Daniel Lazar, founder of North Point Education schools in Ajman and Sharjah, dies at 84

Daniel Lazar, who founded the North Point Education group of schools in Ajman and Sharjah, died in Kerala on Wednesday, 14 October 2026. He was 84.

His office confirmed the death to Gulf News on Friday. Lazar lived in Dubai and was originally from Kerala, in southern India.

The group runs three schools. The Royal Academy in Ajman teaches the Indian CBSE curriculum from kindergarten to Grade 12. The Bloomington Academy, also in Ajman, and The Hope English School in Sharjah follow the British curriculum. The Bloomington Academy opened in 2014 and has more than 1,500 pupils, the group says on its website. The Hope English School opened in 2023.

Lazar trained as an electrical engineer and worked for the Tata group in Pune. On 8 April 1968 he left that job and set out from Gujarat on a small boat. The crossing of the Arabian Sea took 10 days and ended at Khor Fakkan, on the UAE's east coast, Gulf News reported.

He worked in the power sector before starting The Lazar Group in 1969. The group grew into construction, facility management and garments.

The schools grew out of his wife's work. Sosamma Lazar began tutoring children at the family home in 1979. In 1985 the couple opened Little Flower Nursery in Ajman, and a year later Ajman Intermediate English School, which became The Royal Academy. Sosamma Lazar died in 2012. A scholarship for pupils going on to university carries her name.

Lazar was not a teacher. The group said his aim was to keep good schooling within reach of families on modest incomes in the northern emirates, and Malayalam news site UAE Vartha described the schools' fees in the same terms.

"Educating children gives me happiness. Watching them grow into successful individuals is the greatest reward of my life," he often said, according to the group.

The schools held condolence meetings on Thursday, 15 October. Dr Prema Muralidhar, principal of The Royal Academy, called him a father figure to the school, Gulf News reported. Dr Terry Burwell, principal of The Hope English School, said his influence went well beyond buildings.

His son, Lanson Lazar, is chairman of the group and now leads the schools. His daughter, Lincy D'Souza, is director of operations.