Almasar Alshamel CEO flags GCC expansion as H1 profit jumps 31%

Almutairi attributed the growth to service quality, demand-based site selection, and efforts to attract both local and international students. Those factors are the main drivers behind continued demand in both segments, he added.

On Nama Holding, Almutairi said its 2025 and first-half 2026 performance was strong, with a “significant” contribution to Almasar Alshamel’s revenue that should persist.

Expansion outside Saudi Arabia and the UAE is not a near-term priority. The company is focused on its two main markets but remains open to opportunities in other Gulf Cooperation Council states when suitable ones arise, Almutairi said. Any investment outside the core markets would be subject to different controls and criteria, he noted.

Almutairi expressed optimism that growth would continue across all segments in the new academic year, citing encouraging current conditions. The company works closely with regulators in both countries, he said, while acknowledging the sector has challenges.