One of the best known names in Liverpool education is looking east by opening a school in the United Arab Emirates.
Belvedere Schools Ltd, a collaboration between Belvedere Preparatory School and Belvedere Academy in Toxteth has partnered with the Al Fahim group, one of the largest conglomerates in the region, to establish the Belvedere British School in Abu Dhabi, which has opened its doors with 450 pupils.
Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson, in the city on business before speaking at the World Chambers Congress in nearby Qatar, visited to open officially the new campus.
He was joined by Sheikh Abdullah Jalil Al Fahim, director of Al Fahim group and His Highness Sheikh Nahyan Al Mubarak Al Nayhan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Social Development, along with Dominic Jemney, the British Ambassador to the UAE.
Mayor Anderson said: “As one of our most well known schools I am delighted to support Belvedere’s ambition in creating strong international partnerships in Liverpool’s name.
“In Liverpool, the school has a reputation for high quality teaching and turning out young people who are ready to take on the world and Belvedere can become a beacon of excellence here in Abu Dhabi.” 
Richard Mathias, Chief Executive of Belvedere Schools Ltd, said: “It has been a three-year project to take this from concept to reality. We are delighted to have had the support of Mayor Anderson in officially opening the school and we thank him for the efforts he has made in supporting a Liverpool business reaching out internationally. We hope that this is the first of several such initiatives.”
While in the city, Mayor Anderson also had meetings with His Excellency Jasem al Darmaki, Deputy Director General Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority; Sheikh Sultan, Minister of Tourism; and the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce. He invited them to participate in the International Festival for Business Global Leaders summit in Liverpool next year.
Costs of the trip were met by Belvedere Schools Ltd’s partners in Abu Dhabi, The Al Fahim Group.
Pictured above at the opening are (l-r) Dr. Dhiya Al-Jumeily, Mayor Joe Anderson,His Highness Sheikh Nahyan Al Mubarak Al Nayhan, Sheikh Abdulla Abdul Jaili Al Fahim and Dominic Jermey – British Ambassador to UAE.
