
Blossom Nursery opens new branch in Palm Jumeirah to meet rising demand for early education
'Parents have been asking for a high-quality nursery within walking distance,' Lara Bennett, communications manager of Blossom Nursery said. 'Our new site answers that need while delivering the same curriculum standards found across our network.'
The Blossom Nursery Palm Jumeirah branch follows the UK-developed Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework, which encourages learning through play, exploration and teacher-guided activities for children aged zero to five. According to the nursery, the programme balances early literacy and numeracy with social and emotional development.
Purpose-built classrooms receive natural light and are stocked with open-ended materials such as blocks, puzzles and storybooks. Outdoors, shaded play zones promote movement and environmental awareness. 'Each space is designed to let children choose, experiment and collaborate,' Lara added.
All educators hold recognised early-childhood qualifications and complete periodic EYFS refresher courses. Their responsibilities include observing individual learning goals, modelling positive social behaviour and guiding conflict resolution. A parent who toured the facility on opening day said the teacher-child interactions "felt warm yet professional".
Golden Mile Galleria's central location allows island residents to avoid cross-city traffic during drop-off. Flexible scheduling options aim to support dual-income households and remote workers based in nearby apartments and villas.
Blossom positions the Palm Jumeirah centre as a community hub as well as a school. Plans include parent workshops, weekend story sessions and joint charity drives with local businesses. "We want families to feel this is more than a classroom - it's a meeting point," said Lara.
The launch forms part of Blossom Nursery's wider expansion strategy in the UAE, where it operates multiple sites. While the company did not disclose specific enrolment targets, management said interest lists "exceeded expectations" in the weeks leading up to today's opening.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Gulf Business
15 minutes ago
- Gulf Business
Abu Dhabi real estate market surges 39% in H1 2025, driven by investor confidence and strong FDI
Image: Getty Images Abu Dhabi's real estate sector posted a robust performance in the first half of 2025, recording a 39 per cent surge in total transaction value year-on-year. According to figures released by the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre (ADREC), transaction value rose to Dhs51.72bn, up from Dhs37.2bn during the same period in 2024. The market witnessed a 12 per cent rise in the number of transactions, reaching 14,167 deals—driven by increased activity in sales, purchases, and mortgages. The value of sales and purchase deals grew 32 per cent to Dhs32.69bn across 7,964 transactions. Meanwhile, mortgage transactions saw an even stronger growth of 52 per cent, totaling Dhs19.03bn across 6,204 deals. The period also saw a notable uptick in international investor activity. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) transactions climbed to 890, with a total value of Dhs3.38bn—a 3.3 per cent increase from H1 2024. ADREC reported that the number of nationalities investing in the capital's property market reached 85, marking a 10 per cent year-on-year increase and reinforcing Abu Dhabi's global appeal. Demand Strong demand came from investors in countries such as Russia, China, the United Kingdom, France, Kazakhstan, and the United States, further establishing the emirate as a reliable and attractive global investment destination. In terms of geographic distribution, Saadiyat Island led the market with Dhs9.1bn in transaction value, followed by Yas Island (Dhs5.86bn) and Al Bahia (Dhs3.98bn). Other high-performing areas included Mohammed Bin Zayed City, Al Reem Island, Al Riyadh City, and Khalifa City, highlighting widespread investor interest across Abu Dhabi. Read: Commenting on the performance, Eng Rashed Al Omaira, acting director General of ADREC, said: 'The first-half performance reflects the growing confidence in Abu Dhabi's real estate market, from both global and national investors, reflected in the sustained growth in transaction values and continued increase in foreign investment. 'The recent launch of high-quality projects has further energised the market and opened doors to attractive investment opportunities, reinforcing Abu Dhabi's attractiveness as a leading destination for sustainable real estate investment. Additionally, the initiatives ADREC recently launched and the facilitations it offered, including automation of a large number of processes and services, had a pivotal role in reaching this achievement, through streamlining the investor's journey, accelerating transactions and enhancing transparency.' ADREC continues to advance its regulatory framework and improve the customer experience, aligning its services with Abu Dhabi's broader economic development goals and supporting the emirate's competitiveness on the regional and international stage.


Gulf Business
43 minutes ago
- Gulf Business
AI-enabled law enforcement: How Presight, Abu Dhabi Police aim to cooperate
Image: Getty Images/ For illustrative purposes Abu Dhabi-based artificial intelligence firm Presight has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the Abu Dhabi Police General Headquarters to develop and deploy advanced AI technologies for policing and public safety. The partnership aims to integrate The goal is to enhance crime prevention, improve emergency response, and lay the groundwork for AI-enabled smart cities. 'This collaboration supports our efforts to maintain public safety through innovation,' said major general and engineer Nasir Sultan Al-Yabhouni, who is the director of the Leadership Affairs Sector at Abu Dhabi Police. 'It strengthens our officers' ability to respond faster and make smarter decisions,' he added. Presight, a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi tech group G42 and listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX), said the partnership reflects a growing global trend toward predictive and data-driven policing. Agreement with Abu Dhabi Police to further modernise police operations 'This agreement marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of AI-driven public safety,' said Mohammed AlMheiri, CBO for Public Safety & Security at Presight. 'Together, we are enabling a new era of proactive law enforcement defined by operational agility and enhanced decision-making.' Presight said its tools, such as real-time threat detection, digital forensics, and intelligent digital investigators, will be used to support crime analysis and help modernise police operations. The agreement also includes a commitment to explore ethical frameworks for the use of AI in policing. The move supports Abu Dhabi's ambition to position itself as a hub for smart city innovation and AI adoption, building on broader national goals for digital transformation and public sector modernisation. Read: t


The National
an hour ago
- The National
DIFC adds record number of companies in first half of year amid Dubai's thriving economy
The Dubai International Financial Centre added a record number of companies in the first half of 2025, anchored by the strength of the emirate's finance sector. The DIFC welcomed 1,081 companies during the period, up by nearly a third on an annual basis and the most ever for the six-month period, the financial centre said on Monday. That brought the DIFC's total active registered companies to 7,700, which is a 25 per cent year on year rise. The centre's workforce climbed by 9 per cent to 47,901. Among the new companies are ABK Capital, Avaloq, Baron Capital, Bluecrest Capital, Bridge Investment Group, Cambridge Associates, China International Capital Corporation, dLocal, Manulife, National Bank of Kuwait, Pearl Diver Capital, Pimco, RV Capital, Silver Point Capital, Tourmaline, TransAmerica Life Bermuda and Welwing Capital Management. Financial services entities, regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), grew by 17 per cent annually to 980, while financial services authorisations rose by 28 per cent to 78. Companies in the DIFC's banking and capital markets cluster grew by 17 per cent to 289. New companies in financial technology and innovation surged by 28 per cent to 1,388, accounting for a 28 per cent growth in total active non-financial entities to 6,335. The DIFC's first-half performance is a 'direct reflection' of a 'vision focused on positioning Dubai at the forefront of the world's most advanced financial centres', Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance and president of the DIFC, said, according to a Dubai Media Office statement. 'Dubai has entered a new and greater phase of growth and these results highlight the competitiveness, attractiveness and global confidence it enjoys,' Sheikh Maktoum said. The DIFC's wealth and management cluster, the largest in the region, welcomed 70 new entities, up by 19 per cent year on year, it said. Dubai is home to the highest concentration of private wealth in any Middle Eastern city, data from Henley & Partners shows. That status has helped the DIFC attract hedge funds, which have increased by 72 per cent over the past 12 months to 85, the centre said. More than 10,000 funds are being managed or marketed from the DIFC, it added. 'We firmly believe the future holds even more opportunities, and we will continue to strengthen the DIFC's capabilities and its ecosystems that foster innovation, agility and business growth,' Sheikh Maktoum said. The DIFC continues to expand its offerings in line with the Dubai Economic Agenda, the initiative known as D33 that aims to double the size of its economy to Dh32 trillion over the next decade and establish the emirate among the top three global cities. The UAE's economy grew by 4 per cent to Dh1.776 trillion ($484.7 billion) last year, driven by a strong expansion in its non-oil sector as the country continues to diversify, with financial and insurance activities expanding by 7 per cent, the Ministry of Finance said last month. Latest data shows that Dubai's economy grew by 3.1 per cent in the first nine months of last year, compared to the same period in 2023, reaching Dh339.4 billion. Growth was largely driven by strides in sectors including finance, government data showed in February. The DIFC has been riding this momentum. Last year, it added a record number of companies on an annual basis, with job numbers increasing by 10 per cent year on year to more than 46,000. In the first half of last year, the DIFC welcomed 820 new companies, with the total assets under management in its financial district alone rising to more than $700 billion amid continuing expansion plans. 'Our consistent performance across all key sectors and rising global standing are evidence of our commitment to supporting innovation, attracting global capital and reinforcing Dubai's status as one of the world's most competitive and diversified economies,' DIFC governor Essa Kazim said. The DIFC has also been increasing its real estate portfolio in line with Dubai's plans for urban development. The recently launched DIFC Heights, which was sold out in three days, highlighted 'strong demand' for premium living in the financial district, the centre said. More than 1.6 million square feet of commercial space is under development and construction is being accelerated to meet demand, with new spaces ready for occupancy from the first quarter of 2026, the DIFC said. In December, Abu Dhabi's largest real estate developer, Aldar Properties, bought a 40-storey commercial tower for Dh2.3 billion at the DIFC, as demand for office space in Dubai continues to grow. In addition, during the first half of 2025, the DIFC proposed to enact new Variable Capital Company Regulations, which aim to 'significantly' enhance investment structuring and asset management options for proprietary investment at the DIFC. Legal updates were also proposed through the DIFC Laws Amendment Law, including refinements to the Law of Security, Insolvency Law and Employment Law, ensuring alignment with international standards, it added.