enables twofour54 tadreeb to enter into a long term co-operation agreement that will enable it to access ASAE’s internationally accredited Diploma and Bachelor Degree programmes.

The acquisition investment adds significant flexibility to twofour54 tadreeb’s existing structure of training programmes, which is provided by twofour54’s international partners including BBC, Thomson Reuters, Apple, Thomson Foundation, RFI, INA, Adobe, Cartoon Network and Bournemouth University. Importantly, the new portfolio of courses will allow twofour54 tadreeb to fast track UAE nationals into the job market by equipping them with the knowledge and skills they require to build a career in the region’s growing media industry.

Speaking about the deal, Wayne Borg, Deputy CEO and Chief Operating Officer at twofour54 said “the investment and long term co-operation with the SAE Institute gives us access to over 30 years’ experience of providing educational services to students and professionals in creative media and workforce education”.

“twofour54 tadreeb will now be able offer an even wider range of academic and vocational courses; supporting our ongoing aim of strengthening the Arabic talent pool across the region, which is vital for sustainable growth as the region’s media industry evolves and becomes increasingly competitive.”

Speaking on behalf of Navitas Group, which acquired SAE Group in 2010, Rod Jones, CEO added: “This acquisition of the SAE Dubai business by twofour54 is an acknowledgement of the high quality education and training offered by SAE. We are excited to be a part of this Abu Dhabi Government initiative and look forward to working with, twofour54 and their other partners such as the BBC and CNN to deliver work ready and professional graduates.”