Englease

What Englease does

Englease is a Dubai-based EdTech company founded in 2019 by Omar Chihane that operates an online platform delivering live, synchronous English language instruction to Arabic-speaking learners, primarily in the MENA region. The product portfolio centers on three core learning modalities: Live Group Programs (unlimited synchronous classes 16 hours/day across 7 CEFR-aligned proficiency levels, taught by bilingual teachers fluent in English and Arabic), On-Demand Programs (pre-recorded courses at $33/month covering General English, Business English, IELTS prep, and Career Development), and Private Classes (1-on-1 tutoring sold in bundled packages). Supporting features include a proprietary practice video player with pronunciation tools, a placement assessment, and Chat Club conversation practice. The curriculum is UK-accredited by the CPD Accreditation Group.

The company monetizes through four streams: individual subscriptions (monthly to 12-month plans), B2B corporate training (named customers include Zain, Nokia, Sephora, and Rotana), a partnership/reseller program, and large-scale institutional contracts with government and foundation partners — most notably the Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation's 'Talaaqa' Business English program and Education for Employment Saudi Arabia. Distribution is multi-channel: direct website/app self-service, enterprise field sales, partnership/reseller channels, and government/institutional partnerships. The technology stack relies on third-party video infrastructure (Zoom and GoToMeeting) augmented by in-house tooling for scheduling, assessment, and corporate dashboards. As of mid-2024 the company reports 550,000+ cumulative learners trained, 120,000+ classes delivered, learners in 65+ countries, and recognition as the 2nd-place Rising Star in Deloitte's 2023 Technology Fast 50 program with 218% revenue growth over four years. Backed by $3.4 million raised in 2021 from a syndicate including Learn Capital, 500 Global, and Wamda Capital, Englease operates with 11-50 employees from Dubai Internet City.

Name

Englease

Legal name

Englease FZ-LLC

Website

https://englease.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Englease is a Dubai-based EdTech founded in 2019 that delivers live, synchronous online English language classes with bilingual teachers to Arabic-speaking individuals and enterprises across the MENA region, supplementing group instruction with private tutoring, on-demand content, and industry-specific corporate programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Dubai

HQ country

United Arab Emirates

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual Subscriptions: Subscription-based model for individual learners with monthly, 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month plans. Includes access to live classes, on-demand content, and practice tools. On-demand program available at $33/month.
2. Corporate Training Programs: B2B English training programs for companies wanting to develop employee language skills. Customized programs for specific industries including tourism, healthcare, banking, retail, and call centers. Pricing differs from individual plans.
3. Partnership/Reseller Revenue: Partners resell Englease courses and packages, generating new revenue streams for both Englease and partner organizations.
4. Government/Institution Programs: Large-scale training programs delivered in partnership with governments and foundations, such as the Talaaqa program with Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation for Emirati youth.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Englease provides live, UK CPD-accredited online English language classes delivered by bilingual Arabic-English teachers to individual learners and corporate clients across the MENA region. Its core offerings include unlimited live group classes available 16 hours per day, pre-recorded on-demand courses, one-on-one private tutoring, and an in-house practice video player with pronunciation tools, all packaged as monthly and multi-month subscriptions.

Product overview

Englease is a Dubai-based EdTech company founded in 2019 that offers a multi-product English language learning platform delivering live, synchronous online instruction. The portfolio consists of three core learning products: Live Programs (group classes with unlimited 16-hour daily access), On-Demand Programs (pre-recorded courses at $33/month), and Private Classes (1-on-1 tutoring). These are supported by a Practice Video Player with pronunciation tools and a Placement Test for level assessment. For enterprises, Englease provides Business English Solutions, an Assessment Tool, and English for Schools programs. The platform also operates a Partnership Program for resellers. All curricula are UK-accredited by the CPD Accreditation Group.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Live Programs (Group Classes) Unlimited live, synchronous online group English classes delivered by bilingual teachers in real time across 7 CEFR-aligned proficiency levels, with 16 hours of daily availability, 7 days per week. Sold via monthly, 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month subscriptions for individual learners.
• On-Demand Programs Pre-recorded English language courses covering General English, Business English, IELTS preparation, and English for Career Development, accessible at any time without a fixed schedule. Priced at $33 USD per month as a flat-rate subscription.
• Private Classes One-on-one live English tutoring sessions sold as fixed-class packages (e.g., 20, 24, 30, 36, 40, and 48 class bundles), including a placement assessment, access to 7 proficiency levels, and a UK-accredited CPD certificate.
• Enterprise Assessment Tool Comprehensive English proficiency assessment tool designed for corporate clients to evaluate employees' or candidates' language skills, track progress through a dedicated dashboard, and standardize language screening before interviews or onboarding.
• Business English Solutions Customized English language training programs for corporate workforces across Banking, Retail, Call Centers, Healthcare, and Tourism & Hospitality sectors, delivered with industry-specific vocabulary, business English units, and unlimited live classes.
• English for Schools Comprehensive synchronous English language education solution for K-12 schools, integrating Englease's live class technology with curriculum, assessments, and teacher training to supplement traditional classroom teaching.

Quantifiable outcome

• 218% revenue growth over four years, ranking 2nd Rising Star in Deloitte Technology Fast 50 program
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments13 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability4 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered major, flagship and minor.

• Education for Employment (EFE-Saudi)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2023Partnership with EFE-Saudi to empower Saudi youth through enhanced English proficiency and increased career prospects. Englease provides accredited English language training while EFE-Saudi connects participants to job opportunities through its employer network. Targets unemployed youth in Saudi Arabia aligned with Vision 2030.
• Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation (AGF)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partnership to deliver Talaaqa Business English training program for Emirati and Arab youth aged 18-35. Program includes Business English and General English tracks with live instruction, comprehensive training, and tailored feedback. Fully funded by AGF, the program aims to enhance communication skills and prepare participants for career success. Expanded to 2,000 participants in 2025.
• وظائف للمواطنين (Wazefah for Citizens)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2022Partnership with Wazefah for Citizens platform to provide English language training for Emirati job seekers, supporting nationalization efforts in UAE.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Cambly: Cambly is a live, on-demand English tutoring platform connecting learners with native English speakers. It is a direct competitor to Englease's live private and group classes, targeting similar adult learner segments globally with a subscription-based model.
• Preply: Preply is an online marketplace for 1-on-1 language tutoring with tutors from around the world. It directly competes with Englease's private classes offering and serves a similar adult professional learner base, with strong presence in MENA.
• iTalki: iTalki is an online language learning marketplace offering live lessons with community tutors and professional teachers. It overlaps with Englease's live private tutoring model and adult language learner segment.
• Voxy: Voxy provides corporate English language training with custom curriculum and progress tracking. It mirrors Englease's B2B Business English Solutions and Assessment Tool, serving enterprises in Latin America and globally.
• Verbling: Verbling offers live group and private language classes with vetted teachers. It is comparable to Englease's live group and private class products for adult language learners.

Broad incumbents

• EF Education First: EF is one of the world's largest private education companies, offering English courses online and through physical schools globally. It overlaps with Englease on live online English instruction but operates at much larger scale and broader geographic scope.
• Babbel: Babbel is a subscription language-learning app with a strong focus on adult conversational proficiency. It overlaps with Englease's on-demand product and competes for the same adult-learner wallet, though primarily via self-paced app content rather than live teachers.

Emerging players

• Duolingo: Duolingo is the largest consumer language-learning app, with a free tier and AI-driven features including a paid English test. It competes indirectly with Englease for adult English learners via mobile-first, gamified content at much lower price points.

Regional players

• Open English: Open English provides live online English classes by subscription to adults in Latin America. It is a close analog to Englease in product model (live group + private classes) but serves a different geography.
• Alef Education: Alef Education is a UAE-based K-12 EdTech platform serving schools across MENA. It is comparable as a regional EdTech player operating from the same Dubai ecosystem and targeting MENA educational institutions, though focused on K-12 rather than adult learners.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/engleasecom
• YouTubeyoutube.com/englease
• Facebookfacebook.com/englease
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/englease
• Instagraminstagram.com/englease
• TikToktiktok.com/@englease.com

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors9 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Englease