Manara School

What Manara School does

Manara School (legally Manara for Educational Services) is a non-profit residential secondary school located at the former TU Berlin campus in El Gouna, Red Sea Governorate, Egypt, serving academically accomplished co-ed students in Grades 8-12. The institution was founded in 2021 by Naguib Sawiris, who serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees, and is supported by two non-profit foundations that underwrite need-based financial aid. The school is positioned as Egypt's first non-profit world-class residential secondary school, with a mission to develop future leaders through a framework of ethics, academics, and diversity.

The core product is an integrated boarding experience combining a college-preparatory academic curriculum (American, Egyptian, and international elements, with AP courses for college credit), a villa-style residential program (10 students per faculty-supervised villa), and a portfolio of co-curricular programs including the signature X-Term intensive three-week experiential program, athletics, advisory, work, travel, and health/wellness services. Classroom delivery emphasizes small-group seminar-style learning (average 15 students per class) supported by modern science labs, seminar-equipped humanities rooms, a 392-seat Audimax Theater, and adjacent tennis, squash, basketball, padel, and swimming facilities. The school also partners with Fanar Programs for cultural learning experiences.

The business model is a subscription/annual comprehensive fee structure: each enrolled family pays an undisclosed annual tuition covering academics, residential accommodation, meals, athletics, activities, trips, uniform, transportation, textbooks, lab materials, and health insurance, with need-based financial aid layered on top of foundation support. Distribution is entirely direct-to-consumer via a web-based four-phase admissions portal (heiapply.com) and on-campus delivery at the single El Gouna site, with brand-building executed through owned social channels, email newsletter, earned media, and on-campus events. The school employs approximately 100 staff, is led by School Director Todd Cuddington with four dean-level functional heads, and currently has no disclosed revenue, funding rounds, or expansion beyond the El Gouna campus.

Name

Manara School

Legal name

Manara for Educational Services

Website

https://manaraschool.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Manara School is a non-profit residential secondary school in El Gouna, Egypt, serving Grades 8-12 exceptional Egyptian students through a college-prep curriculum, villa-style boarding, and experiential programs, supported by two non-profit foundations and need-based financial aid.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

El Gouna

HQ country

Egypt

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Annual Comprehensive Tuition and Fees: Annual fees per student cover all academic and residential expenses including tuition, dormitory accommodation, meals and snacks, athletics program, student activities, trips, uniform, bus transportation, textbooks, laboratory equipment and materials, and health insurance. Excludes pocket money for personal spending.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Manara School is a non-profit residential secondary school in El Gouna, Egypt, founded in 2021 by Naguib Sawiris, providing college-preparatory education for exceptional students in Grades 8-12. The school combines a rigorous academic curriculum (AP and university-level courses) with character and leadership development, a 24/7 residential life program, the X-Term three-week experiential learning block, athletics, advisory, work, and travel programs, supported by 50% financial aid recipients and a 5:1 student-teacher ratio.

Product overview

Manara School is a co-ed leadership-focused boarding school for exceptional Egyptian students in Grades 8-12, located in El Gouna, Red Sea. The school operates as a unified educational platform combining a rigorous college-prep academic curriculum with residential life, co-curricular programs, and cultural experiences. Core offerings include the Academic Program (with AP courses and standard subjects), Residential Program (villa-style on-campus housing), and X-Term intensive courses. Supporting programs include Athletics, Work Program, Advisory Program, Travel Program, and Health/Wellness Services. The school also partners with Fanar Programs for cultural enrichment. Financial aid is available to ensure access for students from diverse backgrounds.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Fanar Programs: Cultural learning programs that provide students with unprecedented cultural learning experiences in Egypt that enrich their lives.

Products and services

• Academic Program (Grades 8-12) College-preparatory academic program for boarding students in Grades 8-12, including Advanced Placement (AP) and university-level courses, designed to prepare students for admission to top global universities. Features a 5:1 student-teacher ratio and class sizes of 12-16 students.
• Residential Program 24/7 on-campus residential life program for boarding students, providing housing, dining, and a supportive community environment that fosters independence, lifelong friendships, and personal growth.
• X-Term Program Three-week experiential learning program held each January that takes students off campus to engage in immersive, hands-on learning experiences, including travel, internships, community engagement, and personal projects.
• Athletics Program Comprehensive athletics and physical education program supporting student physical development, teamwork, school spirit, and healthy lifestyle habits.
• Work Program Hands-on work experience program in which students take on practical responsibilities on campus and in the broader community, building real-world skills, professional exposure, and a sense of contribution.
• Advisory Program Small-group advisory program providing personalized mentoring, character and social-emotional development, and ongoing support for each student from dedicated faculty advisors.
• Travel Program Group travel experiences designed to broaden students' global awareness, cultural understanding, and exposure to diverse perspectives beyond the classroom.
• Health and Wellness Services On-campus health and wellness services supporting the physical and mental wellbeing of boarding students, including medical care, counseling, and wellness programming.
• Fanar Programs (Summer Programs) Summer enrichment programs offered to prospective students, providing a short-term, immersive taste of the Manara experience and a pathway to the full residential program.
• Financial Aid Program Need-based financial aid program covering 50% of enrolled students, supported by the Sawiris Foundation for Social Development and the Sawiris Family Foundation, making the program accessible to exceptional students regardless of socioeconomic background.

Quantifiable outcome

• Average 15 students per class ensuring personalized attention
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Fanar ProgramscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFanar Programs provides students with unprecedented cultural learning experiences in Egypt that enrich their lives. It is presented as a companion program to Manara School, offering unique cultural and educational experiences outside the regular curriculum.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• SEK International Schools: Network of IB-based international schools with campuses in Spain, Ireland, and elsewhere. Comparable as an international secondary school operator focused on global college-prep education and student diversity.
• GEMS Education: Largest operator of premium private schools in the MENA region with multiple campuses offering international curricula (IB, British, American). Comparable as the dominant premium K-12 operator in Manara's broader region.

Direct peers

• Phillips Exeter Academy: Elite US residential college-preparatory school with small seminar-style classes, Harkness method, and a similar leadership/academics framework. Highly comparable as a premier residential secondary school for exceptional students.
• Dwight School: Global network of IB-based schools (NYC, London, Seoul, Dubai, etc.) with college-prep curriculum and residential-like programs. Comparable as a premium international secondary school with multi-city ambitions.
• Ross School: US residential college-prep school on Long Island known for its innovative interdisciplinary curriculum and global campus. Comparable as a premium residential secondary school with signature experiential programs analogous to X-Term.
• Avenues: The World School: Premium global private school with multiple campuses offering college-prep curricula. Comparable as a high-end, globally-oriented secondary school operator with rigorous admissions.
• The Lawrenceville School: Prestigious US residential college-prep school with house system, small classes, and strong college placement. Comparable in mission and structure to Manara's residential leadership-focused model.
• United World Colleges (UWC): Global network of residential IB secondary schools that recruit diverse, high-potential students from around the world and provide need-based scholarships. Directly comparable mission, residential model, and financial-aid philosophy.
• Deerfield Academy: US residential college-preparatory school in Massachusetts with similar small classes, residential life, and emphasis on character and leadership development. Directly comparable boarding school model.
• Cairo American College: Well-established international college-prep school in Egypt serving Grades K-12 with an American curriculum. Directly comparable as a long-standing premium school competing for the same elite Egyptian families.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/manara-school-gouna

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Manara School