Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) has welcomed the successful listing of Alef Education Holding plc (Alef Education), Mena’s leading provider of AI-powered learning solutions created and headquartered in the UAE. 

 

The listing marks the first-ever education technology company to be listed in the UAE. The company began trading under the symbol AlefEdT and is listed in the Technology sector. 

 

Founded in 2016, Alef Education integrates AI technology, data analytics, and personalised learning, with its platforms being used in around 7,000 schools and serving more than 1.1 million students in the UAE, the US, Indonesia and Morocco. 

 

Shariah-compliant IPO

The company successfully raised AED1.89 billion ($510 million) from the Shariah-compliant IPO. The 1.4 billion shares issued as part of the Offering represent 20% of the company's issued share capital and were offered by existing shareholders Tech Nova Investment – Sole Proprietorship and Kryptonite Investments. 

 

The strong investor interest, reflected in the retail tranche oversubscribed 39 times, is a testament to the market’s confidence in Alef Education's growth trajectory and its strategic expansion efforts.

 

Abdulla Salem Alnuaimi, Group Chief Executive Officer of ADX, said: “We congratulate Alef Education’s board and management on the milestone listing of Alef Education, the first such EdTech company to go public in the UAE, and warmly welcome Alef to the ADX family. With a market capitalisation of AED9.45 billion, Alef Education is truly a “Made in the Emirates” pride and joy, and ADX is glad to support and enable Alef in achieving its capital-raising strategy. This landmark occasion is a testament to the strong and growing investor demand and interest for such a unique and vital business proposition. Alef Education is also an extension of the country’s commitment and strategic priorities towards education and building a tech-driven, sustainable knowledge-based economy. 

 

Financial literacy

“Alef Education resonates deeply with ADX’s ongoing efforts to raise financial literacy, foster innovation and advocate knowledge inclusivity in the UAE and the wider Arab region. By harnessing technology and innovation and investing in our young generation and people, we are better future-proofing our economy and investing in our country’s continuous growth and prosperity. We are excited about how Alef Education is transforming the educational sector in the region and urge more investors to invest in their future.”

 

Geoffrey Alphonso, Chief Executive Officer of Alef Education, said: “We are proud to have successfully completed our IPO and to embark on this exciting new chapter as a listed company on ADX. The substantial demand for Alef Education from a diverse group of investors highlights their confidence in our strong fundamentals and promising growth prospects, as well as the favourable market conditions in Abu Dhabi and the UAE. We warmly welcome our new shareholders and are committed to consistently delivering exceptional value to them.”

 

In 2023, ADX ranked seventh globally for IPO proceeds, hosting six IPOs that raised close to $5.6 billion (AED21 billion), with three listings among the top 20 largest IPOs globally for the year, adding more than AED350 billion to ADX’s market capitalisation, reinforcing strong investor interest in its diverse IPO portfolio.--TradeArabia News Service