GEMS School Management (GSM) – the advisory arm of GEMS Education – and real estate group Infinity Developments have announced plans to explore the establishment of a new international school in Zanzibar, the Tanzanian archipelago off the coast of East Africa.
Scheduled to open in 2027, the school will be part of Infinity Hills, a mixed-use community featuring sustainable housing and modern infrastructure within the UNESCO World Heritage zone of Stone Town.
The collaboration is non-binding and carries no legal or financial obligations for either party, but both organisations see it as a potential milestone in expanding educational access and quality in Zanzibar, positioning GSM as a long-term partner for the region.
The school will offer the British curriculum of England for students aged 4–18, opening with around 730 students, scaling to 1,500 as enrolments grow. The organisations said the educational offering will be aligned with Zanzibar’s development goals, emphasising digital innovation, STEM learning, and teacher training.
According to a statement from GSM, the school is expected to create over 100 local jobs across teaching, leadership, and administration.
Zanzibar offers a unique opportunity to extend access to high-quality education and support the government’s vision for an inclusive, future-ready school system
Robert Tarn, GEMS School Management
“Zanzibar offers a unique opportunity to extend access to high-quality education and support the government’s vision for an inclusive, future-ready school system,” said Robert Tarn, managing director, GSM.
Meanwhile, Samuel Saba, founder and chairman of Infinity Developments, said that “education is the foundation of every thriving community,” and partnering with GSM allows the real estate group to help “bring that vision to life, creating a school that stands for excellence, sustainability, and opportunity at the heart of Infinity Hills”.
GSM offers a comprehensive “school-in-a-box” solution that includes school design, curriculum planning, recruitment, training, technology integration, safeguarding, and operational systems. It is a part of GEMS Education, a leading private K-12 education provider that was established in 1959 by founder and chairman Sunny Varkey.
Meanwhile, Infinity Developments is a subsidiary of Infinity Group, a Dubai-based investment company with a portfolio spanning real estate, hospitality, and education. The company has launched over USD $500 million worth of projects in Zanzibar, and operates “with a vision to create luxury and sustainable community-driven developments that combine design excellence with long-term value creation”.
