ABU DHABI: Mubadala Investment Company has teamed up with the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) to take a major stake in Russia’s biggest fitness group.
The consortium that also includes other regional investment funds has taken a 22.5 percent stake in Russian Fitness Group, which manages the largest chain of fitness clubs in Russia under the ‘World Class’ brand.
The consortium acquired the stake from VTB Capital. It comes as Moscow increasingly promotes healthy living in a country where heart disease accounts for more than two thirds of all deaths according to the World Health Organization.
“Together we will create the conditions needed to improve the quality of life,” said Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of RDIF. “Through both this project and the mixed martial arts company UFC Russia, which was established in partnership with Mubadala, RDIF is promoting the development and popularization of sports in Russia. ”
RDIF is Russia’s sovereign wealth fund and Mubadala is similarly focused on boosting the wealth of Abu Dhabi. Mubadala is active in 13 sectors and more than 30 countries around the world,.
Russian Fitness Group operates World Class and World Class Lite fitness clubs chains. Today World Class is the largest fitness corporation in Russia operating 39 own and 46 franchised clubs in 34 cities.
Abu Dhabi's Mubadala flexes muscles in Russia
Abu Dhabi's Mubadala flexes muscles in Russia
- Abu Dhabi fund invests in Russia's biggest gym chain
- Mubadala controls assets estimated to be worth $226 billion
Saudi Arabia leads outcome-based education to prepare future-ready generations: Harvard Business Review
- The Riyadh-based school group developed a strategy that links every classroom activity to measurable student competencies, aiming to graduate learners equipped for the digital economy and real-world contexts
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s education system is undergoing a sweeping transformation aligned with Vision 2030, shifting from traditional, input-focused methods to outcome-based education designed to equip students with future-ready skills, Harvard Business Review Arabic reported.
The transformation is being adopted and spearheaded by institutions such as Al-Nobala Private Schools, which introduced the Kingdom’s first national “learning outcomes framework,” aimed at preparing a generation of leaders and innovators for an AI-driven future, the report said.
Al-Nobala has leveraged international expertise to localize advanced learning methodologies.
The Riyadh-based school group developed a strategy that links every classroom activity to measurable student competencies, aiming to graduate learners equipped for the digital economy and real-world contexts. The school’s group approach combines traditional values with 21st-century skills such as critical thinking, communication, innovation and digital fluency.
According to the report, the shift addresses the growing gap between outdated models built for low-tech, resource-constrained environments and today’s dynamic world, where learners must navigate real-time information, virtual platforms, and smart technologies.
“This is not just about teaching content, it’s about creating impact,” the report noted, citing how Al-Nobala’s model prepares students to thrive in an AI-driven world while aligning with national priorities.
The report noted that Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Education has paved the way for this shift by transitioning from a centralized controller to a strategic enabler, allowing schools such as Al-Nobala to tailor their curriculum to meet evolving market and societal needs. This is part of the long-term goal to place the Kingdom among the top 20 global education systems.
Al-Nobala’s work, the report stated, has succeeded in serving the broader national effort to link education outcomes directly to labor market demands, helping to fulfill the Vision 2030 pillar of building a vibrant society with a thriving economy driven by knowledge and innovation.
Last February, Yousef bin Abdullah Al-Benyan, Saudi Arabia’s minister of education, said that the Kingdom was making “an unprecedented investment in education,” with spending aligned to the needs of growth and development. He said that in 2025, education received the second-largest share of the state budget, totaling $53.5 billion.
