Ajman

Lore & Background

The name Ajman derives from Arabic عَجْمان, related to عَجَم meaning 'foreigner', because the area was once inhabited by Persians.

Reader's Guide

Ajman's significance lies in its transformation from a small pearling and fishing settlement into a rapidly growing urban center within the United Arab Emirates. The city now contains over 90% of the emirate's population and has diversified its economy into real estate, industry, and tourism, with projects such as Tiger Downtown Ajman (worth $10 billion) and a Four Seasons resort.

Did You Know?

• Ajman's name comes from an Arabic word meaning 'foreigner', due to historical Persian habitation.

Founding & Growth

What made this launch historically significant was its status as the very first school in the entire United Arab Emirates to carry the Delhi Public School banner. The school spans the full academic journey from KG1 through Grade 12, and it holds a "Very Good" rating from the Sharjah Private Education Authority. Its affiliation with India's Central Board of Secondary Education anchors its academic identity, while its position as a trailblazer for the DPS brand in the Gulf region cemented its place in the educational landscape of the emirate.

The Franchise Split & Legal Battle

When that contract lapsed, the society moved to raise fees for continued affiliation, a decision the local management found untenable for the families they served. Rather than pass on those costs, the group managing both DPS Sharjah and its sister school in Dubai chose to carry on independently under their own registered trademark, "Delhi Private School LLC." This split ignited a bitter legal confrontation. K. Shunglu publicly declared that no institution should use the DPS name without the society's permission. Managing director Dinesh Kothari countered that the LLC had operated under that registered name for nineteen years. The dispute escalated through the courts: a lower court in Ajman ruled in favor of the Sharjah-Dubai group, blocking a rival DPS Ajman from using the name.

Educational Framework & Programs

The academic engine of DPS Sharjah is the CBSE curriculum, structured to take students from their earliest KG1 days all the way through Grade 12, where they can choose between Science and Commerce tracks. Assessment is layered: middle-school students in Grades 6 through 8 face Periodic Tests alongside Summative Assessments, while senior students in Grades 10 and 12 prepare for the high-stakes CBSE Pre-Board and Board examinations. That platform is now gradually being succeeded by a newer SPECIAL PROGRAMS portal. Every student also selects one Elective Subject each academic year—drawn from sports, languages, technology, and other fields—on a first-come, first-served basis. Rounding out the experience is the ACE program, which weaves Awareness, Community engagement, and Environmental stewardship into the school culture, encouraging young people to serve their broader society.

Environmental Recognition & Legacy

Few private schools in the Gulf can match DPS Sharjah's track record in environmental stewardship. That same year, the school also collected the Green Schools award.

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